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Preneet files papers, for votes to strengthen PM
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Minor Dalit 8-month pregnant
Change that heralds relief for those living along Ghaggar
Sikhs fleeing Swat valley
SAD writes to EC against Amarinder
EC approves Punjab poll schedule
Additional duties for officers
May 7, 13 holidays
No politics, says Brahman Sabha
Holding of Courts
Wheat crop burnt on 15 acres
Anganwari Selections
Punjab police head constables
Capt seeks exemption
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Preneet files papers, for votes to strengthen PM
Patiala, April 16 In his own style, Amarinder said the SAD-BJP government was a ‘big failure’ and people of Punjab were ‘traumatised’ by the ‘misrule’ of Badals. Speaking at a rally at Amar Ashram before proceeding to the mini- secretariat for filing her papers, Preneet , flanked by supporters, tried her best to find roots in Patiala. ‘ I am in your city for over 40 years. I am your daughter, mother and sister. In fact, by voting for me, you will be voting not for me alone but, for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also. He is a Punjabi like everyone of us and we should strengthen him. It is in your hands. Also ask your relatives and friends in Bathinda to vote for Raninder’ exhorted Preneet. Amarinder said his son Raninder alone was sufficient to compete with Akalis. ‘He represents the youth of Punjab. In fact, our party’s manifesto this time revolves around youth which, formed 75 per cent of voters below 35 years of age in the country. The Congress is geared up for elections . Actually, fight starts with the filing of nomination papers. People of Punjab are fed up with what Akalis are doing. They have stalled all development initiated by our government. There is no power available for farmers. The state government has failed to lift paddy, resulting in difficulties to farmers’, alleged Amarinder. ‘Raninder is giving a tough fight to the Badal and company in Bathinda and he will emerge winner,’ said Amarinder to boost morale of party workers. People of Punjab will never forget that 7,000 of our workers were framed the by SAD-BJP government in false cases while, 42 of our workers were killed in two years,’ said Amarinder. Working President of the PPCC Lal Singh hoped the Congress would win all 13 seats of Punjab. ‘People are anxious to give verdict in our favour’, said Lal Singh. former Minister Brahm Mohindra, Jasjit Singh Randhawa, MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur,Sadhu Singh Dharamsaut, Pritpal Singh Vishnupura and Sharanjit Singh Jogipur were also present . Amarinder and couple of senior Congress leaders accompanied Preneet to the mini secretariat where she filed nomination papers in front of district returning officer Deepinder Singh.
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Chandumajra files nomination
Patiala, April 16 Accusing the Punjab Congress leaders of ignoring interests of the state, Badal said they had reduced Punjabis to political non-entity in the country's power structure. Addressing Akali leaders and workers on the occasion of filing of nomination papers by SAD candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra here today , Badal said the Congress' ‘sectarian and opportunistic approach’ had bled Punjab for more than a decade. The UPA government extended excise concession and other incentives to industry in adjoining hill states which eroded industrial base of Punjab , Badal added. Badal said “Punjab witnessed era of development only when non-Congress government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee was in saddle in Delhi”. Prem Singh Chandumajra said his constituency areas had experienced nil development during Amarinder Singh's government. “People of Patiala area felt ignored and neglected particularly, as Preneet Kaur had not pleaded their case at the Centre nor with the state government." Senior Akali-BJP leaders, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Harmel Singh Tohra, Hamir Singh Ghagga , Surjit Singh Kohli, Raj Khurana, Jasjit Singh Bunny, Amarjit Kaur, Mrs Sheelam Sohi and SAD observer Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal were among the speakers. Earlier, SAD workers accompanied Chandumajra in procession towards the mini-secretariat.
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Blast has top cops on toes
Amritsar, April 16 The injured, identified as Pardeep Singh, his wife Sarabjit Singh, and his mother Mohinder Kaur, were taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. The condition of Mohinder is stated to be serious. The blast occurred at 10.30 am. Senior police officials, including IPS Sahota, IG, Gurpreet Deo, DIG, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, SSP, visited the spot. Deputy Commissioner Bhagwant Singh also visited the blast site. The police seized two packets of low-intensity explosive material consisting of potassium, sulphur and granules. Bomb disposal squad and forensic experts examined the site even as a dog squad was pressed into service to locate any such explosive materials. Sarabjit said the blast took place when Pradeep and his mother Mohinder were cleaning up old household articles lying in a small storeroom. Pradeep opened some old bags, consisting some pouches. One of them accidentally fell on the floor and exploded. Ruling out any foul play or involvement of any terrorist attack, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh said the material seized was usually used in crackers. However, he added, it was the presence of small granules like stones that resulted in the injuries to the victims. During preliminary investigations, it was found that one of the brothers of injured Pradeep, identified as Balbir Singh, alias Krishna, was involved in petty criminal activities and was wanted in a police case for the past three days. Police is working on the theory that Krishna might have kept this suspicious material in the house. The seized material has been sent for forensic examination and a case under Explosives Act registered.
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Minor Dalit 8-month pregnant
Moga, April 16 Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Moga Dr Adarsh Sood sent a team of doctors at girl’s residence, this morning. Confirming the pregnancy, the CMO said the girl was in eighth month of her pregnancy. We will take care of the girl’s health and ensure safe delivery of the child in the district hospital, which is due at the end of this month’, the CMO said. Varinder Singh Gill SHO of the Mehna police station said no case was registered at the time of sexual abuse before his joining in the police station.He said none complained to the police . ‘I have brought the matter to the notice of the SSP’, he said. Sources said three boys belonging to influential families of the village having political connections had been sexually abusing the girl for two years. The families had put social and political pressure on the parents of the victim. Last night, the villagers gathered and discussed the issue with the girl’s family and allegedly forced it to take softer line to keep their mouths shut. Parents of the victim refused to talk to the media perhaps due to pressure of the influential families of the village.
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Change that heralds relief for those
Khanauri (Sangrur), April 16 Embankments are coming up along the river in 22-km stretch from this village to Karail. Riverbed is being dug and widened prior to the creation of embankments. This change heralds relief for people of Sangrur and Patiala constituencies.“We are happy at the river being walled up,”, says Atma Singh of Moonak. “However, as second phase of the project is at standstil it could mean even more destruction along the remaining stretch”. “If nothing is done to complete the 17-km second phase of the project from Makraur Sahib to Karail, the dammed water would be unleashed on us creating a catastrophe”, says Nanak of Andana village. It has been nearly 20 years since the Ghaggar first became poll issue. During last Congress regime Patiala MP Preneet Kaur was able to convince Nabard to lend Rs 148 crore to tame the river. The money started coming towards the fag end of the Congress regime and it was left for the SAD, which took over in 2007, to start the project which was inaugurated on October 17 by CM Parkash Singh Badal. Politicians both of Sangrur and Patiala are expected to feel the Ghaggar pangs with the two most affected Assembly segments of Lehra Gaga and Shatrana falling in both constituencies. The politicians will have to spell out how to dam the entire stretch of the river in the state and to meet the demand of more compensation of farmers whose lands were acquired for the project. While issue of more compensation to farmers is already witnessing protests by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta), now Haryana has also objected to raising of embankments in the second phase of the project. Though the issue will be taken up by the Ghaggar Standing Committee now, a delay in taking up the second part of the project will mean no change for people of both constituencies.
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Sikhs fleeing Swat valley
Amritsar, April 16 Piqued over the disturbing reports, Avtar Singh and Dalmegh Singh, president and secretary of Shiromani Committee, respectively, established contacts with Bishan Singh, former president of the PSGPC and senior officials of Pakistan, asking him to ensure safety of the Sikhs living there. The SGPC president also asked the government of Pakistan to ensure safe return of the Sikh jatha, which had crossed over to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib and other Sikh shrines in Pakistan. The SGPC president said it was shocking that members of the Sikh community were being forced to vacate their houses. He said the plight of the Sikhs, living in Taliban-dominated areas, was dismal since they
were again forced to live like refugees after the Partition. The SGPC president said if the government of Pakistan failed to take immediate action, then Sikhs would feel alienated in Pakistan. Dalmegh said Bishan told him that the reports about fleeing of the Sikhs from Taliban-dominated areas and consequently taking shelter in gurdwaras in Pakistan were true. After the Hindus, it is the Sikhs who are fleeing the Swat region. “We condemn this development. It’s totally undemocratic. We will soon raise the issue with the Indian government," said SGPC president. Earlier, Pakistan parliament endorsed a move to enforce Islamic Shariah laws in Swat, which was later approved by President Asif Ali Zardari.
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SAD writes to EC against Amarinder
Chandigarh, April 16 In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema cited few instances of alleged violation of model code of conduct by Amarinder during his party’s campaign. The letter says Amarinder at a press conference addressed at the residence of MLA of Talwandi Sabo Jit Mohinder Singh Sidhu on April 15 (Wednesday) made unverified allegations and presented a distorted version that 42 Congress workers had been killed and more than 700 had been injured. The letter said Amarinder had further threatened to take revenge and such provocative utterances by him could disturb peace and harmony at the time of elections. He, it is said, was creating a divide among the classes of the people and making such inflammatory speeches at various election rallies without caring for the election code. Dr Cheema has further written: “On April 13, Amarinder made similar remarks of taking revenge at a rally in Sangrur. Once again Amarinder repeated his revengeful rhetoric at a rally in Talwandi Sabo on April 14. His provocative speeches were disturbing the congenial atmosphere and creating ill will and hatred against a class of people and the same was also detrimental to peaceful elections”. Thus Amarinder has violated the model code of conduct by making such wild allegations which have nothing to do with the public activities of the leaders and workers of the other parties in violation of clause (2) of General Conduct of Model Code of Conduct. Dr Cheema has asked the EC to seek a factual report from the returning officer of Bathinda to take strict action against Amarinder for violating the code. Meanwhile, Sukhbir Badal, SAD president and Deputy CM, criticised what he called the deliberate attempts of the UPA government of not allowing export of wheat before elections and said this mischievous decision was aimed at punishing farmers. He was referring to the statement of union Commerce Secretary made on Wednesday in Delhi that decision on wheat export would be taken only after the elections. By not allowing direct export of wheat by the farmers, especially during harvest season, the union government was playing twin game of punishing the Punjabi farmers besides giving an opportunity to the multinationals to purchase wheat at lower rates so that they could mint money later by exporting the same.
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EC approves Punjab poll schedule
Chandigarh, April 16 In a press note issued by the chief electoral officer Punjab Kusumjit Sidhu, the last date for filing nominations would be April 24. Scrutiny of nominations would take place the next day. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is April 27 and the polling date is May 13. Counting would take place on May 16. Nomination papers are to be filed with the Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, for Gurdaspur, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, for Amritsar, Deputy Commissioner, Tarn Taran, for Khadoor Sahib, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, for Jalandhar, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, for Hoshiarpur, Deputy Commissioner, Rupnagar, for Anandpur Sahib, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, for Ludhiana, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, for Fatehgarh Sahib and the Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, for the Faridkot constituency.
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Additional duties for officers
Chandigarh, April 16 The work of Jagpal Singh, Financial Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchyats, and Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Director, Rural Development, and S Karuna Raju, Joint Development Commissioner, has been given to Tejinder Kaur, Principal Secretary, Technical Education; Satish Chandra, Secretary, Planning’s charge has been given to Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Irrigation; TR Sarangal, Secretary, Welfare of SC/BC’s charge has been given to DS Bains, Principal Secretary Local Government; for Rahul Bhandari, Executive Director Punjab SCs the Principal Secretary would make adequate arrangements internally; Kulbir Singh, Secretary, PWD’s charge has been given to SS Channi, Secretary, Industries and Commerce; PS Aujla, Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation’s charge has been given to Ashok Kumar Gupta, Secretary Agriculture; Harjit Singh, Secretary, Social Welfare, Women and Child Development’s charge has been given to Kirandip Singh Bhullar, Secretary Home, Surinderjit Sandhu, Secretary, Defence Welfare’s charge has been given to Gitika Kalha, Principal Secretary, Tourism and CEO Anandpur Sahib; HIS Grewal, Secretary, Grievances and Pensioners, and Ashok Kumar Singla, Director, Grievances and Pensioners, and SS Gurjar, Special Secretary, Grievances and Pensioner’s charge has been given to RC Nayyer, Financial Commissioner, Forest; Sarup Singh Dhillon, Secretary, Parliamentary Affair’s charge has been given to Ashok Kumar Goyal, Secretary Co-ordination and Implementation.
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May 7, 13 holidays
Chandigarh, April 16
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No politics, says Brahman Sabha
Jalandhar, April 16 Behari Lal Saddi, general secretary of the sabha, said here that a mischief had been played at certain level to associate it with a particular party. Saddi said unfortunately, a section of the press was bent upon giving the sabha a political hue. “I condemn the statements, which appeared in a section of the press linking the sabha with a particular political party,” he said. “The sabha would initiate a legal action if efforts to associate the sabha with certain particular party continued at the level of certain elements,” he added. Saddi said the sabha, headed by Devi Dayal Parshar, would organise its function on April 19 at Mandi Gobindgarh and Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, would be the chief guest at the function. He said Badal had been invited in his capacity as Chief Minister of the state.
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Holding of Courts
Chandigarh, April 16 The department of information and technology (administrative Reforms Branch) has directed the secretary of the commission to send its comments, give full justification on each of the points raised by the complainant HC
Arora, an RTI activist and advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court. Arora had asked the state government to initiate action against the acting chief information commission PK Verma for not ensuring the holding of courts by all Information Commissioners daily. He had pointed out that starting with
Verma, some commissioners held court only on two dates (4 hours) in a week while some held court only once for two hours in a week.
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Wheat crop burnt on 15 acres
Sangrur, April 16 Dhuri SDM Rajesh Tripathi saud today that besides the wheat crop, wheat straw spread over about 35 acres was also destroyed in the fire. The administration was conducting investigations into the cause of the fire. He said during preliminary investigations it did not appear that sparks from electricity wires led to
the fire. The SDM said two fire tenders were pressed into service and the fire could be brought under control great the efforts of the local people.
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Anganwari Selections
Chandigarh, April 16 Taking a serious view of the matter, Justice Permod Kohli today directed child development and project officer, Sunam, to appear in person on May 5, the next date of hearing in the case. Justice Kohli observed since there were two documents on record regarding the same selection, allegedly signed by the same officer, it was appropriate to find out the truth. The officer, a signatory to the two documents, shall appear in person. Petitioner Ranjit Kaur of Sunam, in her petition against the state of Punjab and six others, had sought the quashing of an order issued by the officer, vide which less meritorious candidates had been selected for Kohrian village. Ranjit Kaur claimed her name was recommended and approved for appointment by the officer. In an attempt to substantiate her contentions, she had annexed a list. She added a respondent approached the authorities concerned after knowing about the approval of her name. The respondent managed to get issued a new list of anganwari workers. In that list, the petitioner’s name was missing. Rather, it had been replaced by the name of one
Golo. The selection of anganwari workers had come under criticism earlier also in recent past when the Division Bench of Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Rajan Gupta had ruled the entire selection in a village in Ludhiana district was vitiated and deserved to be quashed. Taking up a petition against the state and others respondents, the Bench had also quashed the appointment of a worker and a helper. The petitioners had contended two respondents were selected, even though their applications were neither received by the gram panchayat, nor were their names recommended for the posts. After perusing the entire record, the Bench ruled: We are of the considered view the entire selection deserves to be quashed. The respondents have not been able to show how the post of anganwari workers and anganwari helpers were advertised or how the same were
publicised.
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Punjab police head constables
Chandigarh, April 16 Justice Permod Kohli directed the state of Punjab and other respondents to terminate all ad hoc promotions to the post of head constables against 10 per cent quota meant for constables of the C-II list. The constables are promoted to the post of head constables after competing lower school course and are brought on the C-I list. Those not qualifying the course are brought on the C-II list. The petitioners falling in C-II category had alleged that since 1992, regular promotions were not made to the posts of head constables in Amritsar district from their list maintained by the police. During the hearing of the matter, the court directed the counsel for the respondents to inform the Bench whether the directions of the state Director-General of Police, on the withdrawal of ad hoc ranks granted to the police officials in the category, had been complied with. Appearing on behalf of the state, senior deputy advocate-general Charu Tuli said information was being ascertained from Amritsar district. Taking note of the submission, Justice Kohli asserted: It appears the respondents are withholding the necessary information from the court with a view to continue the benefit to such persons who are holding current duty charge as head constables in contravention of rule 13.8 of the Punjab Police rules, by ignoring persons senior on the C-II list. Disposing of the petition, Justice Kohli also directed the respondents to make promotions on regular/substantive basis, taking into consideration the seniority in the C-II list within two months commencing from June 1. The compliance report has to be submitted by August 10. The directions follow a petition by Vijay Kumar and others against the state, 18 ad hoc head constables and other respondents. They were seeking directions for promotions on regular basis with effect from dates cops junior to them were promoted as head constables under the C-II list.
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Capt seeks exemption
Ludhiana, April 16
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