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Bir Devinder joins SAD
Bir Devinder Singh and SAD president Sukhbir Badal share a light moment after former’s induction into the SAD at a function in Chandigarh on Tuesday.Chandigarh, April 28
Former Congress leader Bir Devinder Singh today joined the SAD, a move which is expected to give a fillip to the party in the Anandpur Sahib constituency

Bir Devinder Singh and SAD president Sukhbir Badal share a light moment after former’s induction into the SAD at a function in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Maya promises justice to riot victims
Ludhiana, April 28
Only the Supreme Court can deliver justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The big hope in the CBI, which is supposed to be an unbiased investigation agency, has fallen flat because of a clear tilt in favour of the Congress. Party leader Jagdish Tytler, main accused in the riot case, has been given a clean chit. We will urge the SC to take up the matter.



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EARLIER STORIES


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

 

Mohinder Singh Kaypee Kaypee blames NDA for flight of industry 
Jalandhar, April 28
Posing several questions to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, acting president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Mohinder Singh Kaypee has said the father and son duo wanted to bring back the BJP led- National Democratic Alliance( NDA), which laid down the foundation of Punjab’s ruin, to power at the Centre.

Mohinder Singh Kaypee



POLITICS

FACE-TO-FACE
It’s battle royale for Patiala constituency

Congress candidate Preneet Kaur and SAD candidate Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra talk about important poll issues, people, their policies and agendas

Advani to skip Bathinda rally
Bathinda, April 28
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, will skip Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency but campaign for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates in constituencies of Patiala, Ferozepur and Sangrur on May 1 when he visits Punjab.

Amarinder seeks votes for wife
Patran (Patiala), April 28
With votes of the state government employees in mind, Congress Campaign Committee chairman Amarinder Singh blamed SAD-BJP government for ‘unduly delaying’ implementation of the pay panel report. He also accused the SAD-BJP government of ‘ruining ‘ health of the state’s economy.

Real issues of Malwa lost in SAD, Cong mud-slinging
Bathinda, April 27
Real issues and problems of people in Punjab’s Malwa belt seem have lost in the din of mudslinging by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and opposition Congress leaders , main contesting parties. Contest between Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Raninder Singh, son of former CM Amarinder Singh here has become battle between the two families. None is concerned about the common man.

Harsimrat’s poll expenses highest
Bathinda, April 28
In the first phase of the poll-expenditure scrutiny, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, tops the list of 22 candidates with an expenditure of Rs 4.64 lakh.

COMMUNITY

Moga NRI gets UK humanitarian award
Leader of the Conservative Party William Hague  presents the Humanitarian Award to Kulwant Dhaliwal in the Parliament House in London.Moga, April 28
Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, NRI hailing from Bir Raoke village of the district, was honoured with humanitarian award in London last week. He is the first person belonging to a Sikh family to get this honour. The award has been conferred on him for his crusade against female foeticide and drug addiction among the Punjabi community in the UK and at his native village in Punjab.

Leader of the Conservative Party William Hague (left) presents the Humanitarian Award to Kulwant Dhaliwal in the Parliament House in London. A file photo

Govt employees block highway
Seek notification of pay panel recommendations
Punjab government employees block NH 21 at Balongi, Kharar, on Tuesday. Kharar, April 28
Punjab government employees blocked the National Highway 21 today near Balongi sales tax barrier for two hours, demanding immediate notification of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. More than 300 employees jammed the road from 10 am to around 12 noon, thereby making commuters go through a harrowing time.

Punjab government employees block NH 21 at Balongi, Kharar, on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Wireless purchase scam
Closure move hangs fire
Chandigarh, April 28
Move to close multi-crore wireless scam case involving Punjab police top brass has failed to make headway, as hearing in the special court had to be adjourned on Saturday.

Employees of various departments block traffic to press for early implementation of Sixth Pay Commission in Amrisar on Tuesday.
Employees of various departments block traffic to press for early implementation of Sixth Pay Commission in Amrisar on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Illegal abortion: 10-year jail for doctor couple
Ludhiana, April 28
Dr Sharan Kaur and her husband Dr Avtar Singh of Guru Ram Dass Hospital, Field Ganj, Ludhiana were sentenced to 10 years in jail by Additional Sessions Judge Kishore Kumar . The court also ordered them to pay fine of Rs 1,000 each.

Baghapurana wants relief from hepatitis C 
Baghapurana (Faridkot), April 28
For the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, it is struggle for power, but people in Baghapurana are fighting hepatitis C. Residents here are not interested in any party or candidate. They seek relief from the disease which has eluded solution.

Moga records highest wheat arrivals
Moga, April 28
Despite unfavourable weather conditions, Moga district has created a history by recording the highest ever wheat arrival of 6,29,829 metric tonne till last evening. The last year’s total purchase was 6,25,948 metric tonne.

Retreat Ceremony
Livelihood for many; no rules for parking lots
Wagah (Amritsar), April 28
Every evening this Indo-Pakistan border post, at a short distance from Attari turns into a township. As people from across the country come here for watching the Retreat ceremony, vendors too flock the area to sell their wares.

poll notes
Cong concerns over Bathinda


CRIME

Maryada Violation
SGPC chief apologises to sangat
Amritsar, April 28
After getting report of Maryada violation (Sikh code of conduct), by a youth who occupied ‘Guru’s Peehra’, meant for Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple on April 26 morning, SGPC chief Avtar Singh suspended two employees for dereliction of duty.

Amritsar Sex Scam
Former mayor seeks quashing of FIR
Chandigarh, April 28
Amritsar’s former mayor wants the first information report (FIR) in Amritsar sex scam to be quashed. He has claimed political malafides as the grounds for the same. The FIR was registered initially under Sections 406, 420, 506, 386 and 120-B of the IPC. The offence of rape under Section 376 was added later.
















 

Bir Devinder joins SAD
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 28
Former Congress leader Bir Devinder Singh today joined the SAD, a move which is expected to give a fillip to the party in the Anandpur Sahib constituency besides giving the Akalis a fiery speaker who can take on both former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as well as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Bir Devinder, who joined the SAD at a function held here today in the presence of SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, immediately took on the Prime Minister for the alleged “lapses” committed by him as far as safeguarding the interests of the Sikh community were concerned.

He claimed the Prime Minister had done nothing to do away with the “black list”, which was preventing many Sikhs from visiting the country of their birth. He also alleged that Dr Manmohan Singh had not acted decisively to deny the party nomination to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, both main accused in the anti-Sikh riot case.

Calling his return to the SAD as a homecoming after having served as the president of the All-India Sikh Students Federation for six years from 1971 to 77, Bir Devinder claimed he had left the Congress after 31 years of service as he was “unable to work with Capt Amarinder Singh” besides the fact that he was “disturbed” by the manner in which the party had given ticket to Tytler and Sajjan. 

When asked why his conscience had not pricked him earlier, Bir Devinder claimed that though a number of commissions had been appointed on the issue, he felt that with Dr Manmohan Singh at the helm of affairs, Sikhs would finally get justice.

Bir Devinder claimed that he had joined the SAD “unconditionally” and he would serve the party as per the responsibilities given to him by Sukhbir. The SAD president, while welcoming Bir Devinder into the party fold, said the party had got a “big boost”.

SAD’s Anandpur Sahib candidate Daljit Singh Cheema was also present. He said the party would get a boost in the Kharar constituency with the induction of Bir Devinder, who had represented the constituency as a Congress leader.

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Maya promises justice to riot victims
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 28
Only the Supreme Court can deliver justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The big hope in the CBI, which is supposed to be an unbiased investigation agency, has fallen flat because of a clear tilt in favour of the Congress. Party leader Jagdish Tytler, main accused in the riot case, has been given a clean chit. We will urge the SC to take up the matter.

This was stated by Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati while addressing a state-level rally here today. All 13 party candidates were present at the rally.

Mayawati said: “The Congress, in fact, is giving indications of having given up all hopes of coming back in power. Clearly, on the government directions, the CBI has made an application to the Interpol for the removal of a red corner notice against Ottavio Quattrocchi, the main accused in the Bofors scandal”.

“The Congress, the BJP and their allies have for years closed their eyes and ears, pretending not knowing anything about a massacre in 1984. They will never get you any justice. Sikhs settled abroad are insecure, till date. Our party has decided to carry the story of the silent innocent to the Supreme Court and ensure that the guilty pay for their heinous deeds”, she added.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said: “It is very sad that 60 years after Independence our government has not been able to achieve a social security for the majority of the population in the country. Poverty and unemployment are the biggest reasons for the movements like that of Naxalites. Unless we move towards involving this section of the population in the mainstream and getting them work, the country is all set to face more trying times”.

“The poor and the middle classes are very severely hit under the existing economic scenario in the country. Public must understand that till date, the government in power always had rich industrialists sponsoring their interests. The policies are ultimately designed for the benefit of the selected rich. Give change a chance to deliver the unfulfilled dreams since Independence”, the BSP leader added.

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Kaypee blames NDA for flight of industry 
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 28
Posing several questions to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, acting president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Mohinder Singh Kaypee has said the father and son duo wanted to bring back the BJP led- National Democratic Alliance( NDA), which laid down the foundation of Punjab’s ruin, to power at the Centre.

Punjab was already suffering because of the SAD-BJP rule but

Badals wanted to intensify it by handing over prime ministership of the country to BJP leader L.K. Advani. What Dr Manmohan Singh, as Prime Minister, did for Punjab in five years, the SAD- supported NDA government could not do even one per cent of that during its rule from 1999 to 2004.

Kaypee, who is contesting Lok Sabha election from here, said today Punjab’s problems started following the previous Atal Bihari Vajpayee- led NDA government and supported by Badals framed a special industrial policy,which gave tax concessions to industries in hill states.

Kaypee said Sukhbir Badal was Minister of State for Industries in the NDA Government when the NDA cleared special industrial policy for hill states. Following tax concessions to hill states, industry shifted to hilly regions from Punjab thus leading its fall. Was not the NDA government’s special industrial policy for hill states responsible for Punjab’s fall from top to 10th place ? Why had state’s growth rate become so sluggish? Both Badals should answer this question.

So much so the SAD-BJP government led by Badala could not frame industrial policy even after two years of coming into power in the state. Sukhbir Badal’s talk of generation lakhs of jobs for the youth but his government had even failed to frame new policy for industry, main source of generation jobs for youth and speeding up growth of the state’s economy.

Neither state’s new sports policy had been framed. Why to mislead the youth of the state when neither new job opportunities were to be created for them nor sports policy was to be framed for them? he asked. What can one expect from a state government that could not put in place the new industry even after being in power for more than two years, he said.

On raising of toll on various state highways, Kaypee said it should be probed why it had been enhanced?He suspected some hanky-panky behind this increase and it required to be investigated. When number of vehicles was increasing on various roads, rate of toll should go down keeping in view the increased volume of traffic but instead toll rates were being increased after short intervals.

Badal Government was selling vital assets, including its landed property belonging to the state Government. All prime land belonging to the state in urban areas had been sold to private companies in the name of creating infrastructure, said Kaypee. Efficient governments increase government property and assets and never sold these.

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FACE-TO-FACE
It’s battle royale for Patiala constituency
Congress candidate Preneet Kaur and SAD candidate Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra talk about important poll issues, people, their policies and agendas

‘No comments on Chandumajra’
Tribune News Service

Preneet Kaur
Preneet Kaur

Patiala April 28
Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My biggest strength is my rapport with people of my constituency who have so much of faith in me that they have made me win the Lok Sabha polls twice-in 1999 and 2004. My weakness is that I cannot take rest till the completion of works initiated by me for development of the area. My unflinching loyality to my party and our leader Sonia Gandhi is one of my other weaknesses.

Q: How will you make a difference to people of your constituency after becoming an MP once again?

I have already done a lot for the people like bringing of Central aid of Rs 122 crore for taming of Ghaggar which has been destroying crops and has been leading to flooding of low-lying areas for decades. I will be instrumental in implementation of all policies and programmes initiated by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Q: Why should people vote for you?

People will be voting for me as they have seen “real development” and “not the one in papers alone”. Moreover, my selection as an MP once again will be strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is the son-of the soil and who has been doing a lot for the state.

Q: How do you rate Chandumajra?

It is the people who will decide who’s who. I won’t like to make any personal comments. I am a representative of people, so their voice is my choice. Moreover, I don’t want to indulge in the blame game or mudslinging as people are aware and know better as to who has done what for them.

Q: How many votes would you be getting?

Again, I am not into counting. If people like me they will vote for me and if they don’t they will discard me. The decision has to be taken by them on the basis of the voice of their conscience.

‘I am armed with vote shakti’

Prem Singh Chandumajra
Prem Singh Chandumajra

Q: How will you change the lot of people of the Patiala constituency?

Half of the Punjab industry, including that of Patiala, has already migrated to neighbouring states like Himachal in lure of incentives showered by the Central government upon these states. I will be striving to bring these industries back to Bassi Pathana, Rajpura and surrounding areas of Patiala by getting Central aid and relief for the Punjab industry on the same pattern. More industry means means more employment avenues for people and hence better prosperity.

Q: How do you rate yourself as a candidate? What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I have been an MP from Patiala in 1996 and 1998 and I relate to people and their issues in a better way. I am a very strong candidate as I am a grass-root level leader and not an “installed one”. I have already been instrumental in raising of the MSP of wheat and paddy twice as I had raised the issue in Parliament and outside. My major strength is faith of people while my weakness is that I cannot organise big amount of poll funds as is in case of my opponent Preneet Kaur. I am armed with the “vote shakti”, whereas Preneet is banking upon her “note shakti”.

Q:What are main poll issues for you?

The main issue is to make Punjab a power surplus state, saving of more water by adoption of water harvesting techniques.

Q: How do you describe your main opponent Preneet Kaur and why do you think people should vote for you?

Preneet has never spoken in Parliament, whereas I have raised a couple of issues of Patiala and that of people of Punjab. Her comparative performance has been a big zero.

Q:What is the margin you think you will win by?

Well, it should be more than one lakh votes.

Top

 

Advani to skip Bathinda rally
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 28
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, will skip Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency but campaign for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates in constituencies of Patiala, Ferozepur and Sangrur on May 1 when he visits Punjab.

It is learnt SAD leadership wants Advani to campaign here as prestige of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was at stake here. However, Advani is understood to have made it clear he was not in a position to address four election rallies in the Malwa belt in a single day.

One of the reasons for the Badals to insist on Advani’s visit here was virtual non-cooperation of the BJP rank and file in the campaign of Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The SAD leadership believes activists of the BJP, which has influence in the urban areas, could be mobilised only if the orders came from some top leader like Advani.

Efforts of the SAD and BJP leadership in two days to patch up between the district BJP chief Narendra Mittal and the other faction have remained futile. A meeting of the core committee of the two coalition parties here also failed to reach any positive conclusion.

However, senior BJP leaders, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley are coming here on May 1 and May 4 respectively to campaign for Harsimrat Kaur Badal and also sort out the dispute in the party’s local leadership that was not pulling on with the SAD. Film actor Hema Malini will campaign at Bathinda, Abohar (part of Ferozepur constituency) and Patiala on May 3.

Meanwhile, it is learnt tempers ran high at a meeting of local BJP leaders that was organised by Mittal yesterday to persuade the other faction to campaign for Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal and deputy mayor G K Mangat were reportedly present at the meeting. Some leaders said there was no question of campaigning for the SAD candidate when the Badals had not taken them into confidence.

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Amarinder seeks votes for wife
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Patran (Patiala), April 28
With votes of the state government employees in mind, Congress Campaign Committee chairman Amarinder Singh blamed SAD-BJP government for ‘unduly delaying’ implementation of the pay panel report. He also accused the SAD-BJP government of ‘ruining ‘ health of the state’s economy.

Addressing a gathering here, Amarinder Singh alleged the state employees were not getting their due as the government was dilly-dallying on payment of wages as per the recommendations of the pay panel.’The Badal government was unable to pay the employees their due because the state exchequer had got depleted due to gross financial mismanagement. 

They (the SAD-BJP) have just brought the state economy to the brink of disaster. No new project has been launched. In fact, it is a government which, believes just of laying foundation stones. Can they tell you what projects they have come out with. The proposed Rajpura Thermal power project has been left in the lurch as the bidders have run away. 

Not a single so-called development project has taken off. They are taking credit of the work actually done by our Congress government. Employees should be paid revised pay scales immediately. The Congress would fight for the employees to get them justice,’ asserted Amarinder.

Amarinder went on to say, ‘While the state economy is in a complete mess, the Badal family had been "building hotels at places like Dubai, Mauritius, Andamans and Nicobar". In Gurgaon, he said, the family was building yet another five-star hotel besides, Orbit Resorts, that was constructed during the last term of Badal. Amarinder also charged the Badal family with ‘stacking away their black money in foreign banks’.

He said the prime minister, as a Sikh, had brought laurels to Punjab and had made a vital contribution to the state by sanctioning many development projects. Congress candidate Preneet Kaur said her rival candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra was indulging in mudslinging by making personal attacks on her. 

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Real issues of Malwa lost in SAD, Cong mud-slinging
S P Sharma
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 27
Real issues and problems of people in Punjab’s Malwa belt seem have lost in the din of mudslinging by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and opposition Congress leaders , main contesting parties. Contest between Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Raninder Singh, son of former CM Amarinder Singh here has become battle between the two families. None is concerned about the common man.

Leaders of both main parties have virtually skipped issues of public importance and were washing the dirty linen. This blame game has confused the electorate .Neither the SAD and nor the Congress leadership has tried to understand problems of common people living in this “cancer belt of Punjab” and other projects lying unfinished adding to woes of the people.

The foremost issue of drinking water supply in taps here and in other towns and villages of the area has remained untouched. SAD-BJP coalition government’s initiative to install reverse osmosis (RO) plants to supply purified drinking water in certain cancer- hit villages has remained unsuccessful in some areas because the system was unable to clean filthy water that flows in the canals.

This town, which is the hub of activity, is also faced with acute scarcity of drinking water. People contracting ailments by consuming filthy water have to go to neighbouring Rajasthan or Delhi for treatment because proper health care is not available here.

Baba Balbir Singh Seechwal, who has raised voice against pollution, recently asked people to boycott the political parties that do not include pollution-free environment in their election manifesto. However, hardly any political party or the general public has taken a cue from his statement.

The Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency consisting of the Bathinda and Mansa districts is among most educationally backward areas of the country with a very low literacy percentage. Women literacy is very low less, but the governments failed to solve the problem of shortage of teachers in the schools and colleges in the area.

No party seems bothered about settling the kin of those farmers who committed suicide because of debt. The rural areas of Bathinda have witnessed the highest number of suicides by farmers.

Amarinder Singh has been trying to exploit emotional issues and accuses Badal of indulging in nepotism and mismanaging the affairs of the state. He claims the farmers, government employees and housewives were fed up with the Badal government.

He claims Malwa region farmers became prosperous during his Congress regime when the Bt cotton was introduced. The farmers have always suffered when Badal became Chief Minister, he says.

Amarinder Singh also takes pride in claiming the Badal family has been forced to camp in Bathinda and forget the other 12 Lok Sabha seats because Raninder Singh has posed them a challenge .

Badal, with folded hands, says “don’t compare me with Amarinder Singh who has five times changed his political parties and did nothing for Punjab”. He denies it was his personal fight with Amarinder Singh. However, general impression is both families were engaged in shadow boxing in Bathinda.

Badal says the state government has chosen Bathinda for setting up the central university because of the poor literacy rate.

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Harsimrat’s poll expenses highest
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 28
In the first phase of the poll-expenditure scrutiny, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, SAD candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, tops the list of 22 candidates with an expenditure of Rs 4.64 lakh. 

She has been followed by her arch rival Congress candidate Raninder Singh who has spent Rs 2.47 lakh.

The minimum expenses (Rs 6,000) have been incurred by Dyal Chand, an Independent candidate.

The expenditure on poll activities of other candidates is as follows: Hardev Singh Arshi (CPI) Rs 1.82 lakh, Nem Chand (BSP) Rs 1.66 lakh, Kiranjeet Singh Gehri (LJP) Rs 1.48 lakh, Geeta Rani (ABS Sena) Rs 10,000, Chaudhary Ram Chand (AIBYP) Rs 11,700, Navneet Kapoor (Shiv Sena) Rs 10,000, Bhagwant Singh (CPI-M) Rs 17,154, Raj Kamal Gharu (RJP) Rs 34,700 and Lakhwinder Singh (AIDWC) Rs 8,200, and Independent candidates Suresh Kumar Rs 23,832, Hardev Singh Rs 11,050, Karam Singh Rs 10,700, Kewal Singh Rs 16,000, Jagroop Singh Rs 11,270, Nirmaljeet Singh Rs 11,000, Parveen Hiteshi Rs 13,050, Rajnish Kumar Rs 14,830, Ravjinder Singh Rs 10,600 and Raja Singh Rs 10,400.

Tewari said: “It is the first list, the candidates have to submit the details thrice before the polls are held.” He maintained that the expenditure details were related to the candidates only and did not include the expenditure incurred by political parties in connection with election rallies and advertisements.

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Moga NRI gets UK humanitarian award
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, April 28
Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, NRI hailing from Bir Raoke village of the district, was honoured with humanitarian award in London last week. He is the first person belonging to a Sikh family to get this honour.

The award has been conferred on him for his crusade against female foeticide and drug addiction among the Punjabi community in the UK and at his native village in Punjab.

His efforts have proved successful in improving the sex ratio of his village, which stands out with 107 females born for every 100 males during the past few years.

William Hague, MP and leader of the Conservative Party, presented him the award at a simple function held in Parliament House, London, last week.

Dhaliwal is chairman of British government’s committee for funding to minority communities, director of the drug action group and director of the government’s sports funding board for the past five years.

He has not taken salary and other financial benefits from any of these committees or boards and has been donating the money for medical research in cancer treatment.

Talking to The Tribune from London, 49-year-old Dhaliwal claimed that he was the youngest person in the history of the UK to get this award.

In the UK, he has saved thousands of Punjabi youths from drug-addiction to lead a normal family life, besides creating awareness among people to respect the fair sex.

Here, in Punjab, he has adopted all female children of his village. He meets all costs of their education, including books and clothes, for the past many years. For poor families, he provides financial help to marry off their young girls.

For this, he has formed a charitable organisation Sant Singh Dhaliwal Trust, named after his father, and also provides free medical aid to poor people of his village. 

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Govt employees block highway
Seek notification of pay panel recommendations
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service

Kharar, April 28
Punjab government employees blocked the National Highway 21 today near Balongi sales tax barrier for two hours, demanding immediate notification of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission.

More than 300 employees jammed the road from 10 am to around 12 noon, thereby making commuters go through a harrowing time. Drivers and conductors of government buses passing through the road also joined the protest.

The drivers parked their buses, cordoning off the entire crowd of protestors from general public. Though the police had diverted traffic towards Landran road from Kharar as well as Kurali road, it did not serve the purpose. In their bid to escape the blockade, many motorists took route from within Balongi main market, thereby blocking all narrow streets.

Commuters, especially elders, were at the receiving end. Meanwhile, hundreds of Punjab government employees, representing various unions and organisations, demanded that the Punjab government should soon issue notification.

“The notification becomes all the more important in times of inflation,” said Sajjan Singh, one of union leaders. 

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Wireless purchase scam
Closure move hangs fire
Ramanjit Singh Sidhu
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 28
Move to close multi-crore wireless scam case involving Punjab police top brass has failed to make headway, as hearing in the special court had to be adjourned on Saturday.

The CBI is seeking closure of the case which involves, among others, DGP KK Attri.

Sources said special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court of Jagdeep Jain adjourned the case to next month as the investigating officer was “on leave”. CBI officials claimed that certain irregularities were made in the purchase of wireless sets for over Rs 5 crore, but no criminal offence had come up in probe. The case was ordered for closure in 2008.

It is learnt the CBI had not made searches in the case nor it arrested any of the accused in the case for interrogation. It is also said the investigators had not taken expert opinion on the documents pertaining to alleged forgery.

The investigation officer of the case was transferred to Goa in July 2007 and the report for the closure of the case was sent to seek permission from the then director, CBI. Former CBI Director Vijay Shanker had allowed filing report of closure of the case in July 2008, before his retirement.

The CBI had registered a case of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy under the provisions of the IPC and also under the Prevention of Corruption Act against seven IPS officers. The officers included DGP Attri, who was DGP Home Guard then, then ADGP, Vigilance Bureau Mohammad Izhar Alam, IGs GD Pandey (Crime) and RP Singh (Intelligence) and retired ADGP DR Bhatti, following Punjab and Haryana High Court directions in September, 2006. One of the IGs, RC Prasad, though named in the FIR, is dead.

BL Soni, DIG, CBI, Chandigarh, said the report for closing the case was pending hearing in the court.

He said though irregularities were found during the purchase of wireless sets, but no criminal offence was made out about the forgery committed in the case. They process for making purchases was not properly followed and the CBI had recommended to the Punjab Police to hold departmental inquiry into the episode.

To a query he said they had already informed the high court about the report for the closure of the case. About the transfer of the IO, the DIG said it had nothing to do with the case.

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Illegal abortion: 10-year jail for doctor couple
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, April 28
Dr Sharan Kaur and her husband Dr Avtar Singh of Guru Ram Dass Hospital, Field Ganj, Ludhiana were sentenced to 10 years in jail by Additional Sessions Judge Kishore Kumar . The court also ordered them to pay fine of Rs 1,000 each.

The couple was caught while conducting illegal abortion of Baljinder Kaur of Ashok Nagar, near Jallandhar bypass. The prosecution had also claimed to have recovered the 12 to 14- week foetus from their possession, allegedly aborted by the doctor couple. The police had raided premises of the couple on a complaint of then Family Welfare Officer Dr Manorma Avasthi.

The woman had changed her previous statement recorded with the police. She had stated in her statement before court the accused did not conducted her abortion. Actually, she had gone to Field Ganj for buying some clothes. There she had pain in the abdomen. Then she went to the hospital of the accused for getting treatment. When she was entering the hospital of the accused, she aborted and there was no fault of the doctor couple.

The accused had pleaded innocence,accusing Dr Manorma Avasthi of implicating them as they failed to bribe her. It was alleged the complainant used to demand money but they did not pay and faced harassment.

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Baghapurana wants relief from hepatitis C 
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Baghapurana (Faridkot), April 28
For the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, it is struggle for power, but people in Baghapurana are fighting hepatitis C. Residents here are not interested in any party or candidate. They seek relief from the disease which has eluded solution.

Jagdish Garg, an arhtiya, said one day hepatitis C would kill Baghapurana. After losing his brother and sister-in-law recently, now his younger brother was afflicted by the disease. “Fortyeight injections have already been given to him,” he said. “One injections costs Rs 16,000. We are able to afford the treatment, but what about the poor?” he asks.

Out of a total 25,000 population in Baghapurana, 1,000 people are suffering from hepatitis C. Balkrishan Bali, rice-miller and Akali leader, too is suffering from the disease for several months. “You can not even think of getting treatment here as there are no facilities in hospitals. I am getting treatment from Ludhiana.It costs about Rs 10 lakh, but it is not sure whether you will survive after the treatment,” he said.

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Moga records highest wheat arrivals
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, April 28
Despite unfavourable weather conditions, Moga district has created a history by recording the highest ever wheat arrival of 6,29,829 metric tonne till last evening. The last year’s total purchase was 6,25,948 metric tonne.

District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal said keeping in view the pace of wheat arrivals in grain markets of the district it was expected that the figure would surpass the total target of 6.40 lakh metric tonne.

Adding that the total arrival of wheat could cross 6.60 lakh metric tonne by the end of this week, he claimed that there was no problem of lifting in the district. There was some problem in four or five markets but that had been solved.

“Till this evening, 80 per cent of the wheat has been lifted and 100 per cent payment disbursed among the farmers”, he added.

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Retreat Ceremony
Livelihood for many; no rules for parking lots
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Wagah (Amritsar), April 28
Every evening this Indo-Pakistan border post, at a short distance from Attari turns into a township. As people from across the country come here for watching the Retreat ceremony, vendors too flock the area to sell their wares.

The ceremony has generated business and employment. Auto-rickshaws, buses, taxis do brisk business. After reaching Amritsar, visitors hire auto-rickshaws, buses, taxicabs to reach here.

Parking of vehicles is big business. Fields and vacant spaces have been converted into parking lots. Parking lot owners extort money from owners of vehicles. Charges for parking a car are up to Rs 50.

However, if one resists it, charges sometimes are reduced to Rs 30 and even Rs 20 depending on the physical appearance of owner of the vehicle. For tourists buses and cabs, charges are up to Rs 100. 

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poll notes
Cong concerns over Bathinda

Chandigarh: In a representation made to the Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday, the Congress Campaign Coordination Committee pointed out that the SAD-BJP combine had made victory in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency a prestige issue. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Badal and their entire family was campaigning in Bathinda and was using all means to win the election. “Now, that the Akalis have realised that the tide is turning against them, an attempt may be made to get the Bathinda elections countermanded”, it said,. urging the commissioner for arranging foolproof security for all candidates in Bathinda. — TNS

2,400 new voters at Khadoor Sahib

Khadoor Sahib: As many as 2,413 new electorates have been added to the voter list of newly carved Khadur Sahib parliamentary constituency after delimitation. These new voters were provided a special chance from January 23 to April 14 for getting their names included in the electoral rolls after the publication of the final list on January 22, Tarn Taran DC-cum-Khadoor Sahib returning officer Khushi Ram said. Fifteen candidates have been left in the fray. Prominent among them are SAD candidate Rattan Singh Ajnala (Tarn Taran MP), Congress contestant Rana Gurjit Singh (Jalandhar MP), BSP candidate Surinder Singh Sahi and Bharatiya Gaon Taj Dal candidate Baba Balkar Singh. — TNS

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Maryada Violation
SGPC chief apologises to sangat
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28
After getting report of Maryada violation (Sikh code of conduct), by a youth who occupied ‘Guru’s Peehra’, meant for Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple on April 26 morning, SGPC chief Avtar Singh suspended two employees for dereliction of duty.

After the ‘Bhog ceremony’ of his elder sister, the SGPC chief met senior officials and Sikh clergy, here, on measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents. He, however, tendered unconditional apology to the Sikh Sangat for the incident. He asked the police to complete probe at the earliest to unearth conspiracy, if any.

Rajeev Kumar (21) was handed over to the police when agitating Task Force of the Shiromani Committee, Sikh Sangat and certain radical Sikhs had assaulted the youth who occupied ‘Guru’s Peehra’. He was rushed to the private hospital in serious condition. A criminal case was registered against the culprit in Police Station Kotwali Amritsar under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code.

Jaspal Singh , member of media committee, Shiromani Akali Dal ( Panch Pardhani) held the SGPC responsible for the incident. He alleged the SGPC president was more interested in election campaign of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal than maintaining of the Sikh Maryada in the holiest Sikh shrine.

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Amritsar Sex Scam
Former mayor seeks quashing of FIR
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 28
Amritsar’s former mayor wants the first information report (FIR) in Amritsar sex scam to be quashed. He has claimed political malafides as the grounds for the same. The FIR was registered initially under Sections 406, 420, 506, 386 and 120-B of the IPC. The offence of rape under Section 376 was added later.

In his petition placed before Justice Rajan Gupta, Subhash Chander Sharma claimed his name did not figure in the FIR. It was only mentioned that the city’s mayor was caught with a girl. During investigation of the case, however, no evidence was found against him. He added the implication in the case due to political considerations had ruined his political career.

As the petition came up for hearing, Justice Gupta recused himself as he was the CBI’s standing counsel prior to his elevation as a high court judge. The petition has now been forwarded to the Chief Justice for placing it before some other Bench.

The FIR was registered on June 3, 2006, after Justice Ajit Singh Bains of Punjab Human Rights Organisation, and his team, carried out investigations in the matter. They had come to the conclusion that the representatives of a cable firm were paying money to the police, the political leaders and other, besides supplying girls. In lieu, the powers that be were helping them in their illegal work.

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