Amritsar, May 14
The heritage lovers of the city were in for a shock when a portion of the Chemistry Department of the historical Khalsa College building was demolished by the college authorities for constructing a computer block.

Balvinder Singh, conservative professional and Professor, Guru Ramdass Institute of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, talking to The Tribune here today said he was shocked to see the vandalising of one of the most beautiful and historic marvels when he had gone to cast his vote yesterday at a polling booth set up in the college.

However, when contacted, Dr Daljit Singh, Principal of the college, said the demolished portion was the storeroom for keeping the gas plant meant for chemistry lab. He said they had shifted to LPG keeping in view the safety of the historical building.

He said the part which was demolished was a hindrance in the construction of the new computer block, to be set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore. He said they were taking every precaution not to change the original structure of the magnificent building.

Prof Balvinder said as per the Venice Charter of 1964, it had been resolved that not only the buildings, but also their surroundings be maintained to give traditional look of the college.

He said before that the Ethans Charter of 1931 was introduced for the preservation of the historical buildings but had to be changed in order to check the changing of the structures of the main historical buildings.

He said the reason stated by the Principal was illogical. “If we keep on demolishing the portions attached with the original structure because it is creating hindrance in the construction of new blocks or has become redundant would defeat the heritage value of the architectural marvel constructed by Ram Singh, the legendary architect,” he explained.

Jalandhar, May 14
Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira sent a complaint to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu, demanding registration of a criminal case against Jaid village sarpanch Surjit Singh and his son Rajwinder Singh Kali.

In his complaint, the Congress MLA alleged that Surjit Singh and his associates kidnapped Swaran Singh of Jaid village in the presence of his wife Kulwant Kaur on Wednesday evening.

They beat him up for allegedly not voting for the SAD-BJP candidate, he alleged, adding that Surjit Singh and others, brandishing swords, paraded the victim, only in his undergarments, round the village and subsequently he was taken to their “dera”, about 500 meters away from the village.

Khaira further alleged that victim Swaran Singh was detained for more than 45 minutes at the “dera” and severely beaten up.

The Congress MLA further said he had telephonically informed DSP Mohinder Singh and Bholath SHO Parvinder Singh about the incident.

Following which, ASI Rajinder Singh had been sent to the spot but instead of arresting the culprits, the ASI forced Swaran Singh to sign blank papers which were later produced as a compromise document by the police, he alleged.

Khaira said Swaran Singh was admitted to the Primary Health Centre, Bholath, for medical treatment at 9.30 pm yesterday.

The local police has not registered any criminal case against the accused due to political pressure.

Requesting the Election Commission to intervene in the matter, he demanded strict action against the DSP and the SHO for inaction and dereliction of their duty.

He also sought action against the ASI allegedly forcing the victim to sign blank papers to produce a compromise document later in favour of the accused.

Nawanshahr, May 14
After peaceful polling in the three assembly segments - Nawanshahr, Banga and Balachaur - falling in the Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency yesterday, the district administration as well as the political parties are now concentrating on the counting of votes scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg in a press release issued here today said elaborate arrangements for smooth and hassle-free counting of votes had been made here. 

While the counting of votes polled for the Banga and Balachaur segments would be held at the DAN College of Education, the counting of votes for the Nawanshahr and Garhshankar segments would be held at RK Arya College. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the counting centres.

While terming the voting pattern to be in their favour and enumerating the minus points of their opponents, both SAD-BJP and Congress leaders have been exuding confidence that their candidates would win the poll with a margin of at least one lakh votes.

BSP leaders have also been claiming that their candidate Kewal Krishan Chauhan would prove a dark horse on May 16.

Amritsar, May 14
Inderdip Singh Jassar of Patiala has filed a petition with the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission against Gurmohan Singh Walia, Director (Education) of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) for usurping committee funds by getting separate salaries for the additional three posts held by him.

The petitioner also filed a petition against Jashandeep Kaur and Gurpreet Singh, lecturer and computer operator, respectively, at the Mata Sahib Kaur Khalsa College of Education, Patiala, of which Walia had additional charge as principal for several years. Jassar had alleged that both the appointments were illegal and were made showing favouritism.

However, Gurmohan Singh Walia termed the allegations as baseless, adding that the petition was filed only to harass and defame him due to personal vendetta. He said he had never drawn additional salaries from three other institutions of which he had additional charge. He said he had drawn salary only from Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, of which he is the principal.

Walia alleged that Jassar’s wife Sukhdeep Kaur had been working with Mata Sahib Kaur Khalsa College as lecturer on ad hoc basis for three years.

However, she did not fulfil the conditions for the post, while Jashandeep fulfilled all the conditions. Besides, Jashandeep had also been a gold medalist. He said Gurpreet’s was a non-teaching post and was made by the management president. He said he had not received the summons from the Judicial Commission as yet, adding that he would reply as soon as he would get the summons.

Hoshiarpur, May 14
On account of the non-existence of a Circuit House in Hoshiarpur, government officers, politicians, including VIPs, have to face a lot of inconvenience.

The town has only two rest houses, one of the PWD and the other of the Irrigation Department having five sets each to house government officers and VIPs. These rest houses generally remain occupied whenever any senior civil or police officer comes here after his transfer to the district.

His predecessor does not vacate the government accommodation till he gets the same at his new place of posting. Besides, regular visits of Punjab ministers to these rest houses are also common.

There is also a small rest house of the PSEB behind the railway station. But due to its location in the congested area, no body prefers to go there. Dozens of VIPs from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan daily pass through the town for their pilgrimage to the holy shrines of Chintpurni, Jwalamukhi, Bajreshwari Devi (Kangra) and Chamunda Devi, etc.

They also come to these rest houses to refresh themselves. There was a proposal to construct a circuit house in the three-acre complex of the old Civil Rest House which has been lying abandoned since long. There is an urgent need to construct a suitable circuit house in the town for the common use of the public. — OC