 |
|
|
7 drown as vehicle falls into Bist Doab canal
Few abide by govt order on new office time
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BKU assails Cong chief
Stamp Paper Scam
SGPC, Cambridge varsity to institute scholarships for Sikh students
Poor governance eating into SAD-BJP alliance
No problem with SAD: Kalia
SAD leader flouts rules to meet Bains in custody
SAD, BJP MLAs to meet on July 3
Bypoll for three seats on Aug 3
First showers of monsoon cool region
Patiala’s royal heritage being ‘plundered’
New pay scales for SGPC-run schools, colleges
Ramesh Inder is Punjab CIC
Eyewitness to Jallianwala massacre dies unsung
Cops make hay while sun shines
Improvement Trust chairmen appointed
PRTC contract workers stage dharna
Soni moves HC for recounting
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 drown as vehicle falls into Bist Doab canal
Hoshiarpur, June 29 Two members of the family escaped unhurt. Two twin brothers also died in the accident. Twelve persons of Authori village were accompanying their Norwegian relative in vehicles to their relative in Hoshiarpur and travelling along the Bist Doab canal when the accident took place. According to report, Tirath Ram (41), his wife Daljit Kaur, daughter Sapna, Joginder Pal Singh (36), his wife Balbir Kaur, daughter Tamanna and twin sons Harpreet and Hitesh, Neelam, her daughter Pooja and son Rohit were travelling in Tavera (PB-09-5747) along with Norway-based niece Ramandeep Kaur. Joginder was driving the vehicle from Authori village to Hoshiarpur when he lost control of the vehicle and other vehicles too fell into the canal along with 11 persons. According to the police, bodies of Balbir, Tamanna, Hitesh, Tirath, Daljit, Sapna and Ramandeep were removed from the canal, while Harpreet, Pooja and Rohit are still missing. The vehicle driver and his sister Neelam were saved . Eyewitnesses said hearing the noise, labourers widening the road near the spot raised the alarm and a crane was pressed into service which pulled out the vehicle from the canal along with bodies and survivors. As the news spread, passersby and villagers recovered some other bodies. However, Sapna, Pooja and Rohit were missing till the filing of report. Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Megh Raj, along with certain senior civil and police officers, visited the spot. The bodies were sent to Satluj Hospital, Kot Fatuhi. The DC said divers had been called to pull the bodies out. The bodies have been sent to the civil hospital, Nawanshahr, for a post-mortem examination. The survivors, still in shock, were referred to a private hospital in
Phagwara.
|
|
Few abide by govt order on new office time
Ludhiana, June 29 A visit to various government offices revealed senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg, Ludhiana Municipal Commissioner GS Ghuman, MC joint commissioner and XEN Mohinder Pal Singh and HS Khosa and senior officials of the local administration as well as the Police Department, failed to follow the government directive. Office rooms of SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill, SP (city I) Harsh Bansal, SP (city II) Snehdeep Sharma and SP (headquarters) Harish Kumar were also found locked till 8.15 am today. Staff of public offices were not seen till 8 am due to which people had to face inconvenience. Senior officials were seen grumbling over the new time which they termed as "inconvenient". Senior Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) XEN Pardeep Sharma rued, "The board employees are already working overtime and checking 'kundi' connections by farmers in villages. I have sought a written explanation from the employees who reached office late today". However, at around 11 am, the usual rush hour at public offices, most officials could be seen on duty in a routine manner. Some officials, however, followed the government's directive on new office time from day
one itself.
|
|
Kaypee takes charge
Chandigarh, June 29 Reacting to media queries whether he would now remain in the saddle permanently or he was filling in the slot as an “acting chief”, Kaypee said, “There was never any doubt about his being the actual president, but he was only asked to step down for the duration of the parliamentary poll and the Nurmahal bye-poll as his attention was required there”. He said all talk about senior leaders from the party camping in Delhi, eyeing the president’s post was only imagination of the media. Interestingly, most senior leaders of the party were conspicuous by their absence when Kaypee came to the Punjab Congress Bhawan to take charge. In reply to a question about the party following “one person, one post principal,” he said this did not apply to him (as an MP), but if an MP was to be inducted as a minister, the rule would apply. Giving out the action plan for the party during his current term, Kaypee said he would strengthen the party at the grassroots level and make people aware about the programmes and polices of the UPA government. He said as an MP, he would find enough time to meet his obligations as president of the party. Kaypee lashed out at the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab for its failure to provide adequate electricity to industry, farmers and domestic consumers. He also accused the ruling alliance of registering about 1,400 cases of political vendetta against Congress workers. The Congress president expressed serious concern over what he called “corruption by SAD leadership”. He alleged that the state was witnessing a free flow of narcotics with the involvement of the SAD leadership and the situation was becoming grim by the day.
|
|
BKU assails Cong chief
Chandigarh, June 29 Assailing Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee for his opposition to the direct payment to farmers, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the BKU (Ekta), said it reiterated beyond doubt that the Congress was anti-farmer. The Congress was still subscribing to the legacy it had inherited from the British, who treated farmers with prejudice. Farmers had been struggling for 62 years to get liberated from the clutches of commission agents, who charged them 13-month interest for short-term loans. It was the existing system to routing everything through the commission agents that state farmers had been reeling under severe debts. “If Punjab farmers could not benefit much from the major loan waiver announced by the UPA government during its first term, it was because of the prevalent practice of commission agents financing the farmers,” adds another leader of the union. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary of the BKU (Ekta), said farmers in Punjab had always been treated as bonded labourers of the commission agents.
|
|
Stamp Paper Scam
Ludhiana, June 29 Though he was named by the tehsildar, Major GS Benipal (retd) in his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner more than a month ago, he was not booked by the police then. Earlier, stamp paper vendor Ravinder Pal and typist Jyoti were booked in
the case. SP, City-I, Harsh Bansal confirmed that Bhikhi was named in the scam. Raids were on to arrest him. The alleged kingpin of the scam, Ravinder Pal, today surrendered before a court. He was remanded in 10-day police custody till July 9 by duty magistrate JPS Wehnipal. Meanwhile, revenue officials of the state have decided to seek an undertaking from the seller and buyer that the stamp papers enclosed by them were original before registering their document. Though the state government has not passed an order in this regard, the revenue officials, using the special powers delegated to sub-registrars, today started asking for the undertaking. Besides, they were asked to mention the name of stamp vendor from whom they bought the papers and date of purchase on the undertaking. ‘‘We do not want to take any chances. Our demand is within the purview of the law. We feel safe by getting this undertaking, ’’ said tehsildar KS
Randhawa. He added not many officials were able to identify the stamp papers. ‘‘We may flounder and register a document on a fake stamp paper. We would be held responsible then. So we are cautious. Let the people give an undertaking, ’’ said Randhawa.
|
|
SGPC, Cambridge varsity to institute scholarships for Sikh students
Ludhiana, June 29 SGPC president Jathedar Avtar Singh said the SGPC had received a proposal from the Department of Human Resources, University of Cambridge (UK), in February this year regarding providing opportunities to Indian students from the Sikh community. Michael O' Sullivan Joseph, Director, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, arrived in India a few days back to discuss the modalities for the creation of scholarships. The Trust grants about 860 scholarships to Commonwealth students who are meritorious and fulfill the eligibility for admission to Cambridge varsity. Joseph visited important institutions accompanied by the Director, Education, SGPC. He held a meeting with the SGPC chief in which the Director, Education and Principal of College of SGPC and Agya Paul Singh from Ludhiana participated. The amount of scholarships will be shared as 50 per cent each between the SGPC and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. The scholarships will be granted through the SGPC-Cambridge University Education Foundation. The University of Cambridge, which is celebrating its 800th anniversary this year, and has decided to open its doors to Guru Granth Sahib for the first time in whose presence an MoU will be signed in July, 2009. Sikh students who will avail the scholarships for MPhil or PhD degrees will fill a five-year bond to serve at the appropriate level in various educational institutions of the SGPC. The SGPC on the one hand plans to build up its core faculty and on the other, needy and meritorious students will get an opportunity to study at the most prestigious university of the world which has produced approximately 75 Nobel laureates, informed the SGPC chief. A four-member committee, comprising Vice-Chancellor, Guru Granth Sahib World University, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Director, Education, SGPC, GS Walia, chief coordinator Agya Paul Singh and Inderjeet Singh Seehra of Cambridge University, has been formed to finalise the modalities with the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust regarding the SGPC Cambridge Scholarship Programme.
|
Poor governance eating into SAD-BJP alliance
Chandigarh, June 29 The government handling of one crisis after another is nothing but appalling. In what is seen as “murder of governance”, the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and the SSP have been publicly made to “regret the incident” (beating up of Ludhiana tehsildar Major (retd) GS Benipal) by SAD Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar at Jalandhar yesterday. No one would object to “seeking apology” if it follows an omission. But the manner in which the culprits of the incidents, close to the SAD leadership, continue to be shielded while the heads of civil and police administration were made to “apologise” directly or indirectly from their subordinates, speaks volumes of the ruling alliances political acumen. The bureaucrats are totally demoralised and none want to take any kind of cudgels anymore. The government has drawn a lot of flak over the delay in giving a “go ahead” to the administration to book the dozen odd culprits, but it has drawn more public ire for “humiliating” its officers. The manner in which the government failed to act swiftly and decisively after the Ludhiana incident and further let the perpetrators of the crime move around freely, simply suggests lack of will and ability to deal with such situations with an iron hand for political considerations. Prior to the beating up of Tehsildar at Ludhiana, where the gentleman - an ex-serviceman was stripped to his underpants, Ludhiana’s Improvement Trust has been facing a clash between the executive officer and politicians from both SAD and the BJP. Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s Deputy Speaker Satpal Gosain and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda almost came to blows earlier this week over what these functionaries in the government call “corruption in the civic body”. Again the manner in which Adampur legislator Sarabjit Singh Makkar misbehaved with Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia over delay in clearing of files pertaining to his business interest speaks volumes for government functioning. It took the government almost a week to broker peace with the BJP. Despite Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s assurance to deal firmly with rogue and criminal elements, there is a complete lack of political will to do so as these very people have been used by the SAD to brow beat its political opponents. This happened in Ludhiana and Talwandi Sabo during the Parliamentary poll and at several other places during the past few months. Brokering a negotiation with the striking revenue officials by “using” the civil and police chief of the district administration simply reflects the lack of vision to govern.
|
|
No problem with SAD: Kalia
Patiala, June 29 Speaking to media at the draw of lots for Maharaja Narindra Enclave developed by the Patiala Improvement Trust, Kalia
said the matter of his insult by an Akali legislator had been resolved at the
instance of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. When asked if the BJP leaders had to intervene to broker peace between the two alliance partners, Kalia said the matter had been resolved at the state-level itself and the central leaders had not been involved in defusing the crisis. Referring to the poor showing by the Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the recently held parliamentary elections where it could win only five out of 13 seats, Kalia said in 2004 parliament elections the Congress had got only two seats even though the party was in power in the state. He said elections results were not an indication of the popularity of the alliance. The Local Bodies’ Minister said Badal was a fatherly figure and was receptive to the problems highlighted by the BJP or the party rank and file.The Punjab government had drawn up a plan for planned development of Patiala. The minister added the improvement trust had developed some modern localities in Patiala and more such colonies were being developed. He said the objective was to have planned all-round development of the city.
|
|
SAD leader flouts rules to meet Bains in custody
Ludhiana, June 29 Sources said Kang remained with Bains for a couple of minutes and assured him to take his case to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Many eyebrows were raised as the law does not permit anybody to meet an accused in police custody. The SSP, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, denied that Kang was allowed to meet Bains. However, Kang, while talking to The Tribune over the phone, said he had met Bains. ‘‘It was my moral duty to meet him. Afterall he was an office-bearer of the Youth Akali Dal. I should have gone to him earlier but I was away for some days, ’’ said Kang. Bains had told him that he was falsely implicated in the case. After listening to him, he had decided to take up the matter with the high command, Kang added. He said he had met
several persons to do some groundwork to find out what exactly had happened.
|
|
SAD, BJP MLAs to meet on July 3
Chandigarh, June 29 He said that leader of the House Parkash Singh Badal would preside over the meeting where associate legislators of the SAD-BJP alliance had also been invited. The meeting would be held at the Panjabi Regional Committee Hall on the first floor of the Vidhan Sabha complex.
|
|
|
Bypoll for three seats on Aug 3
Chandigarh, June 29 The model election code of conduct in these three constituencies has come into force with immediate effect, barring the Chief Minister and other government functionaries from making announcements to woo voters in these areas. Banur seat fell vacant following the death of Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while the Jalalabad and Kahnuwan seats were declared vacant after the election of Sher Singh Gubhaya (Jalalabad) and Paratap Singh Bajwa (Gurdaspur) to Parliament from Ferozepur and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituencies.
|
|
Dirty water in Bhakra main line
Anandpur Sahib, June 29 Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) officials said prime reason behind heavy silt is supposed to be low water-level in Nangal dam. “When the dam is full, silt gets deposited in its bed and rarely finds its way into the Sutlej or the canal. As the water is running low these days, silt erosion occurs and is carried away to other water bodies,” officials said, pointing out that melting snow gives highly turbid physical character to water, which makes it appear dirty. Even PWD Water Supply Department officials pointed out that due to dirty water, more alum was being used at various water works to clean it. Officials added that at few water works, the filter was choked and were taking more than double the time to purify water. The quantity of alum has been increased three times. According to officials, there were 45 water works in Ropar district that supply water from BML to various localities, including rural water supply. He pointed out that high turbidity of water is usually witnessed during monsoons. The present situation is due to less water in Nangal reservoir. The situation is not expected to get better unless and until levels of water in Nangal reservoir rises. “This can be only possible after rains. Till then water supply is expected to remain dirty,” BBMB officials said.
|
|
|
First showers of monsoon cool region Jalandhar, June 29 While Jalandhar and its surrounding areas had light showers this evening, Ludhiana, Talwara, parts of Hoshiarpur districts and some other areas had a good first spell of the rains late this evening. The rains have not only provided a little relief to the overstretched power distribution system and also to the PSEB authorities that were facing the wrath of the people for the past several days, but it will also help in improving the potable water supply, which had become a big problem in cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda, etc. Interestingly, this region did not witness pre-monsoon showers. The Met Department had predicted the arrival of monsoon on June 29 in this region. What made things worse for the people of the region was a prolonged dry spell in the absence of the pre-monsoon showers. Even modern cities such as Chandigarh were hit hard owing to the delay in the arrival of the monsoon. There had been many areas in Chandigarh which faced serious problems with regard to potable water. A senior officer of the Punjab Agriculture Department said owing to the heatwave, the transplantation of paddy was delayed for a few days.
|
|
Patiala’s royal heritage being ‘plundered’
Patiala, June 29 What may come as a surprise that some precious artifacts or their parts have been disappearing from the museum in mysterious manner, but nobody seem to take the issue seriously. A visit to the museum situated in the ‘Durbar Hall’ of the fort that had served as an official residence of rulers of the erstwhile Patiala state upto the middle of 19th century, revealed that not only several layers of most of the chandeliers had gone missing, but also parts of some of these poorly preserved artifacts had got damaged. Similarly, parts of the silver royal chariot brought by the then Maharaja of Patiala to his state in 1909 from Calcutta were eluding the vehicle. According to sources, parts of chandeliers, chariot and other artifacts, not only at the museum but also at other department-run buildings housing heritage treasures, were being plundered in a slow but well-planned manner so as to circumvent scope of any doubt. Involvement of care-taking staff cannot be ruled out. Lack of awareness has been keeping the heritage treasure away from the public view. There were so many priceless artifacts, arms and armours, including camel guns and the famous ‘Kare Khan’ gun that was taken by Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Maharaja Sahib Singh in 1806 when the former had come to Patiala to settle a dispute between the latter and his wife. The gun was used by the Maharaja in his future conquests and was later captured
by the Britishers in the Anglo-Sikh wars. Another interesting part of the museum collection is a dagger of Guru Gobind Singh embellished with a jade handle. The handle, they say, had a unique quality that it could change its colour if dipped in poison and worked as a great instrument
to detect any poisonous substance in food.
|
|
New pay scales for SGPC-run schools, colleges
Anandpur Sahib, June 29 SGPC general-secretary Sukhdev Singh
Bhaur said this was being done to raise the standard of education in the
SGPC-run educational institutes. Final decision in this matter will be
taken during SGPC meeting to be held on June 30. With the declaration, a
major hike in salary packages of the SGPC-run institutes is expected. He
was talking on the during sidelines of property subcommittee meeting
held here today. In order to increase the number of Punjabis,
especially Sikh students, appearing for competition exams, the SGPC also
plans to set up an institute for competitive studies. The organisation
is all set to launch services of AC buses for pilgrims visiting 40
gurdwaras under Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Gurdwaras of Himachal Pradesh
will also be covered under it. While talking about the forthcoming SGPC
elections he said the parties should send a list of their prospective
candidates to the Akal Takht for getting a clean chit. “This would
ensure that people with clean reputation contest for the coveted
seats,” he added. Briefing about the augmentation plan he said an inn
of about 20 rooms is being constructed at Gurdwara Patalpuri in Kiratpur
Sahib. Similarly, 50 rooms are being constructed at Baba Gurditta
Gurdwara, 30 rooms at Bhaura Sahib and 16 at Qila Fatehgarh Sahib.
|
|
Ramesh Inder is Punjab CIC
Within hours of handing over charge as the Chief Secretary of the state, Ramesh Inder took over as the CIC today. Governor General (retd) SF Rodrigues administered the oath of office to Ramesh Inder in the presence of new Chief Secretary Subodh Agrawal and Information Commissioners. He is the second CIC to head the State Information Commission. He joins at a post lying vacant since July 29 last following the retirement of Rajan Kashyap, a former Chief Secretary of the state. Ramesh Inder said he was looking forward to the new assignment. “My first priority is to ensure that pendency of appeals in the commission is brought down. The disposal time of cases being heard needs to be minimised. The commission will ensure that government and semi-government departments follow the mandate of the act,” he said. He added that the commission would partner with RTI activist bodies to generate awareness about the act and its provisions across the state especially in rural areas.
Ramesh Inder has served for 29 years in the IAS on different positions in the state and at the Centre, including Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Joint Secretary, Union Ministry Of Chemicals And Fertilisers. He received the Padma Shri in 1986 for distinguished services in public administration and was also conferred with National Citizen’s Award in 1998 by the President of India for his singular contribution in public service. As the Chief Secretary of the state for over past two years, Ramesh Inder was instrumental in facilitating several significant projects to the state, including international airport at Mohali, IIT at Ropar, central university at Bathinda and ISB at Mohali. Talking about the state, he said Punjab was at a critical stage of economic growth. “Agricultural growth has reached a plateau and industrial growth has its limitations. The state has to initiate fundamental changes in the structure of the economy to move forward,” he said.
|
|
Eyewitness to Jallianwala massacre dies unsung
Even though the then President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, honoured Bapu Shingara Singh during his maiden visit to the holy city in March, 2003, he was not given the benefits entitled to a freedom fighter due to an adverse report prepared by the History Department of Guru Nanak Dev University at the behest of the central government. The report had raised doubts over the claims of Bapu Shingara Singh that he was an eyewitness to the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh. Struck with a paralytic attack, Bapu Shingara Singh had vividly recalled the pre-Partition days. He had been claiming that he, along with his four friends, had gone to Jallianwala Bagh to listen to the speeches of freedom fighters on the fateful Baisakhi day. While his three friends died in the firing, he managed to sneak out. He had witnessed people jumping into the well to save themselves from the firing. However, Bapu Singhara Singh had been running from pillar to post to record his memories of the massacre in a book as promised by Kalam. Though he was given Rs 25,000 by the government after lots of efforts by various social groups, he was not provided with any historian or stenographer to record his memories as promised by Kalam. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief over his death. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister described Bapu Shingara Singh as an icon of pre-Independence movement, who was the last surviving witness of the Jallianwalan Bagh tragedy in 1919. “The name of the grand old man of the national freedom struggle would go down in the annals of the Indian history through his rich legacy of high ideals of patriotism and self-sacrifice,” said Badal. Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu attended his cremation. “However, the family members of Bapu Shingara Singh alleged that he was forgotten by the state and central governments though the Kalam had instructed them to give him due honour. They said Bapu Shingara Singh had an important piece of history in his head but nobody bothered to record it despite the instructions given by the former President. He was in his early 20s when British forces, attempting to quell an uprising, opened fire on a large crowd of unarmed Indian protesters. Though the administration failed to fulfil the promises made by the former President, MS Bitta, president of the All-India Terrorist Front, came forward to render all possible help to the last eyewitness of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
|
|
Cops make hay while sun shines
Phulokhari (Bathinda), June 29 However, many shopkeepers were not so lucky. Meanwhile, womenfolk and kids of labourers alleged that policemen beat them up and misbehaved with them. Senior police officials awarded on-the-spot punishment to the policemen found to be lax in restoring order. On the suggestion of SSP, Sangrur, Naunihal Singh, who is the officiating SSP of Bathinda, SSP, Mansa, Manminder Singh punished four junior cops by asking them to run in the scorching heat, keeping their guns and lathis above their heads. SSP Naunihal Singh had already courted controversy for allegedly punishing junior cops in Bathinda by asking them to perform push-ups for not maintaining their motorcycles in proper condition. During the lathi charge, many of the labourers sustained severe injuries but the civil administration turned a blind eye when it came to providing first aid to the injured. Later, arrangements were made for the same.
|
|
Improvement Trust chairmen appointed
Jalandhar, June 29 Although the names of probables had been doing the rounds for the past many days, sources said Local Government Minister Manoranjan Kalia cleared the file today. Those appointed are Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna (Amritsar), Ashok Juneja (Ludhiana), Hira Lal Dhir (Kapurthala), Chander Kumar Aggarwal (Tarn Taran), Mohinder Dhingra (Fazilka), Anil Vasudeva (Pathankot), Rajesh Dalli (Khanna), Chander Kumar (Nangal), Bhupesh Aggarwal (Nabha), Dr Nand Lal (Rajpura), Ashok Bharti (Bhatinda), Dev Raj Chachowalia (Batala), Tejesvi Bharadwaj (Phagwara) and KK Moudgill (Sangrur). Party sources said the appointees were a judicious mix of old and new leaders keeping in mind the regional political equations. A perusal of the list reveals that the appointees are known to be close to the senor leadership of the party, including state BJP chief Prof Rajinder Bhandari, Kalia, and senior leaders like Madan Mohan
Mittal.
|
|
PRTC contract workers stage dharna
Sangrur, June 29 Devinder Singh Chatha, president of the union of the Sangrur depot of the PRTC, said on June 26 the contract workers (drivers and conductors) had observed strike and gone to Patiala to meet the managing director of the PRTC in connection with their demands. When they came back in the evening to the Sangrur depot, seven drivers and conductors had been sacked by the authorities while three workers had been sacked later, he added. Chatha said claimed that more than 60 persons were on strike.
|
|
Soni moves HC for recounting
Chandigarh, June 29
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, June 29
Amritsar, June 29