Amritsar, July 22
Bid to dispose of 34 acres of Bebe Nanki Gurdwara at Dera Chahal in Lahore district for defence residential colony has been foiled following a news in these columns on July 14.

Chairman, Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB), Syed Asif Hashmi has put up notice in front of the gurdwara building warning against sale of the land. The notice reads: “Evacuee Trust Property Board’s property Dera Chahl village, Lahore, is neither being included in any development scheme nor is it being sold for any other purpose. If anybody or department is involved in the sale of this land or its development, the PETPB will take legal action against him”.

It is learnt that Dr Pritpal Singh, president, American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (AGPC), took up the matter with the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to stop the sale of land to Defence Housing Colony, adjoining the Sikh shrine.

Earlier, SGPC president Avtar Singh had urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the sale of land for housing purpose. The PETPB chairman, in an e-mail to the SGPC and the AGPC, promised action if any person/department made an attempt to usurp the gurdwara land.

Sources alleged the PETPB chief was involved in the conspiracy to include the land in the Defence Housing Society.

Sikhs of Pakistan were up in arms against the PETPB for usurping gurdwara land. Former president, PSGPC, Bishan Singh had called the Sikh sangat of Pakistan to hold emergency meeting at Nankana Sahib to protest with the government of Pakistan. He had stated the PETPB had no legal right to dispose of the land of gurdwara. Dera Chahal is 35 km from Lahore towards Ghawindi. The Sikh shrine is called Janmasthan Bebe (elder sister) Nanki.

Jalalabad, July 22
A CPI stronghold earlier and oscillating between the SAD and the Congress in the past four elections, this border area constituency will now decide the fate of “Chief Minister-in-waiting” SAD president Sukhbir Badal.

With Sukhbir choosing this constituency to make his maiden entry into the Vidhan Sabha, the seat has temporarily acquired the central stage in Punjab politics with all Akali bigwigs coming forward to extend their support to the SAD president.

Facing Sukhbir is former minister and two-time legislator Hans Raj Josan from the Congress. Though a formidable leader, he is finding it difficult to match up to Sukhbir’s campaign, which is being run like a well-oiled machine in contrast to a lacklustre Congress show.

The SAD campaign derives confidence from two factors, Sukhbir’s influence in state politics and his ability to deliver on the development front as well as Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaiya’s popularity among the Rai Sikh community, which forms more than 80,000 of the 1.66 lakh electorate. Ghubaiya defeated Josan by a margin of 44,000 votes in the 2007 assembly elections. The byelection was necessitated after Ghubaiya vacated the assembly seat after his election to Parliament.

The SAD has also worked well in advance of the polls with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal distributing around Rs 25 crore in various sangat darshan programmes held in the constituency. A lot more projects, including a judicial complex and a bypass, have been promised for Jalalabad town besides reverse osmosis plants and water works for villages.

Except for Jalalabad town, which has 15,000 votes and the ‘kasba’ of Ladhuke with 3,000 votes, the constituency is completely rural in nature. Its only industry is rice milling due to the increased transplantation of superior varieties of ‘basmati’ in the area. Around 70 rice shellers are doing business in the town.

More than 60 out of total 143 villages in the constituency are situated along the international border. Here the major issues are easy accessibility to fields across the barbed fire fence and compensation for inability to grow crops more than two feet high due to security concerns. The Chief Minister disclosed on his insistence the Centre had given compensation of Rs 3,200 per acre once but never again.

Lack of educational facilities can be reflected in the fact that there is no government college in the constituency. The SAD has promised to establish a girls’ college in the town, as the only DAV institution is a co-educational one.

Josan claims the constituency is comparable to Lambi and Gidderbaha and that he has put in a lot efforts, including ensuring a network of good roads as well as augmentation of the canal water system.

However, the people of the constituency want more and there is no guessing as to who can give them that.

Kahnuwan (Gurdaspur), July 22
Five candidates, including one each from the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress, are left in the fray for the byelection to this predominantly rural constituency where development seems to have remained elusive so far.

Those, who have been contesting the byelection, the polling for which will be held on August 3, are Sewa Singh Sekhwan (SAD), Fathe Jung Singh Bajwa (Congress), Kushpal Singh, Avtar Singh and Surinder Singh (all independents). The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa was MP from this segment in May.

Founded by Kahna, a Rajput of Nur clan, when Sher Shah Suri conquered Punjab, this ancient town of Gurdaspur district was the “Pargana” headquarters of the Mughal dynasty. However, the status of this semi-urban town and its adjoining areas sagged as successive state governments of Independent India remained indifferent to its development.

Roads in the constituency are dotted with potholes and the youth is in the grip of drug addiction. People of this segment have still been waiting for the fulfilment of promises of “bijli, sadak, pani” made to them by successive MLAs. Though MLAs from this constituency have got cabinet berths in successive governments from 1992 to 2007, it has been plagued by backwardness in every sphere.

While Partap Singh Bajwa remained minister in the Congress government in Punjab from 1992 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2007, Sewa Singh Sekhwan remained minister from 1997 to 2002. Both Fathe Jung Singh Bajwa, brother of Partap Singh Bajwa, and Sekhwan, who have emerged as principal contestants, have tasted defeats in the past two assembly elections consecutively.

While Fathe Jung Singh Bajwa was defeated as an independent candidate in 2002 and then Congress candidate in 2007 from the Sri Hargobind Pur assembly segment, Sekhwan was defeated by Partap Singh Bajwa in 2002 and 2007 polls from this assembly segment. However, Sekhwan, who has been trying his luck for the fourth time, was elected to the Vidhan Sabha from this segment in 1997 by defeating Partap Singh Bajwa.

In the past seven assembly elections since 1977, the members of Bajwa and Sekhwan families witnessed direct fights in five assembly elections. In 1977 and 1980 assembly elections, Ujagar Singh Sekhwan, late father of Sewa Singh Sekhwan, defeated Satnam Singh Bajwa, late father of Partap Singh Bajwa. Ujagar Singh Sekhwan remained acting president of the SAD during the Emergency period.

Chandigarh, July 22
Heavy downpour in the northern region over the past two days has come as a big relief to paddy farmers. With the weather office predicting more rain over the next few days, the Department of Agriculture is hoping that Punjab will be able to minimise the damage to paddy yields.

Since paddy has already been transplanted, slightest of rain will help the crop. Several parts of Punjab and Haryana have experienced a good spell of rain touching up to 53 millimetres in places like Hoshiarpur. Besides helping the paddy crop, the rain will also improve the power situation.

The Meteorological Department said Mukerian in Punjab received 33.5 mm rainfall followed by Anandpur Sahib with 24 mm. Both Phagwara and Ropar received 20 mm, Gurdaspur 8 mm, Dhuri 7 mm, Garhshankar 5 mm and Balachaur and its surroundings 4.2 mm. Before the current wet spell, Punjab was about 57 per cent deficient in rain in comparison to last year. In neighbouring Haryana, monsoon has fallen 40 per cent short of normal.

The rain will also check the trend of sowing basmati that requires less water, but higher maintenance. The current spell of rain will help both common rice varieties and basmati as it will help in the growth of plans, besides providing the much-needed water. Many other crops like oilseeds and sugar cane are affected by scanty rainfall.

While rain has come to the aid of farmers, union Agriculture Minister Sahrad Pawar has hit out at most state governments saying that no province in the country has asked the union government to declare the state drought-hit on account of poor monsoon. States like Punjab have been claiming that they have repeatedly taken up the matter with the central government.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress MLA and Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira has taken on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for what he calls, “double faceted and pseudo character” over fixing of MSP for last year’s paddy cultivation. He said Pawar had said that Badal suggested Rs 1,000 as MSP for the paddy crop, while the Centre announced Rs 1,080 MSP, which was then criticised by Badal as being less.

Dead man comes alive
His ‘murderers’ remained in jail for five years
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 22
Jagsir Singh, whose “murder” led to the conviction and life sentence for Barnala district resident Nachhatar Singh and several others, is “alive”. He is allegedly living in Rattowal in Balachaur tehsil under the pseudonym of Baldev Singh.

His “body” was found in a canal and identified by his father. There was an eyewitness to the “murder”, and the prosecution had referred to extra-judicial confession by Nachhatar Singh and two others. During the trial, two police officials had also appeared as prosecution witnesses.

If allegations in an application bringing the facts to the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s notice are to be believed, Nachhatar and the others remained in jail for over five years for the murder of a man, who was never killed.

In the application placed before Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Jitendra Chauhan, Nachhatar has now demanded a CBI probe into the case and monetary compensation of Rs 20 lakh.

He stated Jagsir’s father Sukhdev Singh lodged an FIR, alleging his son was missing ever since tenant Nachhatar came to his house on June 5, 1996, with an offer to pay the due money. Nachhatar was not vacating the land, and had asked Sukhdev to allow Jagsir to accompany them.

The prosecution case was Jagsir’s body was recovered on June 6, 1996, from a canal in Gharauli; and was identified by Sukhdev. After post-mortem, the offence was converted to that of murder under Section 302 of the IPC.

On June 15, 1996, Amar Singh made a statement to the police that Jagsir was murdered in his presence. He even elaborated on the role played in the murder by each accused.

It was added “deceased” Jagsir has now been found to be alive; and case number 171 dated December 18, 2008, has been registered against him at Raikot police station in Ludhiana district under Sections 420, 195, 211, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

Acting on the plea, the Bench headed by Justice Gill today issued notice of motion for August 5.

Ludhiana, July 22
Panjab University, Chandigarh, has given a special chance to Jatinder Singh, a student of SD Government Evening College, Ludhiana, to appear for his compartment in English examination of BA III in September this year.

A university communication informed the candidate about it. The Tribune had highlighted the case in a news item “Nine years on, PU fails to declare result”, published on July 20.

Informing about the development, Dr Mohanmeet Khosla, chairperson, School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, said taking cognisance of his plight, the university had taken this step.

At the same time, Dr Khosla maintained that Jatinder had appeared for his compartment in English examination in September 2002 and was declared fail.

“Jatinder’s name appears in the university’s result gazette of BA/BSc III year (general) examination, September 2002, and his result is ‘fail’. Anybody can verify the result from the gazette,” said Dr Khosla.

Meanwhile, Jatinder denied having appeared in any compartment examination after April 2000 nor receiving any information regarding his result.

However, expressing happiness over the latest development, a beaming Jatinder said, “All I want is to clear my BA. I will not let go of the special chance given to me by PU”.

Nabha, July 22
The meeting held regarding the no-confidence motion against Harsimran Singh Sahni, president of the municipal committee, witnessed an exchange of blows. He failed to prove majority and was removed from his post.

The SAD had come to power for the first time after the inception of the Nabha MC. This time the SAD-BJP appointed first-time winner Harsimrat as president ignoring Surinder Bawa and Gautam Batish. Harsimrat was installed president by the SAD on July 25, 2008, after last year’s MC elections. The SAD-BJP combine won 14 seats in the 23-seat council, while the Congress got seven seats and two went to independents.

Since his installation, Harsimrat was being opposed by the Congress and his party. A no-confidence motion was moved against him by Congress MCs and Nabha Congress MLA Randip Singh. Today he was to prove majority, but SAD- BJP councillors also voted against him and he was removed.

After his removal he raised slogans in favour of Parkash Singh Badal and virtually fought with his party’s MCs. Anticipating trouble, cops were deployed there. Sahni said only an Akali councillor could become an MC chief and he would oppose the candidature of a BJP MC for the post.

Congress MLA Randip Singh and Youth Congress leader Parmjit Singh Khatra said Sahni was not doing anything for the town. Maninder Singh Mani, SAD leader and president, Zila Parishad, said due to non-performance of Sahni, his party MCs were asking him to remove him.

Ludhiana, July 22
Taking cognisance of the assault on Tehsildar GS Benipal, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the state Home Department to submit a report through the SSP, Ludhiana.

Taking a suo motu action on The Tribune reports on the assault, the commission has registered a case of human rights violation of Major Benipal and asked the state to file a detailed report on the issue. The case comes up for hearing on July 30.

Besides, the PHRC also took a notice of a complaint filed by Ludhiana-based ESM Welfare Society, led by its president, Col RS Sohi (retd), who had filed a petition with the commission asking for justice for Major Benipal. In a communiqué to Colonel Sohi, the Registrar, PHRC, has stated that the commission has already summoned the SSP, Ludhiana, Dr SS Gill, in the case.

The society had claimed that whatever happened in Ludhiana was a gross violation of fundamental rights of Major Benipal.

The society wanted the commission to seek a report from functionaries about the circumstances under which they did not provide security to Major Benipal even though he had asked for it in writing. Further it sought from the commission to take strong action against a bad administration.

Chandigarh, July 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Division Bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Daya Chaudhary today reversed the orders of a Single Bench, and upheld the appointment of Puneet Goyal and six other Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers. They were appointed on compassionate grounds, but the Single Bench had allowed a bunch of petitions challenging their appointment. The appointees included widows or kin of Army officers, who died fighting terrorism in Kashmir, Assam or during the Kargil war.

Four petitioners, Harjeet Kaur, Dr Harish Malhotra, Naresh Dubey and Harjinder Pal Singh, on the waiting list of the PCS released by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) in 1992, had stated compassionate appointments could not have been made by the government in violation of rules.

The affected officers had filed letter patent appeals, contending that the state government had the powers under Article 162 of the Constitution to make such appointments. Also, it was within its right to grant relaxation under extra-ordinary circumstances like the one under reference, in any provision of rules governing appointments, the counsel for the appellants submitted further.

The Punjab Council of ministers on March 23, 1993, had approved these appointments after taking these posts out of the purview of the state public service commission. Among those whose appointment had been challenged was Puneet Goyal, former SDM, Pathankot. The other officers are Rajeev Parashar, Amar Pal Singh, Babita, Vinay Bablani, Mohinder Pal and Gurpreet Singh Khaira.