 |
|
|
1.4 cr bags of paddy lie in mandis
Winter session may witness fierce debates
Is Barnala set to return?
Canadian PM to visit Golden Temple tomorrow
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
‘Start direct flight between Vancouver, Amritsar
RTI users object to Punjab Advocate-General defending PIOs
Now, two former mayors defend Amarinder
Power-full: No more weekly off for industry
Shortage likely in northern region
Controversial Discourse
Scholarship Disbursement
Proxy Patwari
Bachi is PSEB admn member
Acid attack on Dalit woman
High Court
Two Babbar Khalsa men arrested
|
1.4 cr bags of paddy lie in mandis
Why the delay? Punjab Rice Millers Association president Tarsem Saini said 180 of the 271 millers declared defaulters had changed the stock rejected by the Food Corporation of India. Seeking the state government’s intervention, he said the millers should be allowed to lift the stock right away.“Now that experts have recommended more damage percentage in milling the PAU 201 variety, the Union Government should allow the same. The issue has now been placed before another panel and the delay is not in the interest of farmers,” Saini said.
Chandigarh, November 16 Paddy bags were not lifted during procurement after a large number of millers were declared defaulters. Additionally, millers were reluctant to pick up paddy from where PAU 201 is more because the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is still to concede their demand to increase the damage percentage allowed while milling this variety. The Arhtiya Association today took up the issue with Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon saying it could not guard the paddy after November 20. “Migrant labour contracted with arhtiyas return home at this time of the year and it would be difficult to continue to keep the paddy in mandis,” association president Ravinder Singh Cheema said. Most of the unlifted paddy is in mandis in Sangrur, Patiala, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa, Bathinda, Moga, Ferozepur, Faridkot and Muktsar. Cheema said the minister had been told that arhtiyas would hand over stock to inspectors of government agencies in the mandis and inform respective deputy commissioners about the same by November 20. “The government must stock the paddy in its godowns or plinths. Continued exposure to moisture would only hasten rotting,” Cheema said. He said government officers were pressuring commission agents to impress upon millers to lift stocks by persuading farmers to give them a percentage and condemned the attempts.
|
|
Winter session may witness fierce debates
Chandigarh, November 16 While the Opposition is gearing itself up to bring the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party on the mat over problematic procurement of paddy, inadequate power supply, modifications in the atta-dal scheme, rampant corruption in the administration and political victimisation of Congress workers, the ruling alliance wants to use the last session of the year for trumpeting its development agenda. Besides, it would use the legislative forum to assail the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre not only for its alleged anti-Punjab and anti-farmer bias, but also for its long-standing demand of increased financial autonomy for the states. A part of this debate may also spill over to Congress support for a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for historic Sikh shrines in neighbouring Haryana. Another issue that may be at the centre-stage of a wider debate would be the move of the Centre to restore the post of Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh by stripping the Governor of the state of this additional charge. The SAD-BJP may embarrass the Congress legislature party by insisting on it to clarify its stand on such issues with wider political ramifications. The ruling alliance would also use the winter session for Centre bashing on the insignificant increase in procurement prices of both paddy and wheat, besides demanding status of Special Agricultural Zone for the state. Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon says the session will provide sufficient time for all members to express their views on important issues facing the state. Though the finer details of the legislative and non-official business to be taken up during the session are still not worked out, the ruling alliance is expected to bring up certain legislations for toning up the governance in the state as well. The recent arrest of a senior civil servant in an alleged graft case may give the Opposition a handle to attack the ruling alliance not only over alleged rampant corruption in the state but also for highlighting the discontent between the ruling alliance partners over the vigilance trap cases. Even in the last session, the Congress had tried to fuel the feud between a senior BJP minister and an Akali MLA. The Opposition may also use the session to assail the state government for the deteriorating fiscal health of the state. On the opening day, there will be obituary references.
|
|
Is Barnala set to return?
Ludhiana, November 16 This was followed by Surjit Singh Barnala’s visit to the state, after which it is being believed that the kernel of the Akali Dal (Longowal) remains loyal to him. This has raised speculations whether Barnala will re-join Punjab politics, his health permitting. Barnala has almost two years to complete his extended term as Governor of Tamil Nadu. However, one thing seems clear - Barnala has kept his core supporters intact, which can create an alarming situation for the Akali Dal (Badal). Barnala took over reins of the Akali Dal after the assassination of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in August 1985. He later became the Chief Minister of the state. During his tenure, Barnala provided relief to Sikhs who had suffered post Operation Blue Star and Operation Woodrose. As many as 3,000 youths were released on the recommendation of Justice Ajit Bains committee and efforts made to rehabilitate them. However, many of them reverted to militancy, which had taken roots in Punjab by then. Sikhs in Punjab do not seem hostile to Barnala, but they still resent the fact that he had allowed police inside the Golden Temple complex, which almost justified Operation Blue Star. Secondly, when the first date of handing over of Chandigarh to Punjab on January 26, 1986, was not honoured under the Rajiv-Longowal accord; he neither resigned from the CM’s post nor protested against the Central government. In protest, Parkash Singh Badal along with 26 legislators walked out and formed the Akali Dal (Badal). Meanwhile, with elections to the general house of the SGPC scheduled for February or March, the scene is hotting up in the state. Akali Dal (Longowal) has succeeded in winning over some of the trusted lieutenants of jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has also extended its support. Simranjit Singh Mann, president of Akali Dal (Amritsar), is forging a rapport with Bhai Ranjit Singh, former jathedar of the Akal Takht. The ruling Akali Dal is trying to appease the ‘sants’ of the deras in Punjab and promised to bring about changes in the Nanakshahi Calendar, which is being opposed by different factions of the Akali Dal as well as radicals. Barnala is not likely to return immediately, but his followers believe that he will do so when the time is ripe.
|
|
Canadian PM to visit Golden Temple tomorrow
Amritsar, November 16 Deputy Commissioner KS Pannu said they would arrive at the Rajasansi International Airport around 11.30 am where they would be received by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, MLAs and other state government officials, including Chief Secretary CS Grewal. The Canadian PM and his team of ministers and MPs will pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum and also see how langar is prepared and served in the langar hall during their short visit to the holy city. Over 40 officials of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have already landed in the holy city to ensure their security. Besides them, MP Nina Grewal from Fleetwood-Port Kells, BC; MP Tim Uppal from Sherwood Park, Edmonton; MP Devinder Shory, Calgary (North East) and MP Deepak Obhrai, Calgary (East), will also be a part of the delegation. Special guests, who will accompany the PM, are Binder Ahluwalia, CEO, BSA Medical Diagnostics; Bob Dhillon, CEO, Mainstreet Equity Corporation and Hari Varshney, CEO, Varshney Capital Corporation. The VVIP cavalcade is slated to reach the Golden Temple around 12.55 pm and will leave for the airport around 1.55 pm. Besides the Deputy CM and the SGPC chief, other persons who will be present on the occasion include state Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia; Minister for Animal Husbandry Gulzar Singh Ranike; Minister for Rural Development Ranjit Singh Brahmpura; Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and Amritsar Mayor Shwait Malik.
|
|
‘Start direct flight between Vancouver, Amritsar
Amritsar, November 16 In a letter to Harper, manch patron Charanjit Singh Gumtala said there were 400,000 Punjabis living in Vancouver, 200,000 in adjoining San Francisco in the United States and another 100,000 Punjabis and Indians in and around Los Angeles. “If Air Canada were to operate on the Vancouver-Amritsar sector, it could fly Punjabi passengers from all major cities on the West Coast of North America, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, to Amritsar,” said Gumtala. “Operations on this route will not only give Canada big business but also prove a boon for Punjabis who visit their roots quite often to seek the blessings of Guru Ram Dass.” Welcoming Harper’s November 18 visit, the manch also appealed to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar, mayor Shwait Malik, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu to push for the direct flight. Gumtala said Harper’s visit to the holy city would further enlighten him about the rich history, culture and conventions of the Punjabi community, now an integral section of Canadian polity.
|
|
RTI users object to Punjab Advocate-General defending PIOs
Chandigarh, November 16 Objecting to the move, the RTI Users Association has brought the move to the notice of the Chief Information Commissioner of the state and the objected to the public information officers filing writ petitions against the orders of the commission through state counsels. In a communication to Punjab Chief Information Commissioner Ramesh Inder Singh, convener of the association HC Arora has asked him to take up the matter with the state government and ensure that the state counsels do not defend public information officers (PIOs) in such cases. The State Information Commission, Punjab, had imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the Public Information Officer, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh. The PIO concerned challenged the order in the court through government pleaders, while the commission remained un-represented during the hearings. “This trend on the part of the state of Punjab is shocking and is against the letter and spirit of the RTI Act, 2005. It is also pertinent to notice that fine is imposed personally on the defaulting SPIO on account of his intentional default in providing information under the RTI Act, and is recovered from his salary. This fine is credited to the accounts of state government. The orders of the State Information Commission are bound to be defended by the state government through the office of the Advocate-General,” wrote Arora. “In the instant case, the state government has chosen to act against its own interest as well as against the interest of the State Information Commission by filing a writ petition through the office of Advocate-General, Punjab, to challenge the order passed by the State Information Commission. This trend, if continued unchecked, is very dangerous. It requires to be checked immediately,” he added. Arora has asked the Chief Information Commissioner to take up the matter with the Chief Secretary, Punjab, or with the office of the Advocate General, Punjab.
|
Now, two former mayors defend Amarinder
Amritsar, November 16 They said no sane person could believe rape allegations levelled against Amarinder by a Ludhiana-based woman. Ranjit Kaur has accused Amarinder of raping her on the pretext of getting her a job in November 2006. However, Amarinder refuted the allegations and said he had never met the woman. “Nobody with a rational mental framework can believe that a leader like Amarinder can do this. Moreover, there are so many questions left unanswered. One of them is that why the lady kept mum for so long? It is only a malicious effort to frame Amarinder in the false case,” said Vishnu Sharma and Sunil Datti. Amarinder has already clarified that the conspiracy was hatched against him allegedly at the behest of the ruling SAD (Badal) leadership and in connivance of some of leaders of his own Congress party.
|
|
Power-full: No more weekly off for industry
Malerkotla, November 16 Making the announcement while talking to mediapersons at Malerkotla Club here, Punjab State Electricity Board
(PSEB) chairperson Harinder Singh Brar said that sufficient electricity was now available to meet the requirements of all consumers. In town to attend a district-level general meeting of the Industrial Chamber, Brar said the board was taking strict actions individuals and institutions indulging in power theft, including imposing penalties and registering
FIRs. “We are keeping a check on all institutions, especially nursing homes, hospitals and hotels,” he said, adding that he was always available to hear out grievances. “If anyone has been over-billed, it would be rectified soon,” he said. Replying to a question on the petition seeking deferment of tariff hike filed before the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission
(PSERC), Brar said the board had prepared its case and would present it before the regulator during the next hearing. Meanwhile, members of the Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Joint Forum -- comprising All India Trade Union Council
(AITUC), Technical Services Union (TSU) and Employees Federation -- gheraoed chairperson Brar and raised slogans against him and the state government outside the club to press for implementation of demands. Forum’s Malerkotla circle president Gobind Kant Jha said protests would be held at all places the board chairperson and members visited.
|
|
Shortage likely in northern region
Amritsar, November 16 Member secretary, NRPC, AK Aggarwal chaired the meeting that was attended by 45 delegates representing power bodies from the northern region comprising Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, besides Punjab. The participants unanimously opined that NRPC was duty-bound to manage power shortages by arranging bi-lateral assistance from outside the region and maximising generation. They requested the states to expedite installation of shunt capacitors and repair those having defects to control low voltage problems. They also discussed means to ensure safe and secure operation of the grid. Member Transmission, PSEB, SC Sabharwal, in his inaugural address highlighted the need for preparedness during the approaching winter to avoid fog-related tripping
incidents.
|
|
Sikh clergy to listen to CD today
Varinder Singh Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 16 The CD was given to the Akal Takht Jathedar by “sangats” of New York in support of their complaints against Darshan Singh during the former’s visit there. Sources said after listening to the CD, the Sikh high priests would decide whether to summon Darshan Singh at Akal Takht to clarify his position or not. Damdami Taksal has also lodged a complaint with the high priests against Darshan Singh. “We will decide upon any action after listening to the recording of a programme of Darshan Singh at our meeting tomorrow. We have received a number of complaints in this regard from New York and other places,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh. However, Darshan Singh said he was ready to appear before Akal Takht whenever asked to do so and “not before any person in particular”. “It seems that some sort of action is being contemplated against me under pressure from certain quarters. I am ready to present myself before Akal Takht. I will invite the entire panth to come there and answer all questions asked to me in their presence,” said Darshan Singh.
|
|
Scholarship Disbursement
Chandigarh, November 16 HS Hanspal and Splazes Angmo, members, National Commission for Minorities, Government of India, were in Chandigarh to review the implementation of a 15-point programme of the Centre. Addressing a press conference, Hanspal said the state had delayed giving these scholarships by six months. “These were to be given out by April,” he said. There are over 1.7 lakh pre-matric students and 8,000 post-matric students who are to be given these scholarships in the state. Splazes said the state government was also asked to explain why there was a delay in the disbursal of the scholarships for which state officials only had “lame excuses.” When asked about the constitution of the state minorities commission, Hanspal said the commission would be writing to the Punjab Chief Minister to expedite the formation of such a commission. “We have been told that the formation of the commission is under active consideration of the state government,” he said. Earlier in the day, the commission members met state Chief Secretary SC Agarwal, who is reported to have asked them to consider some more cases of the 1984 riot victims, who had been not given “red cards” The members also called upon state Governor Gen SF Rodrigues (retd).
|
|
Proxy Patwari
Kharar, November 16 The news item revealed that a proxy patwari was working in place of patwari Nirbhai Singh at Gharuan village under Kharar. Surinder Singh, the proxy patwari, is himself a government employee posted at Karhali village in Patiala. He has been signing land deals and revenue records in the name of Nirbhai Singh.
|
|
Bachi is PSEB admn member
Patiala, November 16 Bachi was working on the same post in 2001 before he was removed by the Akali government due to undisclosed reasons. He hails from Bhatiwal Khurd village in Sangrur district. He did his BA from Government Mohindra College and later did his postgraduation from Punjabi University, Patiala. Harpal Singh Teja, secretary-general of the Punjab Mulazam Wing (SAD), and the Ahiyapak Dal, Punjab, have welcomed the appointment.
|
|
Acid attack on Dalit woman
Moga, November 16 The statements of three doctors and few other policemen, including the then SHO of police station (rural), have already been recorded in the court. The victim had filed an application before the court of Karunesh Kumar Kakkar, Chief Judicial Magistrate, on November 13 demanding a transfer from the court of judicial magistrate Kuljit Pal Singh to another court. The CJM had sought comments from Kuljit Pal Singh and fixed December 5 as the next date of hearing for taking any decision on transferring her case to another court. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed orders to complete the process of recording statements of all the witnesses by October 29 but the process could not be completed in time. Due to this, the main alleged accused, Kirpal Singh alias Soni, and two of his associates, Nita, son of Jarnail Singh, and, Jita, son of Bara Singh, lodged in jail under judicial custody for the past about 18 months got regular bail from this court last month. On October 13, 2008, acid was thrown on the Dalit woman due to which she suffered severe burn injuries on her legs. An FIR was registered against three persons and later the Scheduled Castes Prevention of Atrocities Act-1989 was also added on the intervention of the state Scheduled Castes Commission. However, the police had withdrawn the Act when the challan was filed in the court. The woman came to limelight when she carried out a semi-nude march in the main square of the town on May 19, 2008, to protest against the police, which was dilly-dallying to register a criminal case against the culprits. Two persons of her village allegedly raped her on May 9, 2008, but the sessions court acquitted them four months back as the prosecution failed to produce evidence against them.
|
|
High Court
Chandigarh, November 16 The directions were issued dismissing its letter patent appeal against the September 8 orders of the Single Bench as regards loan settlement of Batala-based company Abhinav Cotspin promoted in collaboration with the appellant. The Single Bench had ordered the PSIDC to refund the excess amount it received from the petitioner company against the bridge loan as a result of one-time settlement.
|
|
Two Babbar Khalsa men arrested
Ropar, November 16 The police also impounded their car and seized one .32-bore revolver, 10 live cartridges and explosive material from their
possession. SSP, Ropar, Laxmi Kant Yadav said the accused had been working with the outfit since long and were helping one Baljit Singh Bhau, who was lodged at the Tihar jail, New Delhi. “He was recently arrested by the Delhi police with some arms brought from Pakistan,” SSP Yadav added. The SSP said during investigations, the accused revealed that they were working on the directions of Bhau and had plans to revive terrorism and create disharmony in the state. They also admitted that they were sending money to Bhau in the jail. They revealed that they had planned to kill Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarewala near Qila Itihasgarh during the latter’s visit to Ambala for appearance in a case. One of the accused, Balwinder Singh, was also involved in sending RDX to Jagtar Singh Hawara, the prime accused in the Beant Singh assassination case, in the Burail jail
in 1997. The accused have been booked under various sections at the Sadar Police Station here.
|
|
| 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 | |
