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Vidhan Sabha
CAG raps police, Pbi varsity on use of funds
RS Elections
Farmers demand withdrawal of Sukhbir-Kalia report
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Rani Jindan behind fall of Lahore Durbar: Amarinder
Part II: PAU’s Research Station
Dal Khalsa releases original Nanakshahi calendar
PSEB Class VIII Exams
Expert stresses on saving water
PPCB to crack whip on erring units
All-India Sikh body formed
Gurshan cremated
Patrolling on highways goes hi-tech
Don’t please politicians: HC to bureaucrats
High Court
Indira Awas Yojna Scam
Begowal youth murdered in Italy
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Vidhan Sabha
Chandigarh, March 15
In response to a resolution moved by Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, the House adopted the resolution seeking the first-language status for Punjabi in the UT and further called for its compulsory teaching from Classes I to X in all city schools
Appreciating the move that the House called “giving due respect to the mother tongue of all Punjabis and to undo the injustice the language has met in the past”, it also called for setting up a Punjabi Sahitya Academy in the city. In yet another resolution - the second during today’s proceedings, the House thanked Haryana and Delhi for granting second-language status to Punjabi and recommended the constitution of a core group for seeking a similar status for Punjabi in Himachal Pradesh. Soon after the zero hour, Upinderjit Kaur moved a resolution announcing that a core group of legislators led by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal would meet Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil on Tuesday and submit to him a copy of the resolution passed unanimously by the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Reading out the resolution, she said, “Chandigarh city was established over nearly 30,000 acres of land of 28 villages of the erstwhile Punjab. But Punjabi was never accorded its due respect, significance and recognition. It is being treated with indifference and neglect. This resolution demands that first-language status should be accorded to the language in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. It should be made compulsory and taught from Classes I to X in all schools.” After a debate on the issue, various suggestions were made which included sending a team of legislators to meet the Prime Minister and impress upon him the sentiments of the people and need for securing second language status for Punjabi in all neighbouring states. The House saw complete unanimity on the issue with some further demanding that the Centre must be pressed to ensure that 60 per cent posts in Chandigarh must be filled by officials from Punjab. Avtar Brar of the Congress was one of the first opposition legislators extending support to the resolution. Master Mohan Lal of the BJP and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tikshan Sud appealed for passing the resolution with a voice vote. Following which, the Speaker put the resolution to vote and had it passed.
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CAG raps police, Pbi varsity on use of funds
Chandigarh, March 15 The performance audit for the year ending March 31, 2009, noted that in case of the police, while the government had released Rs 3.6 crore during 2006-09 (including Central assistance of Rs 2.72 crore) for strengthening the intelligence and security wings, the DGP diverted the funds for construction of houses, police posts and computer and other purchases. This, the audit maintained, adversely affected the modernisation of both wings. The CAG report said 71 per cent of the police stations were brought under satellite-based network for police telecommunication. The system was either not installed or remained non-functional in 83 police stations and four district offices. This was mainly because the police Department did not arrange for annual maintenance contract for the upkeep and trouble-free working of the system. The report also noted that Rs 12.51 crore was diverted for other than intended purposes without approval of the competent authority. It said implementation of the Common Integrated Police Application project was delayed as hardware was provided with a delay of five to 20 months. The CAG also noted that the level of satisfaction of police housing (16.84 per cent) was far below the national satisfaction level of 36 per cent. In case of Punjabi University, Patiala, the report noted that the institution had observed 158 teaching days despite UGC notification that it must observe at least 180 teaching days. This, it said, might impact teaching. Similarly, it noted that the success rate of PhD students had come down to 12 per cent in three years. It said the University had not analysed the reasons for the falling trend and not taken corrective steps. The CAG also noted that the university had performed poorly on the research front and completed 249 research projects and published 1,425 research papers in five years (2003-2008) but was granted patent only in one case. The report also noted that the institution took a loan of Rs 25 crore between August 2005 and April 2008 for the University College of Engineering and the Yadvindra College of Engineering despite the fact that it had sufficient funds in its current account. This led to paying of avoidable interest of Rs 2.5
crore.
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RS Elections
Chandigarh, March 15 While the Congress has named Minister of Sports Manohar Singh and former Minister of State for Industries Ashwani Kumar as its candidates, the SAD has nominated its General Secretary and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral, son of former Prime Minister IK Gujral. The BJP has reposed its faith in Avinash Rai Khanna, member of the previous Lok Sabha, who could not contest the last general election because of change of the status of his constituency. Going by the strength of different parties in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, three seats would go to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance while the remaining two would go the Congress. Five retiring MPs are Naresh Gujral, Manohar Singh Gill, Ashwani Kumar, Dharam Pal Sabharwal and Varinder Singh. Three of them will retain their seats. Going by the present trends, election to all five seats will be unanimous. With only one day to go for filing of the nomination papers, only two nominations (Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral) have been filed so far. Avinash Rai Khanna, Manohar Singh Gill and Ashwani Kumar will file their nomination papers tomorrow. The remaining two members of Rajya Sabha from the state - Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Raj Mohinder Singh Majithia - will be retiring in July. Biennial elections for their seats will be held separately. Of the five names cleared by different political parties, all are general category candidates. Neither the Congress nor the SAD-BJP alliance has given representation to the reserved categories. One of the outgoing members - Dharam Pal Sabharwal - belongs to the reserved category. While Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had lost the last general election to youth Congress leader from Sangrur Vijayinder Singla, Naresh Gujral, who had earlier represented Jalandhar in Lok Sabha, did not contest the last election. Avinash Rai Khanna was one of the sitting members of the previous Lok Sabha who was denied party ticket because Hoshiarpur seat held by him was also declared reserved during delimitations.
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Farmers demand withdrawal of Sukhbir-Kalia report
Jagraon, March 15 Threatening to be a force to be reckoned with, farmers said they would not be suppressed by any forces anymore. In one voice, all of them decided not to pay bills levied to run water pumps and canal ‘abiana’ unless the government paid attention to their grievances. They expressed their concern over the statements given by experts and scientists that state agriculture was not a profitable venture anymore. Seeking restoration of rights of farmers and
labourers, the rally, said to be one of the biggest, was a prelude to another massive rally planned at Amritsar on March 25, 26 and 27. The leaders also demanded action against alleged murderers of farmer leader Sadhu Singh Takhtupura and action in the Khanna-Chamiara violence. The coordinator of the rally and president of the BKU-Ekta
(Ugrahan), Joginder Singh Ugrahan, while addressing the rally, criticised the privatisation of the government departments. He alleged that Takhtupura was conveniently eliminated by the government as he used to raise his voice against its policies. Other speakers like Zohra Singh Nasrali and Bhupinder Sambar also criticised the anti-farmer policies of the government. “They can kill one Sandhu Singh. They cannot suppress thousands of
Sadhus. It is strange that the father (Parkash Singh Badal) promised moon to farmers and labourers in his election manifesto and his son is giving reports to levy bills on them. “We would not allow this to happen. Our wounds are open and we do not want anybody to balm them,” they said.
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Rani Jindan behind fall of Lahore Durbar: Amarinder
Chandigarh, March 15 In a freewheeling interaction before the release of his book on the rise and fall of the Lahore Durbar here, Capt Amarinder Singh claimed that Rani Jindan contrived to make the Sikh army fight the British on unequal terms. He said the reason behind this was the increased importance taken on by the army after the death of Ranjit Singh. “The army, which had become republican in nature, had started dictating terms to the Durbar and this was not to Jindan’s liking,”
he said. Amarinder, in a conversation at Barnala legislator Kewal Singh Dhillon’s residence, claimed that Jindan felt she would come out on top irrespective of who was the victor. He said keeping this in mind, Jindan made two persons from central India - Tej Singh and Lal Singh - who were not sikhs, incharge of the campaign. “Ironically all along the British knew about the exact positions of the Sikh army,”
he added. Analyzing the defeat of the Sikhs in the Anglo-Sikh wars, Amarinder said the Sikh army, which did not have strategic planners on its side, was engaged against British officers who had fought at Wellington against Napolean. He said, moreover, the Sikhs did not have any attacking strategy. “They knew how to defend and funnily always chose to have a river behind them which proved disastrous once they were encircled,” he added. The writer also made it clear that the Dogras were also responsible for the ultimate defeat of the Lahore Durbar. “The Dogras withdrew whenever there was any confrontation but came back afterwards and this was also seen after the Sikhs received setbacks. Raja Gulab Singh was made Prime Minister but refused to fight and ultimately was successful in buying Kashmir from the Durbar for Rs 75 lakh.” Amarinder has also touched upon Ranjit Singh’s nature in his book and while talking about it, said the Maharaja could be very possessive and vindictive in personal life but large-hearted as far as running his administration was concerned. He claimed the Maharaja murdered his mother, Mai Raj Kaur on grounds of infidelity. He hinted this was one reason why the Phulkian States did not get along with Ranjit (Raj Kaur was from the Jind royal family). The writer while talking about his family’s experience with Ranjit Singh said the Maharaja came once to Patiala to ostensibly intercede in a quarrel between Patiala Maharaja Sahib Singh and his wife but really to access the “military might” of Patiala. He said the second time around Ranjit visited Patiala when the latter took over some villages from Nabha. “He (Ranjit) was all for taking us over and because of this the treaty of Samana whereby the cis Sutlej States accepted protectorate status from the British came about,” he added.
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Part II: PAU’s Research Station
Gurdaspur, March 15 Genetic sources of resistance have been identified by the scientist and is used in breeding programmes. Developed by Dr Avtar Singh Minhas, a variety of wheat - WG 357 and WG 377 - was developed. This became an instant hit as it had bold and hard lustrous grains. That was way back in 1972 and taking cognisance of his efforts, Dr Minhas was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5,000 by the PAU authorities. Based on what Minhas’ work, at least 20 more wheat varieties have been developed and tested at the Research Station and later released for cultivation. They have become a huge success. Research on improvement of rice was initiated in 1949 and several rice varieties like jhona 349, palman 246 and basmati 370 were developed. Keeping in view the water logging problem in some parts of the region, the scientists came up with jhona 20 variety. The authorities, with the help of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU, have developed 14 more varieties of rice that were subsequently released for cultivation among farmers. The research on maize was taken up in 1970 and PAU scientists from Ludhiana were roped in. Some varieties, particularly those that matured early, went on to become a big hit. Yet another feather in the cap of the Research Station was the development of desi cotton G 27, which was “early maturing and high yielding”. In 1967, a soil testing laboratory was established in which soil science, classification of soils and their characteristics, determination of fertilisers and micronutrient soil requirements for various crops, was studied. The Research Station has played a vital role in transferring and disseminating new technologies for the betterment of farmers of the region through various programmes like the Land-to-Lab programme, adaptive research trials and organising kisan melas twice a year. PS Bagga, director of the station, said: “Farmers of the region have immensely benefited by our research findings.”
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Dal Khalsa releases original Nanakshahi calendar
Hoshiarpur, March 15 Party spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said, “We have mentioned dates of gurpurbs according to the
original calendar adopted in April 2003 as we believe that the amended version has an imprint of the RSS ideology,” he said. The calendar has been dedicated to Sikh warrior Baba Baghel Singh and the occasion was the 227th anniversary of the historic event when Baba Baghel Singh unfurled the ‘Nishan Sahib’ atop the Red Fort in 1783. At a convention held yesterday in a village gurdwara built in the memory of Baba Baghel Singh at Hariana town, 15 km from here, party president HS Dhami said it was ironic that the Badal family had monopolised all important Sikh institutions.
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PSEB Class VIII Exams
Ludhiana, March 15 The question papers for both government school students who opted for computer science (pictes) of the syllabus, and for other students who opted for computer science of the syllabus, were contained in the same question paper leaflet. As a result, the students did not know which section to answer. Most students ended up answering the wrong section. Besides this, both sets of question papers contained "true or false" section of five questions each. Every question was for one mark. However, instead of a statement in the form of a "true or false" question, the paper had five questions. For example, question number 6 of Set A read, "Can a computer do mathematic work?" The situation was the same at all centres across the region. District education officer (secondary), Ludhiana, Bachhitar Singh, said, “I got many complaints from all over the district in this regard. But I was unable to help the students, as this was the board’s fault. Any action in the matter can only be taken by the board.” Meanwhile, Rajinder Sharma, president, Association of Punjab School Education Board-Affiliated Schools, Punjab, has demanded that the board should give 25 per cent grace marks to the students. He also demanded that full marks be given to the students for the questions that created confusion.
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Expert stresses on saving water
Patiala, March 15 Addressing farmers, Dr Kang highlighted the problems of lowering underground water level and deteriorating soil health in Punjab, which he said were detrimental to agriculture in the state. He also stressed upon the need to use water-saving technologies. PAU’s Director of Research, Dr PS Minhas, while highlighting the research achievements of the university said different improved crops had been released this year, which include two Bt cotton varieties. Earlier, in his welcome address, Director of Extension Education, Dr MS Gill, said kisan melas provided opportunities for farmers to get acquainted with new technologies. He suggested that farmers should adopt technologies recommended by the PAU that aimed at conserving natural resources especially soil nutrients and water. Dr Gill elaborated that the farmers with small holdings should use machinery and other cost-intensive inputs on cooperative basis. He said use of organic sources of manure along with inorganic agro-chemicals was needed to improve soil health. He suggested farmers to adopt farming systems involving crops, subsidiary occupations such as dairy, mushroom growing, bee-keeping, etc for profitable returns. The PAU Additional Director Communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, said the PAU published the need-based literature on crops and allied ventures. He suggested farmers to develop own libraries at homes. The dignitaries and participating farmers were shown around demonstrations and exhibits organised to project new technologies. The farmers were shown Rabi crops grown by following all recommended practices.
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PPCB to crack whip on erring units
Patiala, March 15 The board has given an ultimatum of one month to the industrial units, which are generating hazardous waste, to obtain membership of the
common treatment, storage and disposal facility
(TSDF) at Nimbua, Dera Bassi. After the stipulated time period, the industrial units found not complying with the board direction will be liable for strict action, including the closure of unit. The PPCB has also given a public notice in this regard in the newspapers. Notably, in the absence of a common facility for treatment and disposal of the hazardous waste, TSDF was commissioned at
Nimbua, Dera Bassi, in 2007. The said facility is capable of disposing of all categories of hazardous waste in environmentally sound manner. Currently many units across the state are storing the hazardous waste in the deep landfills within their premises. Many units are not storing the waste in a proper manner, which poses serious threat to environment.
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All-India Sikh body formed
Chandigarh, March 15 Didar Singh Nalwi was unanimously elected as the president of the committee. President of the Rajasthan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Hardeep Singh Dibdibba read out the background material with regards to the formation of the new body. The meeting also had delegates from Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Prominent among those present on the occasion were Sohinder Singh (Haryana), Jasbir Singh (Rajasthan), Jasbir Singh Baath (UP), Pritam Singh Sandhu (Uttrakhand), Pritam Singh Bajwa (Uttrakhand), Gurnam Singh Sidhu (Chandigarh) and Sarabjit Singh Sohal (Chandigarh), besides others. The committee has sought that each state should be given a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee on the pattern of Punjab and Delhi. “We will be meeting the Chief Ministers of the states concerned on the issue. There is no reason why Haryana has not given us a separate committee despite separation from Punjab,” Nalwi said. The committee has also sought that Punjabi language should be given its due regard in states that have a sizeable Sikh population, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and
Uttrakhand.
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Gurshan cremated
Kotkapura, March 15 The body, which was brought by the toddler’s parents from Melbourne yesterday, was taken by the mourners from the parental house to the Rambagh cremation ground after passing through the main streets of the town. The pyre was lit by his father Harjit Singh. The family members of Gurshan were seen inconsolable. Gurdev Kaur had come all the way from Canada along with her husband Jarnail Singh to attend the funeral of their grandson. Gurshan was dressed in a yellow attire and laid peacefully surrounded by a white satin. Dozens of medical examinations and 10 days wait for the cremation had turned Gurshan’s body blue. Local Subdivisional Magistrate Bhupinder Singh represented the district administration. Councilors of the local Municipal Council and sarpanches of nearby villages were also present. Gurshan’s parents - father Harjit Singh and mother Harpreet Kaur- thanked the Sikh community and the Australia Government for holding a memorial service of their son at Melbourne. They said many people of their community placed cards and flowers outside their home in the memory of their son.
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Patrolling on highways goes hi-tech
Chandigarh, March 15 Launching the new highway patrol scheme, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said these motorcycles had been introduced on 534 km national highways (NH) falling in the state from Shambhu to Jalandhar, Jalandhar to Amritsar and Jalandhar to Pathankot, besides roads connecting these highways to airports at Amritsar and
Mohali.
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Don’t please politicians: HC to bureaucrats
Chandigarh, March 15 The ruling by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh came on a petition filed in public interest by a Bar-at-Law for an independent probe into the issuance of instructions by “Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal”. The petition was based on a news-report carried in an English daily. As the case came up for hearing this morning, counsel for the state of Punjab refuted the allegations by saying such instructions were never issued. In fact, just “general” directions were handed out to “improve the delivery system of public services”, he said. Describing the news-report as “false, baseless and imaginary”, the respondents asserted no other newspaper had reported the matter, confirming that the news-report was incorrect. Taking on record the assertion, the Bench ruled no further action was called for, as the issuance of directives, forming the basis of the news-item, had been denied. But before parting with the case, the Bench expressed its views against the issuance of such instructions in future; and appreciated the efforts made by petitioner Himmat Singh Shergill in bringing the matter to the court’s notice.
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High Court
Patiala, March 15 In their petition, Dr Ashwani Sharma (the principal), Dr BK Kaushik and Dr Praveen Kumar Rishi contended that they fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were promoted by the departmental promotion committee.
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Indira Awas Yojna Scam
Patiala, March 15 The Deputy Commissioner has written to Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khattra for lodging an FIR against those involved in the scam. The preliminary probe into the matter, pertaining to the Patran block here, has brought to light that the BDPO in connivance with the village Panchayat, made payments to the beneficiaries “twice” in about 12 cases, causing loss of exchequer to the government. Earlier, the residents of Daftri Wala village had submitted affidavits alleging that in 2005, Nacchatar Kaur and Patran Vinod Kumar had “usurped” government funds by making the payments to certain beneficiaries twice. The matter was brought into the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, who entrusted the probe into the matter to Zila Parishad secretary Mahinder Singh. The inquiry conducted by Mahinder has now indicted both Vinod and Nacchatar. In the report, the investigating officer had mentioned: “While there are certain cases in which BPL families were deprived of the benefit of the scheme while in some, payments under the IAY were made to one family twice.” The report further mentioned that there were six cases in Daftri Wala village, four in Buradh village, 10 in Dhadi Gujran and two in Dhudar, in which payments under the IAY were made in 2005. “But, in 2006, the same families were again given the payments under the same scheme. The modus operandi adopted by the officer under question was that during the first time, payments were made in the name of the husband or his wife and vice versa the second time,” the report reads. To substantiate the findings, the investigating officer has also attached the copies of the bank statements with the report.
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Begowal youth murdered in Italy
Doraha, March 15
The alleged murderers decapitated his body and threw it on the sea side. Hoshiar Singh’s body was identified by the tattoos carved on his arms and legs. The police reportedly arrested the two alleged murderers, who belong to Ludhiana. A close relative of the deceased, Balwinder Singh, said they came to know about the incident today itself. Even Gurmail Singh, brother of the deceased, who is presently in Italy, told over the telephone that he too got the news today and was about to start for Aroma where his elder brother was residing. Since Gurmail is residing nearly 800 km away from the place where Hoshiar Singh was putting up, he would personally visit the spot to confirm about the happening. The deceased is survived by his wife, son and a daughter, who are staying in Samrala for the past many years. It has been informed that Hoshiar Singh was the permanent resident of Italy. His parents had returned from Italy sometime back.
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