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Floods damaged crops on 3,75,000 acres: Report
Pak spy nabbed in Ferozepur cantt
BKI ultra visited Pak with DSGMC jatha
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Arhtiyas earned over Rs 6,427 cr in two decades: Study
State to get another varsity
3,371 found eligible for PCS (J)
exam
Attacks on Sikhs
Remarks on Gatka
Govt raising bogey of terror: Calcutta
Rajindra Hospital’s renovated emergency opened
Power corporation to plant one lakh saplings
Cong leader acquitted on charge of sexual abuse
Kahlon case ‘not fit for prosecution
sanction’
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Floods damaged crops on 3,75,000 acres: Report
Jalandhar, August 2 Though water has been drained out from most of the fields, at some places fields continue to be under knee-deep water, especially in Moonak belt of Sangrur district. However, farmers have started re-transplanting of paddy in the fields from where water has been drained out. Meanwhile, the level of water in the Gobind Sagar reservoir was today at 1618.52 feet with 61,229 cusecs inflow of water in it from its catchment area. It was about 45 feet more than the level recorded on the corresponding day last year. However, the benchmark fixed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board for the level of water in the Gobind Sagar reservoir for August 1 is 1,650 feet. That means that the present level of water in the reservoir is far less than the benchmark. The maximum level of this reservoir is 1,680 feet. And it should not be above 1,670 feet till August 15 and 1,680 till September 1. The filling period of this reservior is till September 20. After that the melting of the snow stops at high and low reaches and the monsoon season also comes to an end. The inflow in the reservoir from hills comes to a few thousand cusecs. Today the level of water in the Pong dam was 1321.33 feet against the last year's figure of 1297 on the corresponding day. The inflow in the Pong dam today was 49,035 cusecs. The maximum filling level of this dam is 1,390. In the Ranjit Sagar Dam, the level today recorded was 512.27 metre against the last year's level of 500.32 metre on this day. The inflow in Ranjit Sagar today was 16,835 against the last year's figure of 11,160 cusecs on this day. The maximum filling
level of Ranjit Sagar is 527 metre.
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Pak spy nabbed in Ferozepur cantt
Ferozepur, August 2 The vital documents, including voter identity card, Pan Card, driving licence and matric certificate issued to him by the PSEB, were seized from him. The other things, which were seized from him included a lap top, a computer, mobile phone sets, Sim cards, pass books of five banks, where the alleged spy was having bank accounts and was carrying out transaction in lakhs every years as he had been receiving money from Dubai, which was being sent to him by a different sender every time. Not only this, Rakesh Kumar, who entered India from Pakistan in 2007 through the Nepal border, stayed for about six months in Ludhiana and then shifted his base to Ferozepur. He also managed to make a girlfriend. The girlfriend, a divorcee woman from Faridkot, was employed in his business establishment being run under the name of Asian Herbals and has been living with him in a single story accommodation in housing board colony here. Information gathered by TNS revealed that Rakesh was recruited as resident agent by Pakistan’s ISI through its military intelligence wing. The family members of Rakesh, living in Pakistan, were being paid handsome money every month by the wing. S.P.S. Parmar, district police chief, while talking to media persons, said Rakesh, whose original name was Raja Ullah, son of Abdullah and resident of Chowk Azam, Lahian district of Punjab (Pakistan), was in touch with his bosses in Pakistan through emails. He had been posting all vital information on his email account. The 23-year-old spy had managed to establish a business in herbal medicine and recruited sales agents. The spy had also been started a business of mobile recharging to make more contact with the people. He had established business in the cantonment area to develop equations with Army personnel.
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BKI ultra visited Pak with DSGMC jatha
Amritsar August 2 Harminder Singh had fled to Pakistan via Nepal using fake passport. He lived there and received arms training at Lahore and Nankana Sahib from aides of top Pakistan-based terrorists Wadhawa Singh Babbar and Jagtar Singh. Prior to his sneaking into Pakistan, Harminder Singh, highly placed police sources revealed, had gone to Pakistan twice as part of the DSGMC jatha in 2005 and 2006. The Punjab Police has reportedly claimed that the three accomplices of Harminder Singh had not only attended the marriage of son of the DSGMC chief in New Delhi, but were also promised SAD (Delhi) tickets for the coming SGPC elections. The police has also claimed that the three suspects, who were injured in the December 2009 Ludhiana clash between supporters of Baba Ashutosh and some Sikh organisations, were also given an aid
of Rs 50,000 each by Sarna in the aftermath of the clash. Sarna, however, has already denied having any links with the three suspects asserting he did not know any suspects or Jarnail Singh, the head of the Shiromani Tat Khalsa organisation.
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Disproportionate Assets
Mohali, August 2 The court examined the witnesses, Ashok Kumar and Ashwani, both commission agents, in presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal amidst tight security at the Mohali courts here on Monday. Litigants had to face a lot of problem due to heightened security cover. Two of the witnesses, Ashok Kumar and Ashwani Kumar, who are presently dealing in cotton business, told the court that they did give loan of about Rs 50,000 on different occasions to the Badals in 1990 and same was returned. They said they did not exactly remember the details of the loans. Third witness Mohinder Singh, who was called for the second time by the court, said over a period, he used extend loan of around Rs 20 lakh to the Badals. But since his nephew, who used to handle the business, was no more, he did not remember the details. It may be mentioned that after closing the evidence, the court had felt the need to recall certain witnesses, who had been dropped by the prosecution. On the basis of the statement given by the three witnesses, the court is likely to grill the investigating agency regarding the transactions shown by the Badals. On the next date of hearing, August 9, the court has summoned registrar of companies and investigating officer in the case Surinder Pal. The investigating officer could be in trouble for stating that he never investigated the case in which Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and CM’s wife Surinder Kaur along with 12 other are accused. In 2003, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had registered a case of corruption and disproportionate assets against the Badals under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120 B of the IPC and relevant section of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Later talking to mediapersons, Sukhbir Badal said president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee PS Sarna was levelling false allegations. The police has been investigating the matter.
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Arhtiyas earned over Rs 6,427 cr in two decades: Study
Chandigarh, August 2 The phenomenon can be attributed to the “continuous pressure of this lobby”, a study carried out by Punjab Agricultural University says. It also reveals that the business has grown even on the Jat community. Traditionally, “two castes, Bania and Khatri (Arora), were dominant in this business. But this business has not remained confined to these castes. At present, 35 per cent of the commission agents belong to the Bania, about 27 per cent belong to the Jat and 25 per cent belong to the Khatri class…. Before the 1970s, not even a single Jat family was engaged in commission agent business….” The transition has also brought about changes in attitudes, the report says. The report, “Commission agent system in Punjab agriculture”, by the PAU’s Department of Economics and Sociology, was placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in ongoing public interest litigation on the role of commission agents. For the purpose of reaching the conclusions, a total sample of 700 respondents, comprising 300 commission agents and 400 farmers was taken. The report will come up for discussion on August 16. It says 20,232 commission agents are working in the state. “On an average, the commission agents earned commission amounting to Rs 306.07 crore per annum on all commodities since 1989-90”. The report adds: “An average commission agent has advanced a loan of Rs 65.74 lakh to the farmers. The interest accrued on the amount becomes Rs 15.78 lakh per annum”. It has recommended that alternative marketing systems like the direct state procurement system and the cooperative marketing system should be developed; the banking system should be made farmer-friendly; and institutional loans should be made available not only for productive purposes, but also for consumption purposes.
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State to get another varsity
Jalandhar, August 2 It will be set up near Banur, where it has a group of colleges. Confirming this, Aggarwal said it would go further to the Cabinet for the final clearance. The state government has already formulated a uniform policy with regard to the setting up of universities in the private sector. The Chitkara University will be the third university to be set up in the private sector. Already, Lovely Professional University, which was the first to be set up in the private sector, is functioning in Jalandhar. Another university — Guru Granth Sahib World University — is being set up by the SGPC at Fatehgarh Sahib. Already, Central University has started functioning at Bathinda and other world-class central university
is to be set up in Amritsar. The Chitkara Group has another private university at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. Sources said many other private groups in the education sector were in the line to set up universities in the private sector in
the state. Among them are the Rayat Bahra Group, the Chandigarh Group of Colleges, the DAVIET Group, Doaba Group of College and Shaheed Udham Singh Group
of Colleges.
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CBI raid on ayurvedic college
Amritsar, August 2 It is learnt that the team has seized certain important documents. Though it refused to interact with the media, Dr DC Pandey, Principal of the college, termed it as “routine checking”. However, the possibilities of irregularities in the college management could not be ruled out, sources said. Santosh Gupta and Dr Karunesh Gupta, president and vice-president of the college management, respectively, feigned ignorance about the raid stating that they were in Delhi while the college authorities said they had already informed the college management authorities but none of them turned up. A team of the CCIM had also visited the college in February. The CBI and CCIM teams learnt to have raided two more colleges in the state, Guru Nanak Ayurvedic College and Mai Bhago Ayurvedic College, both in Muktsar.
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3,371 found eligible for PCS (J)
exam
Patiala, August 2 According to the PPSC authorities, the list of all eligible and non-eligible candidates had been put on the PPSC website. After the scrutiny of forms submitted by applicants, 454 applicants have been found non-eligible. Besides, the candidature of 116 candidates, who were issued provisional admit cards as per interim orders of the Punjab and High Court in different civil writ petitions, has also been rejected by the
PPSC. “The decision to this effect has been taken in the wake of the HC decision dated July 28, 2010. Provisional admit cards issued to these candidates now stand cancelled,” one of the PPSC members said. The authorities have also informed that applicants, who do not receive admission certificates by August 3, can collect duplicate admission certificates from August 4 to 6, from the commission's office in
Patiala. After the declaration of the results of the preliminary examination on August 16, the main examination has been scheduled for October 11, 12 and 13. The results of the main exam will be declared on November 25, following which viva voice will be conducted from December 27 to January 10, 2011 and the final results will be declared on January 24.
— TNS
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Attacks on Sikhs
Amritsar August 2 SGPC chief Avtar Singh had formed a three-member probe committee comprising SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh Khatra and additional secretaries Roop Singh and Satbir Singh on July 31 to find out reasons behind the alleged attacks on Sikhs there. The committee was supposed to leave for the valley yesterday. “We have talked to various Sikh bodies in the J&K and they have advised us against visiting the valley as the valley is reeling under a spate of violence,” said Dalmegh Singh. He said office-bearers of Sikh bodies of the valley, including senior vice-president of the Jammu and Kashmir Gurdwara Board Mohan Singh Taral, have assured him that they would inform him once the valley returned to normalcy.
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Remarks on Gatka
Amritsar August 2 Sajid Khan, according to the SGPC chief Avtar Singh, had hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs by his utterances against “Gatka”, the Sikh martial art and the Sikh tradition of carrying arms like swords. He had also allegedly ousted Manpreet Singh, a 7-year-old Sikh “Gatka” artiste, saying that the display of swords and other weapons linked with the Sikh tradition by Sikh children could instill a sense of violence among children and audience of the programme. “Gatka is an inseparable part of the Sikism. Nobody can afford to satirise about any of Sikh tradition. Gatka is also a symbol of Sikh spirit and its victory over evil. The management of the channel should tender an apology or face legal action as its programme sought to create a division in the society. The sword is part and parcel of daily life of every Amritdhari Sikh. How can a Sikh even think of living witout it,” said Avtar Singh. He asked the channel management to remove the programme judge and provide the SGPC with details of the programme.
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Govt raising bogey of terror: Calcutta
Amritsar, August 2 “The state government and the police had been claiming total normalcy in the state till last month. The question of the revival of militancy in the state was outrightly and vehemently denied. But for the past one month, there is a flood of news about militants being nabbed and their houses and farms being raided. It is all creation of the police to scare peace-loving people of the state,” alleged Calcutta. “It is amazing to find one morning that the government has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Narain Singh Chaura, who has been heading the Akal Federation and regularly published a periodical named ‘Awaz-e- Khalsa’. Now, he has been declared an absconder and big rewards for his arrest are being published. The SGPC and the institution of Akal Takht are silent over this,” he added.
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Ex-CM Beant Singh’s wife dead
Chandigarh, August 2 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal have also expressed a profound grief over her death. In a condolence message, the CM and Sukhbir expressed heartfelt sympathy with members of the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this loss and grant peace to the departed soul. Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee also condoled the death of Jaswant Kaur. Meanwhile, other political leaders have also conveyed their condolences over the death of Jaswant Kaur.
— TNS
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Rajindra Hospital’s renovated emergency opened
Patiala, August 2 Talking to mediapersons, accompanied with Rakhra, the minister said the hospital was a premier institute of the area and its renovation would further provide better facilities to patients. He said the government would spend Rs 30 crore to improve the infrastructure of the hospital. The work on these projects would begin within six months. About renovated emergency, he said: The upgraded emergency has 80 beds and a trauma centre, surgery and medicine sections etc in order to provide best facilities to the patients. A biochemistry lab has also been constructed in the emergency, which would be open for 24 hours,” he added.
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Power corporation to plant one lakh saplings
Patiala, August 2
PSPCL has regularly been promoting writers, authors, sportspersons, artists and helping the needy, all steps undertaken as part of our commitment towards social causes.” In view of the favourable monsoon this year, the CMD said, the PSPCL management had decided to plant 18,000 trees each in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Bhatinda zones. The rest, said he, shall be planted at PSPCL thermal or hydel projects.
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Cong leader acquitted on charge of sexual abuse
Moga, August 2 A case against him was registered on the complaint of a woman who gave birth to his child and subsequently he was arrested by the police on November 12, 2008. The former sarpanch is a close friend of local Congress MLA Joginder Pal Jain and an active member of the Congress. Additional Sessions Judge SK Aggarwal acquitted him after the defence counsel brought to the court’s notice that the sexual relationship between them was with consent of each other. As per the case file, Harnek developed sexual relations with her in 2002 but she did not bring it to the knowledge of her parents and also did not file a complaint with the police for almost five years. It was only in 2007 that she wrote a letter to the DGP on the basis of which an inquiry was conducted and a case registered against him. The woman, who is a resident of Badhni Kalan village, gave birth to a girl in 2004 and during the police custody, a DNA test was conducted which was found positive. Her daughter has found her biological father but could not get his love. Reacting to the orders of the court, the woman told The Tribune that it was unfortunate that a person who sexually exploited her and made her pregnant was acquitted by the court even as the DNA test supported her as scientific evidence. “I will not give up the fight and file an appeal in the high court after receiving the acquittal orders from this court”, she said. On the other hand, Harnek refuted the allegations that he had exploited her. “It was an unfortunate part of my life that I came in contact with her”, he said. The court has acquitted Harnek from the charges of sexual abuse but he will have to remain in the jail because he was convicted in attempt to murder case by this court, a few months back.
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Kahlon case ‘not fit for prosecution
sanction’
Chandigarh, August 2 In an affidavit placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, under secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Hari Singh, said: The matter regarding the grant of sanction was placed before the Council of Ministers and it was decided that it was not a fit case for the grant of sanction for the prosecution against Nirmal Singh Kahlon, the then Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, now Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha”. Hari Singh added as the issue involved Kahlon, the Deputy Speaker considered the matter had has “rightly decided” not to grant sanction. The case will now come up for further hearing on August 17. The High Court has already put Kahlon on notice on a PIL challenging the state government’s order against sanction to prosecute him. In his petition, advocate Joginder Sharma asserted that sanction from the Punjab Government was not required at all for he prosecution of Kahlon in the case in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in cases such as Parkash Singh Badal and another versus State of Punjab and others. He added the order passed by the government was “wholly wrong, illegal, without jurisdiction, null and void, arbitrary, unjustified, biased and malafide and not having been passed by competent authority….”
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