Non-payment of Service Tax
Rs 22-cr show-cause notice to Punjab Roadways
Chandigarh, October 14
The Chandigarh (I) Commissionerate of Central Excise and the Service Tax Department has slapped a show-cause notice on Punjab Roadways for alleged non-payment of service tax to the tune of Rs 22.96 crore on the income earned by providing services of “manpower recruitment or supply agency” to Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Ltd (PUNBUS).

Jalandhar, October 14
Punjab Youth Congress President Ravneet Singh Bittu visited his aunt and former minister Gurkanwal Kaur’s house this afternoon to clear the air after reports of political tangling in the late state CM Beant Singh’s family.

During his one-hour stay at Gurkanwal’s house at Mota Singh Nagar locality, Beant Singh’s grandson Bittu clarified his aunt that he had inadvertently shared dais with her rival Congress leader Shiv Kanwar Sandhu during his previous Jalandhar visit. He further told her that Sandhu had been brought to the Press Club by the local Congress councillor, Dinesh Dhal Kali.

Subsequently, Beant’s daughter Gurkanwal also said to Bittu: “You are like my son.” Bittu reiterated that: “Our family is trying to get two tickets for the next Assembly elections. One for Gurkanwal from Jalandhar Cantonment and the other for former minister Tej Prakash’s son Gurkirat from Khanna.”

Also Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib, Bittu later went to a gurdwara at the Urban Estate (Phase I) to attend the bhog of city Youth Congress chief Kamljeet Kaur Multani’s husband Amarjit Singh Multani who had passed away on October 5.

He also presided over a meeting of the state Youth Congress held at the Circuit House here in which presidents and general secretaries from various districts participated. Different issues, including that of “padyatra” being started by the Youth Congress from Mohali on October 22, were discussed at the meeting.

The “padyatra” would culminate at Ludhiana after covering a distance of 1,200 km and spreading awareness among the public against “anti-public” policies of the state government, he added.

Chandigarh, October 14
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said the party would move a privilege motion against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the next Assembly session on grounds of misleading the house on the debt-waiver issue.

Talking to TNS here, Capt Amarinder Singh maintained that the Chief Minister had committed breach of privilege by endorsing the claims of former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on the debt-waiver issue.

Claiming that the Assembly had been misled, Amarinder said the discussion of the state with the Centre on the debt-waiver issue was at a very preliminary stage. He said it had now even been revealed that the special committee formed by the Centre on the issue was not at Manpreet’s initiative but part of the recommendations of the Kelkar committee.

The Congress leader said the committee was formed to look into ways and means to waive loans of West Bengal, Kerala and Punjab. He said the committee held some meetings but no firm offer spelling out how much debt would he waived had been given to Punjab.

Amarinder said it was all right to blame the former Finance Minister for making a statement which he should not have made but it was also true that this had been endorsed by the Chief Minister. “This is surprising as the Chief Minister should have corrected his Cabinet colleague on the issue,” he added. He claimed that the Chief Minister could not be absolved on this issue as it had been discussed at length at a special power-point presentation given to the Chief Minister besides being taken up at a Cabinet meeting.

Gidderbaha, October 14
Manpreet Singh Badal has convened a meeting of his supporters here on October 16 apparently to chalk out a strategy following his dismissal from the Punjab ministry. The meeting will be held in the gurdwara of Chhateana village from where Manpreet Singh used to launch his election campaigns.

The meeting will give an opportunity to Manpreet Singh to gauge his strength in the area after being sacked from the ministry.

Meanwhile, fence-sitters in this Assembly constituency that Manpreet Singh nurtured over the years are now faced with the problematic decision whether to desert him and jump into Sukhbir’s bandwagon or continue following in the former’s footsteps.

While representing this constituency, Manpreet Singh took several initiatives for the welfare of the people particularly that of providing potable drinking water in this area that has registered the highest number of cancer patients. Other development works have also got relegated to the background as those who so far sided with Manpreet Singh are weighing all options.

The after effects of the feud within the Badal family have started surfacing here with the DSP of Gidderbaha, Jagjit Singh Bhagtana, becoming the first victim as he was shunted out immediately after Manpreet Singh was sacked. The DSP is considered a confidant of the sacked minister.

Activists of the ruling SAD were tight-lipped and those who gathered the courage to comment begged anonymity. Some of them claimed they were approached by other party men to part ways with Manpreet Singh.

The question is whom the SAD will now project as the leader of the area in place of Manpreet Singh.

A local lawyer, who is considered close to Manpreet Singh, said it was a ticklish question whether to remain with him or join the camp of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh. “Going with Manpreet Singh will not be an easy task as his opponents in SAD will never tolerate a situation of rebellion.”

Taking benefit of the fluid situation, the Congress activists here have become active and were keenly watching the fallout. Raja Warring, general secretary of the Youth Congress and an aspirant for the Congress ticket for the constituency, held a meeting of his supporters here today and accused Manpreet Singh of “playing a double role.

“If Manpreet Singh does not find SAD a value-oriented party, he should stop playing the emotional card by claiming that he was a born Akali and respects his uncle, Parkash Singh Badal. He must break all relations with the SAD and contest the coming Assembly election as an Independent to show his own strength,” said Warring. Ranbir Pardhan of the Congress, who contested every election against Manpreet Singh, termed his expulsion from the ministry as a right step by the Chief Minister to show him the mirror.

Welcoming the transfer of DSP Bhagtana, Pardhan accused him of being a puppet in the hands of Manpreet Singh to settle scores with Congress activists. However, the DSP refuted the allegations saying, “I did everything in accordance with the law.”

Sarbjit Dhaliwal adds from Jalandhar: Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Manpreet Singh said he would explain to the people the financial crisis being faced by the state and also his stand on various issues. After Gidderbaha, he said he would move to other areas of the state. Manpreet Singh on Thursday left for Delhi and would return to Chandigarh tomorrow.

“I’m happy that I am getting a tremendous response from the people, even from small farmers. I went to a function in a village in Ludhiana district on Thursday and I was moved by the affection people gave me there,” said Manpreet Singh.

Chandigarh, October 14
The Chandigarh (I) Commissionerate of Central Excise and the Service Tax Department has slapped a show-cause notice on Punjab Roadways for alleged non-payment of service tax to the tune of Rs 22.96 crore on the income earned by providing services of “manpower recruitment or supply agency” to Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Ltd (PUNBUS).

Talking to The Tribune, HK Thakur, Commissioner (Central Excise), Chandigarh (I), said the notice was issued after detail investigations. Total liability of Punjab Roadways would be Rs 44 crore taking into account the Rs 22-crore penalty. He said according to Section 11AC of the Central Excise Act, non-payment of service tax attracts equivalent penalty to the “evaded” amount.

Thakur said during investigations, scrutiny of the audited balance sheets of PUNBUS for financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09 revealed that under the head of direct expenses and expenses buses, payment of operational charges and overtime were shown.

Further inquiry revealed that PUNBUS had incurred these expenses on account of hiring manpower from Punjab Roadways and since Punjab Roadways had earned income from PUNBUS, it was liable to pay service tax on the same.

The Commissioner said under Section 65 (68) of the Finance Act, 1994, “manpower recruitment or supply agency’s services” meant any person engaged in providing any service, directly or indirectly in any manner for recruitment or supply of manpower, temporarily or otherwise, to any other person, are liable to pay service tax.

As Punjab Roadways falls in this category, the service tax is due for them. Transport Secretary Arvinder Singh said the department had received the notice only yesterday and the same was under examination.

Chandigarh, October 14
While joining the Congress is thought to be the best recourse for former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, an overwhelming majority of the Congress’ senior leadership is against rolling out the red carpet for him.

Not only senior leaders in the state Congress, including the Pradesh Congress President, want him kept out, even Congress leaders from his constituency of Gidderbaha are against his entry into the party.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, when asked about his views on the subject, told TNS that though any final decision would be up to the party high command, he would, if asked, definitely advise the party not to induct Manpreet. Giving his reasons for saying so, he claimed Manpreet was equally responsible for registration of false cases against Congress workers in Gidderbaha.

Capt Amarinder said moreover the divide between the SAD and the Congress had become very severe due to the politics of vendetta, which had been extended to the grassroots level. He said the ordinary Congress worker would be against any such move.

Pradesh Congress President Mohinder Singh Kaypee claims Manpreet’s ouster from the SAD is part of a war of succession between him and his cousin, Sukhbir Badal. The PPCC President said Manpreet might have won four times from Gidderbaha but this had more to do with family than any other reason. “In fact we have not seen any organisational skills in him,” he said, adding that the party would rather like to wait and watch than jump the gun and invite Manpreet into the party.

Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa is among the few senior leaders who want Manpreet to join the Congress. He claims the party desperately needs a leader who can take on the Badals in their bastion. According to Bajwa, the former Finance Minister could make a dent in the Akali votes in Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot and Moga districts. “This would benefit the Congress tremendously in the next Assembly elections,” he claims.

Congressmen aver Bajwa can afford to say this, as he will not be affected by the emergence of Manpreet as he does his politics in the Majha belt in Gurdaspur district and Manpreet could make a difference only in the Malwa belt. But they agree that though Manpreet might not be popular among the senior Congress leadership in the state, the youth in the state were all for him.

Amritsar, October 14
Even as Manpreet Badal’s unceremonious exit from the SAD as well as the state government has sparked off a debate over the extent of damage it may cause to the ruling party, the first acid test for the SAD, after the prevailing political crisis, will be during the forthcoming SGPC elections scheduled for March next year.

The SAD had swept the SGPC poll held in July 2004, winning 134 seats out of the 167 which went to poll. However, the difference between the SAD and its rival groups in terms of vote share was mere 10 per cent, which may be a cause of concern for the ruling party now. While splinter Akali groups and Sarna brothers from New Delhi are already gearing up for the SGPC poll, ouster of Manpreet has opened yet another front for the SAD. The SAD faction headed by Simranjeet Singh Mann had held an impressive rally in Fatehgarh Sahib sometime back. Similarly, Sarnas are also trying to strengthen their base in Punjab. The statements made by former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the past, saying that he will support Paramjit Singh Sarna if the latter contests SGPC poll also doesn’t augur well for the ruling party.

Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune over the issue here, former Akali minister Manjeet Singh Calcutta said the SAD would now try to put off the SGPC elections by another month to minimise the possible damage to its poll prospects. He felt that Manpreet’s ouster from the party and the government may be a precursor to a bigger split in the party.

Beas MLA Manjinder Singh Kang, who is supporting Manpreet Badal in the ongoing political crisis, today alleged that the state government had withdrawn his security despite the fact that he has “ a serious threat to his life”. On the other hand, Amritsar (rural) SSP Gurmeet Chauhan maintained that the MLA has got the security has per the norms.

JALANDHAR: Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday said that not matching the political intellect of the former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had cunningly plotted Manpreet’s political isolation in the garb of party discipline.

“I admire Manpreet Singh for taking a principled stand on the debt issue,” said Khaira.

The Congress leader said that senior SAD leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Ranjit Singh Brhampura, Gurdev Singh Badal and Tota Singh, who were members of the SAD’s Disciplinary Action Committee, had meekly surrendered before Sukhbir Singh Badal to target Manpreet Singh.

Manpreet Badal rightly said that the once illustrious Shiromani Akali Dal, which stood for democratic principles, was now Sukhbir Akali Dal. There was no place for dissent or inner-party democracy in the SAD anymore. The resignation had also exposed a weak, meek and helpless bureaucracy.

Bathinda, October 14
Sensing that complaints regarding the procurement and lifting of paddy may create a law and order problem, the state government has deployed police personnel to keep watch at the purchase yards. The DCs have been asked to monitor the whole process. All SSPs have been directed to send police personnel to the mandis.

The Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Darbara Singh Guru, who was here to visit purchase centres of Bathinda and Muktsar districts, today said, “We have constituted committees comprising DSPs, SDMs and DTOs to ensure that the procurement and lifting process is conducted in a smooth way.”

Visiting various mandis, the Principal Secretary listened to the grievances of farmers waiting for their crop to be procured, pulled up certain bureaucrats and ordered the suspension of the licence of a commission agent of Bhalaiana village in Muktsar for not cleaning the produce piled up in the yard for purchase.

At some mandis, redressing complaints about delay in procurement, Darbara Singh Guru asked Mandi Board officials to measure the moisture content, and finding it within the permissible limits, he directed officials of the state procurement agencies to immediately purchase the crop. Giving detailed figures for the state, Darbara Singh Guru said that till Wednesday evening, about 33.51 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy had arrived in the mandis out which 30.62 lakh MT was purchased by state agencies and about 92,754 MT by private buyers.

Refuting the allegation of the state arhtiya association about delay in lifting, he said, “As per the norms, the process of procurement and lifting (which includes cleaning, filling and transportation) should be completed within 72 hours. And if one compares the data according to that strategy, as of now, we have lifted about 72 per cent of the total quantity purchased till October 10.”

Ludhiana, October 14
A day after former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was sacked from his ministerial berth, he was honoured by Sahibana villagers at a village gurdwara, 25 km from here today.

Notably, among those who honoured him included Mann Singh Garcha, brother of a former minister, Jagdish Singh Garcha, who has been a close aide of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

He was given a siropa, a sword and a shawl on the occasion. In his first public meeting after his expulsion from the ministership, Manpreet, who was in a pensive mood, said despite everything, he held his Tayyaji (read Parkash Singh Badal) in high regard.

“We may have a generation gap but I still hold him in high esteem. I will stand by him through thick and thin. Neither he nor I wanted that all this should happen,” said Manpreet.

Remaining non-committal about floating a new political party, Manpreet said it was too early to say anything. “It takes days and even months to plan and reach a goal,” he remarked.

Adding, he said first they would work towards garnering mass support and public opinion. “The convoy is too small for the time being. But I am sure people will start walking with me and we will make it a movement. I am out to convey a message to the state that we are already in a debt trap. If we are not able to come out of it, we will be doomed. If our coffers will be empty, the coming generations will never forgive us,” he said.

After having been expelled from the party and ministership, Manpreet said whether he will continue to be a member of the Legislative Assembly would depend on the people of Gidderbaha, his constituency.

“People from my constituency had come to meet me specially and they had told me to ask them if I ever decide to resign. It is all up to them now,” he said.

Hoshiarpur, October 14
To prevent human-animal conflict, the state Forest and Wildlife Department will soon fence wildlife sanctuavries across the state. It will spend Rs 58 crore on various projects to be taken under this scheme of the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.

Talking to TNS, state forest minister Tikhsan Sud said the amount would be spent on various measures to be taken up for the conservation of forests and wildlife.

Sud said the first instalment of Rs 58 crore (for two financial years) had been received and work on fencing 13 sanctuaries and updating infrastructure would soon be started. From now onwards, the department would get Rs 30 crore for the purpose annually and the same would be spent on various works like fencing, construction of waterholes, planting fruit-bearing indigenous trees in forests, setting up of makeshift shelter for animals and some other requirements, he added.

Sources, however, said directions by a Patiala-based court forced the department to come up with the scheme. Taking up a litigation, the court had directed the department to fence wildlife sanctuaries in Patiala, as wild animals has been wrecking havoc on crops. Moreover, the Nabha MLA had also been taken up the issue for the past many years.

But wildlife lovers maintained that scores of animals would lose their lives in the absence of medicare. Facing paucity of funds, the department was functioning with a skeleton staff and to conserve wild animals and forest cover was not possible in such a situation, said Nikhil Sangar of Wildlife Conservation Society (Nawanshahr).

Ludhiana, October 14
A team from Walter Sislu University of South Africa will visit Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to follow the development model of the state in the African nation. This was stated here today by PAU Vice-Chancellor Manjit Singh Kang. He had just returned after a 10-day visit to Walter Sislu University that had invited him to assist in formulating the curriculum for agricultural sciences.

Somadoda Fikeni, chairperson of the council, Walter Sislu University, in a letter of thanks to Kang said: “We look forward to strengthening our relationship as we view your university as a strategic partner”.

Kang further stated that the Rural Development Minister of South Africa might also visit the PAU in March. The Africans view Punjab’s model as most successful and would like to adopt the same to mitigate the problems of the farmers in their country.

Faridkot, October 14
The fate of the flying academy proposed to be set up by the Punjab Government in the vicinity of the cantonment area here has become uncertain as the Army has raised objections relating to national security.

A few days ago, Col KS Puri, officer in charge (administration) of the local Army unit, in a letter to District Magistrate S Karuna Raju has asked him not to go ahead with construction work on the proposed flying academy.

He has also mentioned the directions given by a senior official of the Defence Ministry not to undertake any construction work in a 1000-metre area of the Army establishment.

In another letter to the state government, the Army has expressed serious concerns rearding national security in the wake of an emergency situation.

The flying academy is proposed to be set up in an airfield that is at present in the possession of the Maharaval Khewaji Trust, which looks after properties of the erstwhile rulers of the Faridkot princely state.

Since the Defence Ministry has banned construction in cantonment areas across the country, this airfield in the cantonment area has been lying in a state of neglect for many decades. Two aircraft of the then ruler are lying in poor shape under a tin roof while trees and shrubs have grown on the runway.

Raja Harjinder Singh Brar of the princely state had constructed the airfield here in 1939 on 176 acres. However, it was abandoned in the early 1960s.

When contacted, the DM confirmed that his office had received some letters from local officials of the Army with regard to certain objections. “The state government has proposed to set up the flying academy, but I will look into every aspect of this project. I will not ignore the security concerns of the country and go ahead with the construction work as per the guidelines”, he said.

The DM has asked Subdivisional Magistrate Bhupinder Singh to look into the concerns of the Army and submit a report to his office as soon as possible.

The state government has already taken steps to acquire 103.4 acres after fixing compensation of Rs 2 lakh per acre to be paid to the said trust.

Patiala, October 14
The Orissa government honoured city girl Nancy Ghuman, president of Rainbow Society for Special Children, Punjab, by giving her a National Award for her outstanding contribution towards the development of special children. A team of special children under Rainbow Society’s banner went to Cuttuck, Orissa, to participate in an international dance and drama competition, in which 13 countries took part.

On this occasion, Damodar Raot, Orissa Agriculture Minister, presented Kala Bhushan to Nancy for her outstanding performance and services for promotion and popularisation of the heritage of Indian performing arts in the field of Punjabi Folk Dance and her services given for the mental and social growth of special children.

Ghuman has dedicated herself to bring special children into the mainstream. Nancy, who works as a proofreader at Punjabi University, trains mentally and physically challenged children to learn aerobics and dancing and motivates them to perform in public. Her efforts have earned accolades for these children at national and state-level events.

Talking to The Tribune, she said, “It was during my association with the United Artist of Patiala that I became aware that special children were deprived of opportunities to explore their talent.”

Patiala, October 14
With an aim to enhance the green cover of Punjab, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) planted 1,07,278 saplings around the boundary walls of the industrial units across the state during this monsoon season.

The industries will take care of these saplings till their growth period. Member Secretary of the Board Dr. Babu Ram said the board had directed all its regional officers in the state to intensify this plantation campaign during the rainy season. Though the board was perusing various departments and industries for planting saplings since long but this time the board did a commendable job by planting saplings in such a large number.

These plants will help reduce the air pollution load emitted by the industries, he added.

Patiala, October 14
Keeping in view the commendable performances by the varsity athletes in the Commonwealth games, Punjabi University, Patiala, and the state government have earmarked Rs 5 crore for the development of sports infrastructure in order to produce more national and international level players. This was stated by Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh at a function organised to honour Commonwealth Games bronze medallist archer Gagandeep Kaur at university campus here today.

He said the university had already established its supremacy in the field of sports by winning the MAKA Trophy three times in a row. He said: “We have touched the highest peak and university players should work harder to retain the trophy. The university administration will provide every possible support to the players and coaches and all ultra-modern sports facilities will be made available for their betterment.”

Jaspal Singh also gave nod to the much awaited demand of university coaches by announcing to regularise their pay scales.

Earlier, led by the Vice-Chancellor, the teachers, employees and students of the varsity and affiliated colleges received Gagandeep Kaur on the university campus amidst much fanfare. The V-C handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to her on the behalf of the university.

Chairman of the Minorities Commission, Punjab, Kirpal Singh Badungar; University Registrar Manjit Singh; finance officer Jagtar Singh; and Director (Sports) Raj Kumar congratulated Gagandeep on her achievement.

Patiala, October 14
Disappointed over the inaction of the Bar Council of India (BCI) to include Punjabi as a medium for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), to be conducted on December 5, the students of Punjabi University have urged the university administration to initiate legal proceedings in the matter.

As per information, the representatives of the Sikh Students Federation (SSF) have conveyed the varsity authorities that in case they fail to resort to legal remedies for inclusion of Punjab as a medium in the AIBE, then the SSF will itself take legal recourse.

SSF national president Parmjeet Singh Gazi said: “We are hopeful that the university will act in time to fulfill its statutory responsibility, otherwise the SSF will knock the doors of the High Court on the issue.” He further stated that the BCI’s decision to ignore Punjabi as a medium for the AIBE had sparked strong criticism from various section of Punjabi society. Developing Punjabi as a medium of instruction is one of the basic objectives behind establishment of Punjabi University, as per the Punjabi University Act 1961.