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Manpreet’s hoardings damaged in Amritsar
Manpreet will want to play kingmaker, say analysts
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Kaypee extends support to Amarinder Singh
Chandigarh, November 13 Outgoing Punjab Pradesh Congress president and Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee today, while pledging his support to newly appointed state Congress chief Amarinder Singh, said he would make himself available for the party work wherever needed.
SAD employees’ wing to hold dharna
SAD writes to Governor on Cong rally
Kapurthala Heritage Festival
State is financially strong: Sukhbir
Pawar ‘assures’ state farmers of relief
1,616 Thapar varsity students conferred degrees
Tax evasion by Patiala hotel detected
Farmers gear up for milking contests
Urdu-Hindi software developed
Arms courier for ultras gets 10-yr RI
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Manpreet’s hoardings damaged in Amritsar
Amritsar, November 13 Some armed miscreants, as alleged by the SAD legislator from Beas, Manjinder Singh Kang, had damaged a large number of hoardings on Manpreet’s scheduled visit to the city tomorrow. Kang claimed that trucks carrying the hoardings and flex boards with Manpreet’s pictures had been seized midway unlawfully and the owner of the hoarding-making unit, with whom the orders had been placed, had been kidnapped to an unknown place. Manpreet, when apprised of the development, said such actions would not yield any result, adding that he had kept his fingers crossed about tomorrow’s visit to the holy city. On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal chose to reserve his comments on the issue. He was in the city to preside over the convocation ceremony of Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences today. Citing the disruptive activities of miscreants as “pressure tactics” to discourage them from mobilising people to support Manpreet, Kang asserted that all this had happened in connivance with the supporters of the ruling party and the local police. “I received a call from the owner of the hoarding unit, Yashpal, in the morning that some armed persons had been destroying the hoardings and flex boards after gaining forced entry into the factory. After reaching the place, I discovered that almost all hoardings had been destroyed,” he said, adding that “the PCR vehicle present on the spot did not prevent them from destruction.” Kang said his men had spotted a truck (PB-02 L 9611), loaded with the hoardings and flex boards, on the GT road, detained by some unknown persons, who fled from the scene. Meanwhile, Kang has filed a complaint with the Maqboolpura police station about the incidents. Confirming this, the DCP, AS Chahal, said the PCR vehicle must have been on routine duty. “But it is yet to be determined whether this incident happened in their presence or not. Action will be taken after investigating the allegations made by the complainant,” he said. Meanwhile, the SGPC and the local police is all geared up to deal with any untoward incident during the “show of strength” rally by Manpreet. DCP AS Chahal said no intimation had been received from Manpreet about his programme or required police assistance. “But looking into the incidents of miscreants damaging hoardings that occurred this morning, we have decided to be prepared with some extra force,” he said.
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Manpreet will want to play kingmaker, say analysts
Chandigarh, November 13 While the number game is on everyone’s mind with analysts predicting that a good show will raise Manpreet’s stock immediately, there is also the question of what the former Finance Minister may say or do to harm his cousin, SAD chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Manpreet has kept his cards close to his chest, saying he will be seeking directions from Darbar Sahib, but going by the manner he has criss-crossed the state to drum up support for himself and what he stands for, it is clear that his actions will be aimed at damaging his erstwhile party, the SAD. However, what is clear is that Manpreet will not be joining the Congress. Since going back to the SAD is not on the cards, that leaves him with the option of launching his own political party, which could comprise of several of the sidelined or disgruntled political leaders from both the SAD and Congress. Meanwhile other than the three MLAs, which he has flaunted ever since he resigned as the Finance Minister, he is said to be in touch with several other MLAs across Punjab. The fact that some of the sitting MLAs are not likely to get the party ticket due to the change in the shape of the constituencies following delimitation may also push them to Manpreet. He is also said to have the support of the Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala faction. Political analysts, however, feel that Manpreet, instead of forming a political party, will prefer to open a third front, which, as a conglomeration of MLAs, will act as the “king-maker” group, following elections. Punjab politics is highly dependent on the support of any 20-plus group and it is up to Manpreet to muster at least 17 MLAs to play this role. |
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Kaypee extends support to Amarinder Singh
Chandigarh, November 13 Kaypee’s statement comes after Amarinder said that he would be meeting all senior party leaders to solicit their support to take on the SAD-BJP combine unitedly. The Jalandhar MP said he had met the new PPCC chief and had assured him of his cooperation. “He on his part has told me that he will take my suggestions before forming the new committees in the state”, he added. Kaypee, who was present at the Congress Bhawan yesterday to formally handover the charge to Amarinder, something that is rarely done by outgoing presidents, said he had made it a point to be present yesterday. “Being a loyal soldier of the party, it is my duty to handover the charge and also welcome the new president,” he said, adding he had started a new tradition by doing so. The MP made it clear that he would do duty for the Congress and even miss Parliament if needed to strengthen the party. He said he would also work to regain lost ground in the Majha and Malwa belts in the last Parliamentary elections by working along with the party workers. “It is the party worker who counts in the Congress and not personalities,” he added.
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SAD employees’ wing to hold dharna
Chandigarh, November 13 This decision was taken, ironically, at a meeting presided over by newly appointed Mulazim Bhalai Board Chairman Surinder Singh Pehalwan, a former employee leader of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). In a statement here, the employees’ wing of the SAD said it was anguished that the government was turning a blind eye to the demands of employees and warned that if this attitude continued, the employees would be forced to launch a statewide agitation. Employee leader BS Sekhon, while briefing TNS about the meeting, said the government had recently claimed that it would give arrears due to the employees after the announcement of the 5th Pay Commission, in three instalments and that only one instalment would be given every year. Sekhon said this was unacceptable and that the wing had demanded that 50 per cent of this amount be put in the GP fund and the rest be paid in cash to the employees. Among other demands of the wing include regularisation of 9,500 daily wagers who, it claims, have been working in different government departments for the past 20-25 years. Sekhon said there were 970 employees of various sugar mills who had not received their salaries for the past 30 months. He said these employees should be absorbed in other departments in case the sugar mills were to be closed permanently. —TNS
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SAD writes to Governor on Cong rally
Patiala, November 13 Chandumajra has alleged that the rally caused inconvenience to the patients admitted to the PGI, besides affecting studies of thousands of students of adjoining three government colleges and Panjab University. He has requested the Governor to order an inquiry into the circumstances that made the administration grant permission to the Congress to hold a rally there. He said when the administration itself had earmarked a rally ground in Sector 25, why the rally was allowed to be held in the heart of the city. He said the Governor being a former Union Home Minister understood the sanctity of silence zone around hospitals, where even honking a horn was not allowed, but the UT administration allowed use of loudspeaker and orchestra at high decibel level, disturbing patients at the PGI and the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh. Demanding a ban on rallies in the heart of city, he said action should be initiated against officials, who allowed such a thing to happen in the city.
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Kapurthala Heritage Festival
Kapurthala, November 13 Dr Gurnam Singh, the revolutionary researcher and kirtankar, started the evening with his dulcet Gurbani notes. His attractive voice along with the taus (Amandeep Singh) and rabab (Ali Akbar), seemed to transport one to the time of the gurus. Om Prakash Thapar (swar mandal), Rajwinder Singh (tabla) and vocalists Gagandeep Singh and Jaskaran Singh provided accompaniment to him. Gurnam Singh started with a ‘bandish’ in Raag Kanhada and moved on to two more compositions (one of them in Raag Parbhati). He ended the recital with the shabad, “Mittar pyare nu”. Next came Budhaditya Mukherjee. With a tabla (Jaidev) for accompaniment, Mukherjee wove an enchanting web. His recital was interspersed with little, rare intricacies, pleasing to the ears. The sitar and tabla ‘talked’ and those who could hear it did. The right audience for a top class classical recital like this was, however, lacking. There was a lot of commotion and what’s sad is that the organisers had employed no one to tell the audience to keep silent. Mukherjee played a composition in Raag Tilak Kamod and a thumri in Mishra Khamaj for the audience. A chaotic crowd welcomed Ghulam Ali, armed with his old-world charms and sense of humour. He sang couplets of his popular ghazals and instructed the crowd, from time to time, to be quiet. Ghulam Ali’s voice has aged but the style and content of his singing can still charm one. His deep voice reminded one of the more glorious days of ghazal-singing and Urdu and Punjabi poetry. A group of people who hadn’t found seats, even sat down next to the stage.
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State is financially strong: Sukhbir
Jalandhar, November 13 Responding to the demands of school principal Colonel Satbir Singh and an old student Major Jagmohan Singh Nagpal during their speeches, Sukhbir advised them to make a proper plan for financial help for the gala event of the golden jubilee function and for preserving the historical building of the school. The Deputy CM said proper financial help would be provided to the school. Sukhbir said Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP Government was concentrating on providing quality school education to the meritorious students and adequate facilities to sportspersons. The Deputy CM said as many as 25,000 meritorious students would be provided free education at 125 Adarsh schools being set up in different parts of the state. The foundation stones of most of these schools would be laid in December this year and they would get ready for admission in December next year, he added. The Deputy CM also honoured the father and brother of late Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Kumar Kamboj. The militants in Kashmir had killed an alumnus of the school, Kamboj, on October 7, 1998. Several other old students, including Jalandhar ADCP (Crime) Rajpal Singh Sandhu was also honoured on the occasion. —TNS
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Pawar ‘assures’ state farmers of relief
New Delhi, November 13 The delegation led by BKU leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Onkar Singh Agaul and Gurnam Singh Dugapur met Pawar today and told that the yield of paddy in the state went down by 20 per cent this year, as compared to the last year. “The total arrival of paddy in the grain markets till date is 120 lakh tonne and will not exceed 125 lakh tonne, a loss of 17.5 lakh tonne worth Rs 1,800 crore to the farmers,” said Rajewal. As per Rajewal, Pawar gave a “very patient hearing to the delegation and assured that he will ask for a report from the Punjab Government on the low yield of paddy. He was very concerned about deteriorating health of the soil. He also assured that he will announce some compensation as bonus after getting a clearance from the Cabinet”. The MSP of paddy at present is Rs 1,120 per quintal. The delegation also demanded a special package to revive fertility of soil in Punjab. —TNS
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1,616 Thapar varsity students conferred degrees
Patiala, November 13 Gautam Thapar and Dr Mukherjee also discussed Thapar University’s Vision 2030 with the students. Nilekani was awarded Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) for his outstanding achievement in economic sciences and politics. In his speech Gautam Thapar said, “I congratulate all 1,616 students, who have graduated today and wish them a bright future. I have full confidence that the university will continue to inspire the present and coming generations of Thaparians to explore new frontiers of knowledge.” “Thapar University is considered to be one of the finest institutes, with its world-class research facilities and an excellent record for student placement across sectors with Indian and international corporations,” said Gautam.
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Tax evasion by Patiala hotel detected
Patiala, November 13 According to officials, the inquiry into the case would be completed within six to eight weeks and the action would be initiated thereafter. Notably, it is the same hotel in which the cast and crew of movie Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, including Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif, had stayed a few days ago. Excise Inspector Satwant Singh Tiwana reportedly went to the hotel on the pretext of booking a hall for the ring ceremony of his brother and recorded the conversation with the hotel authorities. “The hotel authorities agreed to issue bills without levying any VAT. The quotation for the bookings was also obtained. On the basis of the recording and the first-hand information, excise sleuths conducted a raid on the hotel,” officials said.
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Farmers gear up for milking contests
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 13 This is for the first time that these contests are being held at district level. Earlier, the contest was held at cluster level wherein five districts formed a cluster. Winners of these contests will then participate in zonal, state and north India level contests. Contests attract hundreds of cattle owners from different villages who register themselves as participants after paying fees. “The contest is organised every year with a motive to encourage farmers towards agriculture and allied activities and also to increase their source of income,” said Dr Jatinder Singh Bhatiasenior, veterinary officer in Amloh. He said this time emphasise would be laid on the use of organic fodder and scientific methods to increase milk yield and its quality. All departments, including fisheries, education, Milkfed, health and the district rural development authority (DRDA) would also participate during the event wherein they would put up their stalls to promote the government schemes. Various standards have also been set to identify winners. These include overall strength, quantity and quality of milk produced, cleanliness, fitness, age of animal and other factors. Officials of animal husbandry and dairy development said similar contests have been organised recently in Ferozepur, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur and other districts as well and it has evoked a great response. Balwinder Singh of Rurki village in Amloh block of Fatehgarh Sahib said his buffalo won first prize during last year’s contests and was selected for north India level competitions. “This time I would participate with five buffaloes”, he said. He added that such contests had increased farmers capability to do best for their animals. He added that his buffalo recorded milk yield of 44 kg during the last year’s competition.
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Urdu-Hindi software developed
Patiala, November 13 “The software will open new vistas on the frontiers of language development at the global level. It’s a step towards enhancing the contours of linguistic globalisation, even as it will help in bridging the scriptural, ethnical, cultural and geographical divisions between Urdu and Hindi readers,” said Dr Jaspal.
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Arms courier for ultras gets 10-yr RI
Ferozepur, November 13 The conviction of Mukhtiar, a resident of this district, has been taken as a big achievement by the state police authorities, as he was one of the weapon couriers, who made the Pakistani smugglers to stay in his house frequently. Four of the Pakistani smugglers, who would supply him arms, ammunition, narcotics and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and were arrested by the local police few years ago, have also been sentenced by the same court few weeks back. Mukhtiar, who was known as “pandi” in the police circles, was operating his network in entire Punjab before he fell into the police net in the Pala Megha area of the district in November 2008. He has been ordered to undergo 10-year RI for smuggling of narcotics. He had also been ordered to pay a fine of Rs one lakh, failing which he would have to undergo two-year RI in addition to his original sentence. For his involvement in FICN smuggling, he has been given three-year RI and Rs 5,000 fine was imposed on him. He would have to undergo six-month more RI, in case he failed to make payment of the fine. Mukhtiar has also been facing a criminal case connected with smuggling of arms and ammunition in Jalandhar district. The police sources said Mukhtiar, whose original village was situated at a few yards from cobra fencing erected on the Indo-Pak Border in this district, was head of operation being carried out by Pakistan-based smugglers and arm suppliers.
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Amritsar, November 13
After tormenting music lovers by its absence last year, the eighth Baba Jassa Singh Kapurthala Heritage Festival finally took off this year here on Friday and it couldn’t have got a better start. Charmed music lovers caught on with Dr Gurnam Singh, Budhaditya Mukherjee and Ghulam Ali as the mid-November chill made its presence felt, in the glorious backdrop of the Jagatjit Palace.
One of the India’s leading technical education institutions - Thapar University conducted its 24th convocation ceremony for the 2009-10 batch yesterday. Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani, Managing Director and CEO, Hero Honda Pawan Munjal, and president, Thapar University, and chairman and CEO Avantha Group Gautam Thapar, presided over the convocation ceremony.