Chamkaur Sahib, November 19
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has detected 1,783 bogus LPG connections here that were issued in the name of non-existent people.The department has forwarded a detailed report to the Director (Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs), Punjab, Alak Nanda Dayal, and oil industry’s state-level coordinator RK Arora.

Dayal said: “We have written in this regard to HP officials recommending that either the licence of the agency be cancelled or strict action be taken against it.”

Sources in the department said officials had been receiving innumerable complaints against Chamkaur Sahib Gas Service, which dealt with HP gas cylinders. People had been repeatedly complaining about the non-availability of cylinders for genuine customers.

Consequently, the Deputy Director (Food & Civil Supplies) Jaswinder Singh formed a team, which over a period of 15-20 days sought the list of cylinders distributed from the gas agency.

Later, the team visited over 53 villages of Chamkaur Sahib checking the address of every consumer mentioned on the list and came across 1,783 bogus connections. These include 195 names with two LPG gas connections each, 15 names with three connections each, one with four connections and one more with five connections.

“The department has taken written undertakings from the respective village sarpanches to make sure that people mentioned on the list actually do not exist in their respective villages,” officials said.

They added that cylinders procured under bogus connections were sold on black market and this had being going on unabated for the past sometime. It is also suspected that the Chamkaur Sahib gas agency has tie ups with a few agencies in Ropar city also.

Sirhind/ Rajpura, November 19
With winters just round the corner, shortage of the LPG cylinders has hit its consumers hard. The LPG filled cylinders are being sold at exorbitant rates of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 in black market.

The rural consumers are the worst hit having to wait for their turn in the serpentine queues for several hours. “I came here in the morning to get the cylinder refilled and am still struggling in the queue even after four hours,” said Mokham Singh in Rajpura.

He pointed out that even 45 days ago, the agency vehicles would visit every week, but now for the last 15 to 20 days, it had not come. This has lead to chaos and panic among villagers, who carry heavy gas cylinders up to 5-7 Km. “Though we face such chaos every winters, but this season the chaos has started a little earlier,” said Sonu Walia of Mandi Gobindgarh.

Consumers fumed that authorities failed to check the menace of illegal sale and black marketing during the festive season and were seen using domestic gas cylinders for commercial purposes in the markets. “Gas cylinders are available for every influential person of the area, but not for the genuine consumers, who have to wait for hours together to get cylinder refilled,” said Manoj Kumar of Bassi Paathana in Fatehgarh Sahib.

A salesman in Rajpura said some black marketers had recently purchased the LPG-filled cylinders from far off places like Saharanpur for further sale in Punjab.

Sona Thind, District Food Supply Controller (DFSC) Patiala-1, said the problem was due to the imbalance between demand and supply and a special team from the DFSC and sales officers of gas agencies had been constituted to conduct raids in areas where gas cylinders were being sold illegally.

Chandigarh, November 19
The SAD has received support from an unexpected quarter in its ongoing fight against former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal. In what can only be music to the Akali ears, the PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh, today claimed that Manpreet would not have any impact in the forthcoming Assembly elections in 14 months’ time.

Amarinder, while talking to TNS after taking part in a brief ceremony held to pay homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at Congress Bhawan here, even claimed that the Akalis seem have gone for an overkill. “I don’t think Manpreet deserves so much attention,” he added.

Explaining his hypothesis, he said the former Finance Minister would not be able to make a dent in the SAD as long as he did not attract support from within the SGPC. “This does not seem to be happening,” he said, adding that a leader could be effective in Akali politics as long as the SGPC was with him. “This has been the case since the days of Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh to the present day Akali leadership,” he added.

Amarinder feels Manpreet’s present visibility was due to the latter’s “ongoing honeymoon with the Press”, which, he claimed, “would ultimately fade”. Explaining the reason, he said disgruntled elements in the SAD who were supporting Manpreet at present, would have to choose between the SAD and the Congress upon the election eve.

The PPCC President also claimed that Manpreet was yet to find an agenda. “He was talking about doing away with subsidies earlier but is backtracking on this issue now.” Amarinder went on to claim that the poor needed to be subsidised, adding that 13 lakh out of the 45 lakh families in the state were living below the poverty line.

The PPCC President again reiterated that there was no space for Manpreet in the Congress. “Manpreet and former minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia are discredited by having committed the most number of excesses against Congress workers,” he said, adding that he had already made his views on this issue known to the high command.

Amarinder also announced that he would be participating in the SGPC elections next year as an individual and would enrol as a voter soon. When asked whether he will extend support to any group, including the Akali Dal (Longowal) and Akali Dal (Delhi), he stressed the need for a credible organisation to counter the SAD but said he would not take part in any such process.

He also made it clear that he would be seeking votes of all sects, including the Sachha Sauda, Radha Soami, Nirankaris and Naamdharis. “All people associated with these sects are voters of Punjab and I will ask for their votes,” he added.

Earlier in the morning, Amarinder visited Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s residence here. He had a one-to-one meeting with Bhattal and only divulged that he would take her along in forming the party organisation team. 

Jalandhar, November 19
Voters in the country have reason to cheer since they will be able to reject all candidates in their constituency by the push of a button on electronic voting machines (EVMs) soon.

The Election Commission has written to the Centre for the provision of an additional button saying ‘none of the above’ by which a voter can exercise the option of rejecting all candidates in the fray.

Principal Secretary of the commission Shingara Ram, who was in the city to oversee the ongoing voter rolls revision exercise, said this development would enable the people to exercise their right under Section 49 (O) of the People Representation Act. So far, voters were unaware of this provision that was also not highlighted by polling staff and political parties.

But the clamour raised by certain pressure groups and social organisations urging the government, especially before the elections, to do something in this context has borne fruit and the commission had suggested to the government to modify EVMs in this context, Shingara Ram said.

This would also enable the commission to know the number of people who had expressed their disappointment with the candidates. Such a provision existed in many developed countries and had been effectively used by the people, he said.

This was one of the many suggestions offered by the commission in improving the poll and voting process in the country that was under the active consideration of the government, he added.

On the menace of paid news, Shingara Ram said they were working in tandem with the Press Council of India (PCI), which had to take the final call. But the matter was being hotly debated by the PCI, he said.

Shingara Ram said the commission had disqualified all those candidates who failed to submit their electoral expenses. Such persons were disbarred from contesting for the next three years and their names were listed on their website. “We take such cases very seriously and take action as per the law,” he added.

He said he had visited various places to oversee the voter roll revision and had taken note of problems being faced by the polling staff and people. All problems would be redressed soon, he said.

He also urged the people to use this opportunity to get themselves registered and this exercise would continue till November 27. The rolls would be finalised and printed in January, he added.

Amritsar, November 19
A 1,092-member Sikh jatha today left for Pakistan by three special trains to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Nankana Sahib on November 21.

Though the actual number of the applicants was much higher, only 1,092 were eventually cleared for the pilgrimage. The Indian External Department rejected 175 applications while the Pakistan Embassy disallowed 60 applications.

Of the 1,092 pilgrims, 159 belonged to the SGPC and were led by its member Sawinder Singh Dobaliya.

After attending the main function at Nankana Sahib, they will pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sacha Sauda. They will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal).

The pilgrims will reach at Dera Sahib (Lahore) on November 24. They will pay their respects at many historic Sikh religious shrines in Lahore.

Chandigarh, November 19
Eighteen years after alleged militant Nishan Singh of Amritsar district was killed, anon-governmentorganisation todaymoved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for an independent probe into his “murder”.

The plea came upbefore a Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi just about a month after Punjab MLA Manjinder Singh Kang allegedly claimed killing Nishan Singh, duringan interview on a television channel.

In its petition against the state of Punjab,the director-general of police, the Amritsarsenior superintendentof police, the MLA and two others, the World Human Rights Council through chairman Ranjan Lakhanpal said Kang claimed on a channel that he killed Nishan Singh during the days of militancy and his family was awarded the “Shauriya Chakra”.

After his statementled to a “hue and cry”, Kang retracted and claimed his father had killed Nishan Singh. “Kang stated so as his father is no more; and as such no action could have been taken against him”, Lakhanpal said.

He added Nishan Singh went missing during the days of terrorismand it was only during the proceedings of theKhera commission that it came to be known that he had been killed on September 21, 1992.

Lakhanpal said theFIR in the matter gaveout a different story.“The fact remains that one person was extra-judicially killed and no action was taken in the matter by the police. All this clearly shows that there was a lot of hanky panky going on at that point of time”.

Taking up the plea,the High Court issued notice of motion tothe state and other respondents.

Jalandhar, November 19
Various organisations, supporting special children, participated in an awareness rally taken out in the city today.Carrying placards highlighting their issues such as inclusion of the special children in mainstream schools, implementation of various relevant sections of Right to Education, right to employment and representation of their members in the local-level committees, the members of various societies held a march from Circuit House to Red Cross Bhawan.

Various organisations taking part in the rally included members of the Chaanan Association for Mentally Retarded Children, Asha, a school for special children run by the Army Wives’ Welfare Association, Soch, an NGO for children suffering from autism, and Disabled Advocacy Group, a group of adults successful despite their physical disabilities.

Police Commissioner Gaurav Yadav attended the event. Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti could not turn up owing to a meeting with election officers.

Interestingly, even the Minister for Social Security and Development of Women and Children, Ch Swarna Ram, did not make it to the event claiming that he had been invited two months back and there was no reminder, to which the organisers outrightly issued a denial claiming that they were following up till this morning.

Amarjit Singh Anand, President of the Chaanan Association, said, “Since neither the minister nor the Deputy Commissioner turned up, we could not even roll out our charter of demands.” 

Chandigarh, November 19
The Punjab Government has constituted the State Advisory Committee on Youth Programme (SACYP).Stating this here today, a spokesperson for the state Sports and Youth Services Department said the SACYP would have the minister in-charge as its chairman and he would in turn nominate two or three MPs / MLAs as its members.

The SACYP would advise Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYK) at the state level and would explore the possibilityof initiating collaborative projects among theNYKS, the state government and other agencies in the state.

It would also liaise with NGOs working in the social sector to identify appropriate development projects.

Kurali, November 19
The Kurali police today raided the house of an accused in a murder case at Saini Majra village.

The police raided the house of accused Laddoo of Ghamandgarh village in Fatehgarh Sahib but found his parents only. Laddoo and his friend Mandeep from Salempur Khurd village near Kurali have murdered Naresh Kumar, whose skeletal remains were found near Saini Majra village. Victim was identified with the help of his photo and driving licence.

The police subsequently booked Mandeep and Laddoo after Jagir Singh informed the police about skeletons hidden in the bushes. Jagir told the police that around 20 days ago he had seen Mandeep and Ladoo carrying an axe and a baton and going with Naresh. Mandeep’s sister-in-law Harsimran Kaur had illicit relations with Naresh. Harsimran had married Mandeep’s cousin Hardeep. After an year of marriage, the couple had a tiff and Harsimran came to stay at her parents place in a village near Kurali. Here she allegedly had an affair with Naresh. Naresh was killed for having suspected illicit relation with Harsimran.

Mohali, November 19
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a new land purchase policy for the acquisition of land in a more transparent and farmer-friendly manner.

The new policy ensures acquisition and purchase of land on the basis of willingness of the land owner/farmer for selling his land. The new policy provides acquisition of land through tenders and bids at a price fixed by 
the landowner himself for his land.

Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Secretary Housing and Urban Development, said the new land purchase policy was not only farmer friendly but would also speed up the process of acquisition of land boosting the pace of development in the state. The policy would eliminate the scope for litigation and save both farmers as well as the government from wasting their time and money in various courts of law.

The land purchased policy is the third instrument devised by the government after the Punjab Land Acquisition Act 1894 and the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) for acquisition of land. The land acquired under the policy would be exempted from the stamp duty. Around 2,500 acres of land was proposed to be acquired in Amritsar, Rayya/Beas, Ajnala, Tarn Taran, Patti, Batala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala and Malerkotla.

Public notice for the purchase of land at 26 above said locations in 13 cities of the state had evoked massive response. Landowners at Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Tanda, Phagwara and other cities had shown keen interest to offer their land under the land purchase policy. 

Patiala, November 19
Punjab Chief Secretary SC Agarwal has said the state government would promote farm tourism in the state. He said after the success of 15 farm tourist centres in Punjab, now the government had decided to further promote this concept across different parts of the state. Interacting with the media after visiting the farm tourist centre opened up by the owner of Gary Farm AS Grewal in Nanoki village on Bhadson-Nabha Road in Patiala district, Agarwal said in order to attract tourists, especially foreigners, the government would promote opening of more farm tourist centres in the state.

Notably, the farm tourist centre in Nanoki village offer various activities, which include horse riding, rides on buggies and racing bullock carts, fishing and village games like danda duk (played on small trees), baandar kila, pithoo garam, gulli danda etc. “With coming up of more and more farm tourist centres, the farmers will earn good money and it will also provide an opportunity to showcase the culture, traditions and atmosphere of Punjab to the foreign tourists,” said Chief Secretary.

Agarwal stated that farm tourist centres, presently operating from different villages of Punjab had received a thumping response from the foreign tourists. “In order to provide information about these centres, the Department of Tourism is already developing a website, which will be extremely helpful for procuring any detail about the farm tourist centres,” he said, while adding that farmers interested in opening farm tourist centre are provided special training by the Punjab Tourism Department.