Bibi Jagir Kaur’s appointment as patron of Istri Akali Dal ‘a farce’
Patiala, December 4
The Shiromani Akali Dal should hang its head in shame for appointing former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur as patron of the Istri Akali Dal, notwithstanding the fact that she is facing a trial in the murder case of her own daughter Harpreet Kaur. Expressing these views, Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira said everyone was aware of the fact that Bibi Jagir Kaur was a prime accused in the infamous Harpreet Kaur murder case.

Amendments to APMC Act priority: Pawar
Chandigarh, December 4
The amendments to the APMC Act is a priority area for the government and a meeting of all state agriculture and cooperatives ministers will be convened next month for the purpose. This was stated by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at the inauguration of CII’s AgroTech 2010 here today.

PM urged to take up turban issue with Sarkozy
Chandigarh, December 4
Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal yesterday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in getting the ban on wearing turbans by Sikhs in French schools lifted.

Tribune Impact
Hoardings, party flags removed from gurdwara
Patiala, December 4
All hoardings, banners having photographs of political leaders and flags of the SAD and the BJP were today removed from Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here. Notably, The Tribune has highlighted in these columns that party flags of the SAD and the BJP, besides the hoardings of SAD president and Punjab Deputy Speaker Sukhbir Singh Badal, could be seen inside the gurudwara.

A view of Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib in Patiala on Saturday. All hoardings, banners and flags of the SAD and the BJP have been removed after The Tribune highlighted the issue. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Appointments at PTU kick up row
Jalandhar, December 4
In what may turn out to be a recruitment scam, some recent officer-level appointments made by Punjab Technical University (PTU) have kicked off a controversy.

Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), December 4
The alleged bungling of lakhs of rupees released for desilting and cleaning the distributaries of Shah Nehar Headworks, Talwara, by the officials of the state Irrigation Department has raised serious questions over the department’s functioning.

A sum of over Rs 1.29 crore comprising the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and funds under the MGNREGA scheme was spent on desilting and cleaning 17 distributaries of the canal in the past two years.

While a sum of Rs 1.11 crore was spent under the RDF on clearing the muck from the beds from 2008-2010, the department spent Rs 18.5 lakh for the eradication of weeds and wild vegetation from the sides of these distributaries under MGNREGA in 2009-2010.

Even after spending such a huge amount on the maintenance of these distributaries, scores of farmers of Mukerian subdivision are deprived of canal water for irrigation. The worst sufferers are those living at the tail end of the canal for the past many years.

These shocking facts have come to light following an application submitted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the office of the Executive Engineer, Shah Nehar Headworks, at Talwara by three residents of Mukerian.

It is learnt that the department used the funds (RDF and MGNREGA) for same works with marginal changes in the reduced distance (RD in technical parlance) numbers. (RDs are markers denoting distance at regular intervals of all canal systems in the country).

On a visit to various big and small distributaries of Shah Nehar, TNS found that weeds had virtually covered the water channels and muck had piled up on their beds. There were breaches, on the sides of the channels, at almost after every 10-15 metres.

Enquiries revealed that the farmers were not getting canal water for the irrigation of their fields. The purpose of spending lakhs of rupees on the cleanliness of these water channels had gone waste, claimed Darshan Singh, a farmer of Pota-minor village.

Sources in the department said that the works done under the RDF were also shown to be covered under MGNREGA. On condition of anonymity, an employee of the department said that the sandbags used for the plugging of the breaches had also found entries in the lists of works carried out under the RDF and MGNREGA.

Subdivisional Engineer VK Gupta denied the allegations, saying that the department had been trying its best to provide irrigation water to a majority of the beneficiaries.

He, however, admitted that the farmers, having their fields at the tail ends of these distributaries were not getting water as the beds of these channels were damaged. The department had not received any funds for the repair of these beds, he claimed.

“We have submitted a proposal for the repair of the canals to the government. With the availability of funds, the repair work of the beds will be started to provide irrigation water for all the beneficiaries,” Gupta added.

Kharar, December 4
Members of the Vijay Topi gang, arrested for opening fire at police officials on Friday afternoon at Kharar, puzzled the investigating police officers about their identity.

Till around 9 pm on Friday, perplexed police officials were under the impression that while five gang members had been arrested, one injured and two killed, two others had escaped. Even the media was briefed on this in the evening.

However, the situation became clear by late night, when the police discovered that none of the accused had fled and instead those arrested were trying to puzzle the cops.

“None of the gang members identified each other. One man identified himself as Latti from Jalandhar and we were told that kingpin Vijay, alias Topi’s brother, Rohit, had escaped,” said SSP, Gurdaspur, Varinder Pal Singh.

He added that Latti was actually Vijay’s brother, Rohit. The police had photographs and other identification marks of kingpin Vijay in its police records, but it did not have any particular identification of Rohit.

In the mayhem, the police also wrongly rounded up Sanjeev Kumar from Khanpur area of Kharar, assuming him to be a gang member. Sanjeev later turned out to be the brother of a vegetable vendor in the Sunny Enclave area of Kharar.

Cops said the Topi gang had more than 100 criminal cases registered against it. The gang used to steal vehicles from Delhi,

Punjab and Haryana and sold the same in Jammu on fake registration certificates.

The accused, Mohammad Abbas, from Anantnag, Jammu, at present undergoing treatment at PGI, Chandigarh, was the key person who identified prospective buyers in Jammu and sold the stolen vehicles on fake papers.

“Jammu is a relatively safer haven for the sale of stolen cars. Being a bit inaccessible for police from other districts, the area has a thumping business of sale of stolen cars and the Topi gang was making great profits out of this,” pointed out senior police officials.

Meanwhile, the Mohali police has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the modus operandi of the gang. Mohali SSP GPS Bhullar said Mohali Deputy Commissioner had marked a magisterial inquiry into the firing. The four accused have been remanded in three-day police custody.

Jalandhar, December 4
With the killing of two members of the notorious Topi gang in an encounter with the police in Kharar yesterday, the Jalandhar (Rural) police has started digging into the local connections of the gangsters.

SSP Ashish Chaudhary claimed that the Topi gang was active in this part of the region for the past many years and had roped in almost a 100 youths in the gang. The gang was involved in cases of murder, rape, robbery, snatching and was even a part of the land mafia active in the region, the SSP said.

The gang burgled the house of Prince Arora, a municipal councillor of the Kartarpur civic body, in May and took away jewellery and valuables worth over Rs 32 lakh. The gang broke into Arora’s house while he along with members of his family was away to Delhi to attend a marriage. A case was registered in this connection at Kartarpur police station on March 15, the SSP added.

In another incident, members of the Topi gang, including Dharminder Singh, alias Bhinda, were involved in a case of snatching and met with a road accident at Nakodar on the same night.

The Nakodar SHO, Surinder Pal Singh, said five members of the Topi gang were travelling in a stolen Baleno owned by a Ludhiana-based doctor from Kapurthala to Nakodar on night of May 15 when they had a collision with an Alto near Nakodar. The gangsters were carrying arms and ammunition in two black bags. As road users and locals started assembling at the spot, the five stopped a car at the site and escaped, leaving behind a bag in a hurry, the SHO said.

The police was shocked to find two double- barrel guns, cartridges and other ammunition in a large quantity. After investigations, the police found involvement of Bhinda of Shadipur, Vijay Topi, Balwinder Singh, alias Harjit Singh, Parmod Kumar, alias Laddi, and Maninder Singh, alias Sonu, and Captain, alias Commando, all residents of Amritsar, in the case, the SHO said. The police has registered two cases against them.

He said Dharminder Singh, alias Bhinda, a member of the gang, is a resident of Shadipur village under Bilga police station adjacent to Noormahal. He is involved in over 85 similar other cases registered against him and his accomplices across the state, Surinder Pal Singh said.

SSP Ashish Chaudhary, however, claimed that the Jalandhar (Rural) police will seek the arrest on production warrants for questioning of the gangsters arrested by the Mohali police yesterday.

Meanwhile, the city police has sent a team to Mohali to find out if any of the gangsters belonged to Jalandhar city and whether they were involved in any criminal act under its jurisdiction, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Rajpal Singh Sandhu.

Amritsar, December 4
Close on the heels of a controversy surrounding the observation of Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day on November 24, a similar row has now erupted over celebrating the Parkash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh on January 5.

While Sri Akal Takh Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has announced that the event will be celebrated on January 11 in view of the amendments made in the Nanakshahi Calendar, it has created a division among the Sikhs. The Head Granthi of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Giani Pratap Singh, said they would celebrate the birth anniversary of the 10th Guru on January 11 and the preparations were already on for celebrating the event. Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh also stated that they would celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 11. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said like all the gurdwaras under the SGPC, the Sikh Sangat in other states, too, would celebrate the event on January 11.

On the other hand, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said they would celebrate the event on January 5 as per the Nanakshahi Calendar issued in 2003. He said prior to this, they had observed the Martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadur as per

the calendar on November 24. He alleged that by making amendments in the Nanakshahi Calendar, its original form was being distorted. He alleged that these amendments were being made under pressure from SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the DSGMC would not approve of any such changes in the calendar. He urged the Sikh clergy not to put the Sikh community in a dilemma and observe all events as per the Nanakshahi Calendar issued in 2003.

Similarly, Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said all organisations under the banner of the KAC would celebrate the event on January 5.

Earlier, the Akal Takht Jathedar had urged the Sikhs to observe the Martyrdom Day on December 10 as the event was falling within two days of Guru Nanak Jayanti. However, the DSGMC and even various gurdwaras

under the SGPC had observed the event on November 24.

Jalandhar, December 4
On December 14 this year, the SAD will complete 90 years of its political journey. “We have decided to hold a function at Amritsar on December 14 to celebrate 90 years of the Akali Dal in the country’s politics,” said Jaswant Singh Mann, president of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD).

Jaswant Singh said a seminar would be held on December 14 at Amritsar. It would be about the evolution of the SAD as a movement and as a political party that played a significant role in the country’s social, political and religious spheres from time to time. “However, it is fortunate that various leaders, who enjoyed power because of the SAD, never bothered to celebrate its birth anniversary,” said Jaswant Singh.

Patiala, December 4
The Shiromani Akali Dal should hang its head in shame for appointing former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur as patron of the Istri Akali Dal, notwithstanding the fact that she is facing a trial in the murder case of her own daughter Harpreet Kaur. Expressing these views, Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira said everyone was aware of the fact that Bibi Jagir Kaur was a prime accused in the infamous Harpreet Kaur murder case.

Khaira said Bibi Jagir Kaur was charged with murdering her daughter Harpreet Kaur, besides allegedly illegally getting her five-month foetus aborted. “The Istri Akali Dal is supposed to create awareness on issues related to atrocities against women in Punjab. The SAD and Istri Akali Dal are also directly involved with the much-hyped “Nanhi Chhaan” programme, being patronised by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The basic aim of “Nanhi Chhaan” is to launch a tirade against female foeticide and allow girl child freedom in our society”, said Khaira, while adding that by appointing Bibi Jagir Kaur as the patron of the Istri Akali Dal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has defeated the very purpose of propagating fight against female foeticide.

Bathinda, December 4
Colours of the three-day Virasat Mela that began amid much fanfare yesterday seemed to have partially faded today. Rural settings on display like ‘havelis’ and ‘vehras’ witnessed a low turnout during the day and even swings, usually popular with visitors, were seen mostly unoccupied.

“Have we become so old that people do not want to see us?” asked Baldev Singh, who leads the Zaildaaraan Di Haveli.

The same was the reaction of Baljinder Singh of Bhagta Bhai Ka village, who has displayed his collection of thousands of records and 12 gramophones at a special stall.

Talking to the people at the fair, it was observed that they were finding it to be a repetition of events in the past. “The fair is losing its sheen as there is nothing new to enjoy,” said Baljot Kaur of Model Town.

A group of elderly persons was also of the same view. However, the chief coordinator of the mela, Harwinder Singh Khalsa, claimed the public response was up to expectations.

Chandigarh, December 4
Indian satyagrahis on a peace mission to take humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip staged a dharna at the Wagah border point with Pakistan today after the government denied permission to them to cross over. Thirtyfour of the satyagrahis have valid Pakistani visas to visit Lahore.

The Ministry of External Affairs has not responded to their request for permission to cross over even though it was sought a month ago.

"We thought the Indian Government has a stated policy of support to the Palestinian people. But such unresponsiveness makes us have serious doubts," said Sunil Kumar, who is on dharna with the others at Wagah.

The satyagrahis make up the "India Lifeline to Gaza", the first such mission from the country, as it is part of the Asian Peoples Solidarity for Palestine.

Thirtyfour civil resisters, who were part of the Asia to Gaza Caravan, were today stopped at the Wagah border and denied permission to cross over into Pakistan despite having valid visas. Sixty Indian satyagrahis from across the country had embarked on a mission to spread the message of universal peace to the Gaza Strip with medical equipment from India.

Chandigarh, December 4
The amendments to the APMC Act is a priority area for the government and a meeting of all state agriculture and cooperatives ministers will be convened next month for the purpose. This was stated by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at the inauguration of CII’s AgroTech 2010 here today.

Pawar pointed out that India continued to be the largest agricultural market in the world and a leading producer of foodgrains. He said about 16 crore families were engaged in agriculture in India and 102 million hectares were under cultivation. The production of food grains was 234 million tonnes in 2009. Though the year was one of the best years in agriculture, still we could not be the complacent and there was a need for strengthening the cold chain infrastructure, diversification in agriculture, careful analysis of regional needs, assured power, good support price, he said.

The minister said Rs 86,000 crore was given as loans to farmers last year and this figure rose to Rs 3,66,000 crore this year. He hoped that it would be possible to give loans upto Rs 3 lakh to farmers at 5 per cent interest. “Private public partnership in agriculture can play an important role for the development of agriculture, horticulture, dairy and fisheries. We had concentrated on enhancing production and productivity both by bringing in high yielding varieties, hybrids and efficient farm equipments. Our efforts towards increasing soil nutrients had seen to the new fertiliser subsidy regime. The new seeds bill was also under consideration. The provisions of the Bill would prove an effective check on sub standard seeds being sold in the market,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the government had constituted farmers’ commission to safeguard the interests of the farming community of the state. Apart from giving number of incentives to the farmers, they were also encouraged to adopt resource conserving technologies and diversify their crops and undertake cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah said Punjab was contributing 60-65 per cent wheat and 40 per cent paddy to the Central pool. He said the Punjab farmers had never let down the Centre in meeting the targets. He said agro-based units should be set in every village in the state so that the products being prepared there could be exported. The fragmentation of land holdings was the matter of concern.

Patiala, December 4
All hoardings, banners having photographs of political leaders and flags of the SAD and the BJP were today removed from Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here. Notably, The Tribune has highlighted in these columns that party flags of the SAD and the BJP, besides the hoardings of SAD president and Punjab Deputy Speaker Sukhbir Singh Badal, could be seen inside the gurudwara.

Former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh had also shot off a letter to the Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Giani Jathedar Gurbhachan Singh seeking action against Sukhbir for allowing the putting up of party flags in the holy precincts of the gurdwara.

Jalandhar, December 4
In what may turn out to be a recruitment scam, some recent officer-level appointments made by Punjab Technical University (PTU) have kicked off a controversy.

There have been allegations that four persons, including Director (Recruitment) RP Bhardwaj, have been appointed without conducting any interview and advertising vacancies against which they have been posted. Even more serious are the allegations that two of the appointees - one serving as Assistant Registrar and another as Associate Professor - are ineligible for the posts held by them.

Pardeep Jindal, who has been appointed Associate Professor, is just MTech and is yet to complete his PhD, which he is doing under the guidance of the Dean (Academics), Dr Buta Singh, at the university. Another recent appointee, Vishwadeep, is not postgraduate, which is a must for his post. Acceptance of two candidates at the university on deputation from private colleges has also kicked up a row. While Assistant Registrar Pardeep Jindal has come on deputation from the Guru Gobind Singh College of Engineering, Talwandi Sabo, a placement officer, Navdeepak Sandhu, has come from Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib. A senior officer alleged that the university had flouted all rules by accepting the officials on deputation from private institutions.

An official said lobbying was on to extend the service period and to regularise the appointment of Jindal and Vishwadeep by proposing their case before the Board of Governors (BoG).

However, at the time of the appointment, no clearance in these cases was taken from the BoG. Jindal’s deputation period expired on November 24 and Vishwadeep, who was appointed for six months, completed his period on November 30.

Alleging the highhandedness of some top officials in adjusting Vishwadeep near his hometown, Chandigarh, insiders said the university was hell-bent on investing a huge amount of money to the tune of Rs 30 lakh on its dilapidated building at Mohali from this week for converting it into a foreign languages school.

The matter related to the raising of emoluments of Bhardwaj three times from Rs 25,000 to Rs 74,000-plus is already hanging fire.

SC Aggarwal, Chief Secretary and Chairman of the PTU-BOG, said, “Controversies have been created just for the heck of it. But I will look into the matter.”

Principal Secretary (Technical Education) Suresh Kumar said he was not aware of the alleged irregularities. “Now that you have brought the matter to my notice, I will get it checked,” he said.

However, the PTU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Rajneesh Arora, denied any violation of rules during the appointments. “The university can take people on deputation from any where for one year,” he said.

Chandigarh, December 4
The International Sugar Council has elected India’s Union Food Secretary Bhushan Chander Gupta as its new vice-president besides approving India as the host for its 2012 general council meeting. Dr Gupta, a Punjab-cadre officer belonging to the 1975 batch of the IAS, will automatically be elevated as President of the council next year when the general council meeting is held. The International Sugar Council (ISC) has 85 sugar-producing nations as its members.

Holding a doctorate in chemistry from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Dr Gupta will become the first Indian bureaucrat in recent years to be the host President of the general council meeting of the ISC. Before his appointment as Union Food Secretary, Dr Gupta was Financial Commissioner, Cooperation, that also looked after all sugar mills in the cooperative sector in the state. He was the brain behind reviving sick sugar mills in the state.

Soon after his election as vice-president, Dr Gupta assured the general house of the ISC that India would soon stabilise the use of ethanol besides exploring the possibility of using sugarbeet as an alternative source for making sugar. Talking to The Tribune from London after his election, Dr Gupta said the 2010 ISC meeting would be organised in the union capital where various issues facing the sugar industry worldwide would be taken up.

Patiala, December 4
The Indian Army today displayed weaponry at a two-day Army mela, which got underway at the Army Cantonment, here today. With an aim to exhort the younger generation to join the armed forces, the Army has organised this mela at the grounds of the 16, Mechanised Infantry on the Patiala-Sangrur road in Patiala's Army cantonment.

Speaking at the mela, Maj Gen Ravinder Pratap Singh Shahi said the Indian armed forces had always displayed courage and bravery during the need of the hour. “The main objective behind organising this mela is to exhort the youth to join the armed forces so that they could serve the nation”, he said.

Special aero show of helicopters was the centre of attraction at the mela. The mela would witness the display of sophisticated arms and artillery of the Indian Army. School children and commoners in large numbers thronged the mela to see the weaponry and also to enjoy the tank ride. The students were provided information about the process and requisite qualifications to join the armed forces.

Ludhiana, December 4
The City Centre case involving the former state Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, was today adjourned to January 8 by the Court of the Sessions Judge, SP Bangarh.

The court heard the arguments advanced by the defence lawyer representing Sanjay Jetwani, an official of Today Homes Company.

The defence lawyer claimed that his client was innocent. The evidence adduced by the Vigilance Bureau against him was of no significance, he added.

Amarinder Singh was not present. He had moved an application seeking exemption from personal appearance as he was to attend a meeting in New Delhi in connection with the appointment of district Congress presidents in Punjab. His plea was accepted by the court.

Former Local Bodies Minister Choudhary Jagjit Singh, the MD of Today Homes Company, GK Gambhir, former Additional Advocate-General Hapreet Sandhu and all other accused were present in the court.

Chandigarh, December 4
Less than six months after the State of Punjab came out with a policy to preferably allot same station to couples, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that the authorities concerned are required to make an endeavour to post them at the same place once the rules have been framed.

The assertion came on a petition filed by Malkit Singh against the state and other respondents. In his petition placed before the Bench of Justice Ajai Lamba, the petitioner had sought directions to the respondents to transfer him from Kapurthala to Batala “on account of couple case and in view of policy guidelines dated June 4.”

Counsel for the petitioner had contended that Malkiat Singh’s wife was working in the Health Department at Batala, while the petitioner was posted in police station city in Kapurthala. Referring to the instructions, the counsel asserted: “As per the guidelines and policy governing the transfers considering the couple case, the couple is required to be posted at the same place.”

He also drew the court’s attention to a paragraph of the guidelines, which read: “In case where both husband and wife are in government service, it is desirable to keep the couple at one station for a period of not more than five years, thereafter, he/she should be transferred as per policy.

“Even in cases where the wife is in government service and husband is under a private employment, the same attitude may be adopted. Efforts should be made to post unmarried girls and widows at stations suitable to them as far as possible. Unmarried girls and widows should be given preference over couple cases in the matter of postings and transfers at stations convenient to them.” The counsel added a representation was made to the Punjab DGP. Justice Lamba added: “I am of the opinion that the respondents having framed the policy are required to make an endeavour to post the couple at the same place.

“The petitioner having already made a representation, this petition is disposed of with direction to the Director-General of Police, Punjab, to take a decision on the representation of the petitioner and pass orders within a period of one month on receipt of a certified copy of this order.”