Amritsar, March 6
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today laid the foundation stone of a “Sikh Genocide Memorial” at the site of the Hondh Chhillar massacre in Rewari district, Haryana. This will be the first-of-its-kind memorial to those who were killed in the 1984 riots.

Talking to The Tribune, the Jathedar said: “At present, the houses of Sikh families and the village gurdwara, lying in a shambles, will be preserved while a decision on any new addition at the site will be taken later. The village sarpanch has also assured of full cooperation in preserving these buildings.”

AISSF President Karnail Singh Peermohammed said, “The Sikh sangat donated Rs 25 lakh for the memorial today itself on the occasion of the ‘bhog ceremony of the akhand path performed in the memory of those killed in the carnage.” He also clarified that any new construction at the memorial site would take place only on directions of Akal Takht.

He said the AISSF and the Sikhs for Justice would also launch a “Sikh insaaf lehar” with the support of the SAD (Panch Pardhani) and Sant Baba Baljeet Singh Daduwal. The “lehar” is aimed at locating the sites throughout India where Sikhs were killed in November 1984.

“Under the campaign, we will collect evidence, documents and preserve the genocide locations, for which we will send delegations and investigating teams to all the states where Sikhs were killed,” he said adding that a “Sikh Genocide Trust” would also be established to locate, preserve and manage “genocidal sites” across the country.

While advocate Navkiran Singh, a human rights lawyer, had been entrusted the responsibility of the chief legal counsel to follow the cases of 1984 in India, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to the Sikhs for Justice, would take on the onus for international lobbying, advocacy and campaigning. He said they would also immerse the “ashes” of those killed in Hondh Chhillar in Kiratpur Sahib on March 9.

Reacting to the move, SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said the memorial should be raised at the site only after holding consultations with the survivors of the tragedy and taking into confidence all Sikh organisations.

Amritsar, March 6
The Haryana Government’s move to set up a Commission of Inquiry under a retired High Court Judge, TP Garg, to probe the Hondh Chhillar massacre seems to have divided the Sikh community. While the SGPC and the DSGMC are supporting it, the Jathedar of Akal Takht and radical Sikh outfits are not content with it.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said they were happy that the Haryana Government had accepted their demand for a judicial probe. However, he added that the commission should widen its purview to investigate whether there were more such places in the state where incidents of the killings of Sikhs in 1984 had either not been reported or brushed under the carpet. DSGMC President Paramjeet Singh Sarna also hailed the move and said the commission should also probe as to why the incident didn’t come to light earlier. He claimed that there were many places even in Delhi where such incidents had not come to the fore. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, “The one-member commission is not at all acceptable to us as it should have two Sikh Judges who may be sitting or retired.”

AISSF chief Karnail Singh Peermohammed said they had no hope of justice from the commission. “We demand a three-member probe panel comprising sitting Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which we have also highlighted in a PIL before the High Court. It will come up for hearing on April 8,” he said. Described the move as a mere eyewash, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh urged the SGPC to set up a five-member panel to find out all such places throughout India where Sikhs were killed in 1984.

Patiala, March 6
The Chief Economic Adviser to the Union Finance Ministry Kaushik Basu today said that with the introduction of direct subsidy, there would be no reduction in the subsidy to farmers on fertilisers. “In fact, the Union Government is thinking to increase the subsidy in case of small farmers,” he said.

Basu said the payment of subsidy would be indexed with the price of fertiliser. “In case, the price goes up, the subsidy would also go up,” said Basu. Owing to inflated claims by fertiliser manufacturers and also deliberate increase in fertiliser price by international suppliers to claim maximum share from subsidy, the Union Government has decided to make direct payments to the farmers.

He said the Nandan Nillekani committee would give its report regarding the system to be adopted for direct subsidy to the farmers on fertiliser. He said there is no possibility of deregulation on diesel price in the near future.

He assured economists led by Sucha Singh Gill of discussing issues related to Punjab at the appropriate level.

The Union Government has realised that nation’s growth was by and large confined to certain pockets. This had created serious imbalance in the overall development of the country which could lead to serious political consequences,” he said.

“Areas left out despite the country growing at nine per cent for the past some years often crop up during discussions on growth,” he said.

“Policy and planning experts at the Centre are working to address this critical area. I am hopeful that soon that corrective steps will be taken,” he said.

Kaushik said there was a proposal to set up small-scale industries in small towns all over the country as done by China. Other steps would be to spread the manufacturing base to all parts of the country, move the service sector to smaller towns such as Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala having good educational base. Better connectivity by road, electricity supply, water etc are needed to set up small scale units.

He denied differences in the National Advisory Council (NAC) and the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council on issues related to food security. He said, “The NAC wants to cover maximum population about 75 per cent, under the food security system backed by legal guarantee.

Smart card system can also be made for food grains or private players could be introduced to compete with PDS operators and the system would be operational in November and December after the Bill on food security is passed, he said.

He was here to speak at the valedictory session of the three-day international conference on peace, security and economic development in South Asia.

Amritsar, March 6
Heritage lovers are irked with the Indian Railways over the changes being made on the façade of over 150-year old Amritsar Railway station.

They feel the Victorian style architecture of the station would become a part of history if the changes were implemented.

Balvinder Singh, Conservation Planner and Head Guru Ramdas School of Planning, GNDU, Amritsar, said as per the guidelines of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the colour, texture, scale and design of heritage buildings should not be changed. These guidelines entail that the originality, traditional material, technique and craftsmanship of over a century-old buildings should be maintained.

The local railway station is of historic importance as it was among the first railway stations constructed by the British in Punjab.

An example of Victorian architecture, the railway station came into being in 1859.

He said its colour was also changed from time to time. “Earlier, it was red, then painted in white and red colour and recently the pink sandstone and granite were fixed,” he said.

In all, 41 concrete pillars were erected in front of the main entrance of the station.

He questioned why the railway authorities did not consult conservation professionals before undertaking any renovation and alteration in design of historic buildings.

Incidentally, the railway authorities, instead of spending on improving the appalling sanitary condition and repairing breaches of boundary walls of the local railway station was spending over half a crore on beautifying it externally.

Vishwesh Chaubey, Divisional Railway Manager, Ferozepur division, Northern Railway zone, which controls parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, said the new design was being made in conformity with the Sikh architecture. He said the architectural designs of the Golden Temple and Khalsa College were taken as models.

The Victorian architecture of the local railway station was not of a grand scale, he said.

He said breaches in the boundary walls of the station would be repaired after receiving the funds under this head. At present Rs 60 lakh was being spent on the façade allocated under the beautification plan, he added.

Jalandhar, March 6
The ruling Akali Dal failed to fulfil any of the promises it had made in its manifesto at the time of the Assembly elections in 2007.

Waving a copy of the Akali manifesto during a district-level rally at the Dasehra ground in Jalandhar Cantonment today, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh questioned “Can Akali leaders name even a single promose of their manifesto which they had fulfilled?”

On the other hand, Congress implemented all the 44 promises, which it had made in its manifesto during the 2002 Assembly elections, he claimed.

Apparently keeping in mind that Dalits had a considerable population in Doaba region in general and Jalandhar district in particular, Amarinder stated that the Akalis had made promises to provide free power up to 400 units to each Dalit family, five marla houses and special quality education to Dalits, but they did not fulfil any of them after coming to power.

Amarinder said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had started taking the help of film actors to attract crowds.

Alleging that both Akali and BJP leaders are indulging in corruption, Amarinder asked Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia to clarify that on what grounds he had waived off over Rs 50 lakh non-construction fee of Akali MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar’s building.

Underlining the need for improving the primary education and healthcare, he said the government schools could also provide best education. Quoting the example of Dr Manmohan Singh, Amarinder said he had also studied in a government school and became the Prime Minister of India.

Amarinder reiterated that the next Congress government would cancel the allotment at throwaway price of just Rs 131 crore of 66 acres land worth Rs 2,400 crore of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Jalandhar.

The former CM called for a second green revolution in Punjab that could revive the agriculture economy.

On the occasion, CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal ridiculed the plight of the BJP saying despite its support being crucial to government’s survival, BJP leaders were continuously humiliated by the Akalis.

Asking Sukhbir as what happened to metro train in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar, she remarked, the only train that was running in Punjab was the train of corruption and going straight to a “seven star hotel” in Gurgaon.

Newly appointed CWC member and Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee also addressed the rally.

Ferozepur, March 6
Three followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect were injured after a section of activists of various Sikh organisations allegedly attacked them.

The victims were attacked when they were returning on a four wheeler after taking part in Naam Charcha at Bazidpur village today. They were attacked on the Ferozepur-Moga Road where the members of radical Sikh organisations had staged a blockade to lodge their protest against the holding of the Naam Charcha by the sect.

SSP Kaustab Sharma said the police was taking action as per the medico legal report of the injured. He said a verbal duel between the victims and the accused resulted in the attack.

Holding of the Naam Charcha in Bazidpur village led to tension in the area. Activists of radical Sikh organisations reasoned with the district civil and police authorities to stop the same but did not succeed.

To prevent any untoward incident from happening, a large police deployment was done in and around the venue of the three-hour ceremony.

Even followers of Dera Sacha Sauda were carried firearms.

Failing to stop the ceremony, activists of Sikh organisations blocked traffic on the on the Ferozepur-Moga national highway for hours.

Though the attackers have been identified, no arrest has been made so far.

Moga, March 6
At least four persons were injured in a clash between radical Sikhs and followers of Dera Sacha Sauda in Dhalleke village in Moga district today.

SSP Sneh Deep Sharma said policemen were rushed to the spot immediately. When the report was last filed, the situation had been brought under control without any use of force.

Sources said, “Tension is still prevailing in the village situated close to the district headquarters as heavy police force has been deployed under the supervision of a local magistrate and a senior police officer.” No one was arrested keeping in view the religious sentiments of both the rival groups. “We are keeping a watch on the situation and a legal action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

According to the details, the followers of the dera had organised a “naam charcha” in the village today. When they were going out of the village after the function, the radical Sikhs burnt an effigy of their spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, which provoked the dera followers. Then the dera followers reportedly pelted the village gurdwara with stones, which led to the clash between the radical Sikhs and the dera followers.

Kharar, March 6
A Ludhiana-based lensman of the Times of India (TOI), was killed and three of his colleagues were injured when a car in which they were travelling collided with a truck in Punjab's Kharar area near here. The deceased has been identified as Aditya Jaitley. Other three victims include Vaivasvat Venkat, Sandeep Dua and Naveen Kalia, all of who are staff correspondents with TOI, Ludhiana. As per Kharar police officials, the accident took place at around 1.30 am at Khanpur y point where Punjab minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh had died on March 29, 2009. All four were on their way from Ludhiana to Chandigarh to attend a jagran function at one of their common friend’s place in Chandigarh.

Aditya was driving the Maruti car last night when the mishap occurred, the police said here. The car collided with a truck (HP 13 B 2001) bound for Morinda from Chandigarh. The impact of the collision was so strong that the car zoomed under the front portion of truck. Seats meant for driver and co-rider got detached and bounced into back portion of the truck.

The police officials said truck was carrying feed for animals and was supposed to go to Shimla. The truck driver fled away from spot. All four car occupants were rushed to civil hospital in Kharar from where they were further referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Aditya died on reaching Kharar hospital. Attendants of other three injured at the PGIMER said, “All of them are unconscious and out of danger.” Venkat has suffered a jaw fracture and multiple fractures in right arm, Naveen has sustained injuries in right ear and left arm, while Sandeep has suffered multiple fractures. Deceased Aditya had got married just a year ago and he was the only child of his parents. He was cremated today evening at Ludhiana.

Meanwhile, CM Prakash Singh Badal and deputy CM Sukhbir Badal condoled Aditya’s death and wished a speedy recovery to other three injured.

Kharar, March 6
Punjab minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh’s death and subsequent fatalities in road accidents, has not been enough to raise the state government from its slumber.

Reflectors installed on the stretch in June 2009 were gone within three months re-starting the vicious circle of fatal accidents. At the same Khanpur y-point, where the Times of India Ludhiana team met with an accident today, leaving one dead and three seriously injured.

After the accident of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, the then Patiala division commissioner Kulbir Singh Bir in June 2009 visited the spot and passed certain directions for making stretch safer.

Consequently, the Road Safety Audit Team of the Punjab Government conducted a survey and strongly recommended that solar-run reflectors, raised pavement markers and cat eyes be installed to minimise accidents and subsequent loss of lives.

In June itself reflectors were installed at various points near Bhago Majra village, near Khanpur village and other points. These reflectors made it easier for drivers to locate the sharp bend near Khanpur during night hours.

However, in August, the road was re-laid and entire paraphernalia of traffic safety got buried under the new road. “It was most painful to see efforts going waste. But we cannot do anything,” said an official from the Public Works Department pleading anonymity.

Report had then observed that Punjab accounted an estimated 3,333 fatal road accidents in Punjab in 2008. On an average, one person is killed in a road accident after every 2.5 hours in Punjab.

On recommendations of this audit, Khanpur intersection on NH-95 was selected up on priority basis. Report stated that mainly head-tail collision accidents are reported at this stretch. Major cause of accidents at this intersection is over speeding of vehicles.

Patiala, March 6
Power consumers in Punjab can pay their electricity bills online, as the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), has recently re-launched its e-billing facility. Besides paying their bills online, the consumers can also see their bill details and check the status of past payments and pending amounts on the PSPCL website www.pspcl.in.

Confirming this, PSPCL director (distribution) AK Verma said the e-payment facility was earlier launched on pilot basis and it had received a tremendous response from the public. “We expect a better response in coming days. For availing the service, the consumers have to create an ID after clicking the 'online payment' window on the PSPCL website. Once they enter their password, they will be able to see their bill details and the status of payment on the screen. They can use net-banking, credit card, debit card and VISA card to make the payments through the Internet,” Verma stated. He also said after the bill payment, consumers could take the print of the bill receipt.

Notably, as a part of its billing upgrade initiative, the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) had launched the online payment facility in 2009 on pilot basis in some parts of the state. A brainchild of the then PSEB member finance Anurag Agarwal, who is presently the CMD of the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited, the e-payment facility was initially launched on trial basis for the domestic category consumers in 2009 and was extended to the Large Supply (LS) industrial category consumers in early 2010.

Verma said, “Earlier, more than 20,000 consumers in the state were availing the facility. But the service was discontinued some months back, as we had to shift our servers from Mohali to Ludhiana. Now, the online bill payment service has been resumed by the PSPCL.” “We are also working out the modalities for the door-to-door bill collection and this service is likely to be introduced before the next financial year,” Verma added.

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 6
Class four employees deployed in the Education Department today staged a protest in front of district administrative complex in view of their pending demands.

District president of the employees union, Kamaldeep Singh addressing people said, “The government is badly exploiting the class four and part-time employees preparing mid-day meal.” He alleged that the employees were even forced to do unassigned work, which they were not supposed to do.

A watchman is forced to do the work of a peon and those assigned the task of preparing mid-day meal are forced to do the cleaning. He demanded that the employees studied up to class X and have completed five years of service should get all pending dues as per the report of the pay commission. Posts of peon, watchman and safai karamchari should be filled immediately. Those working as part-time workers and employees preparing mid-day meal must get at least Rs 3,000 every month. Transfer of class four employees should be the prerogative of district education officer. The agitators also submitted a memorandum to the state government through district officials.

Chandigarh, March 6
The Sangrur SSP and the Additional District Magistrate are in the contempt loop for not doing their homework well. A show-cause notice has been issued to them after a prisoner who was denied parole moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the denial orders.

Going into the background of the controversy while taking up a petition filed by prisoner Suba Singh, a Division Bench of the High Court has asserted that Pritam Singh Johal, Additional District Magistrate, Sangrur, who has passed the order declining parole to the petitioner has stated that the order was passed on the basis of the report of the SSP.

In their detailed order, the Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Arvind Kumar ruled that apparently neither the Additional District Magistrate nor the SSP, who had given his report, had looked into the provisions of the Punjab Good Conduct of Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962.

Virtually giving the two officers a rap on their knuckles, the Bench added that another Division Bench of the High Court had examined the provisions of the Act and issued certain directions in criminal miscellaneous number M-34013 of 2009 titled Varu, alias Gullu, versus the State of Haryana and others.

“But still the authorities under the Act have failed to carry out the duties enjoined upon them”, the Bench observed in the open court while dictating the orders.

Before parting with the directions, the Bench directed the two officers to appear in person in the court on the next date of hearing for explaining their conduct. They have also been asked by the Bench to show cause as to why proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act be not initiated against them in the matter.

Coming to the rescue of the petitioner, the Bench also directed that Suba Singh be admitted to parole for four weeks.