Chandigarh, March 25
The Punjab Assembly today passed the state Budget for 2011-12 amid a walkout by the Congress which in a course correction decided to participate in the discussion on the demands for grants relating to the Budget estimates even as it boycotted the debate on the Budget earlier.

Even as the Assembly passed the Budget in the absence of the Congress members, Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur, while replying to demands by legislators in the discussion on the grants, announced various amounts of money for Durgiana Temple (Rs 1.50 crore), Ram Bagh (Rs 3 crore), the Martial Arts Academy in Anandpur Sahib (Rs 2 crore) and Kapurthala heritage conservation (Rs 2 crore).

Replying to a point made by former Finance Minister Lal Singh of the Congress, Upinderjit Kaur said both the revenue and fiscal deficits were within the parameters fixed by the Finance Ministry. She also announced that the SAD-BJP government had used borrowings as a force multiplier and that as much as Rs 5,418 crore would be used on capital investment.

Earlier Lal Singh said the SAD-BJP government had added Rs 30,000 crore to the state’s debt in the past four years only and that the state debt when the Congress left power in 2007 was only Rs 28,000 crore.

Congress legislators participated in the discussion on the demands for grants enthusiastically, indicating the party had gone in for a course correction. Congress Legislature Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal admitted as such saying “it was a mistake” while referring to the boycott of the debate earlier. She, however, tried to correct herself by saying the party was in agreement with the stand taken by Pradesh Congress president Amarinder Singh to boycott the debate. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal did not let the opportunity go waste saying “tusi man gaye ki tusi thuk ke chataya hai”.

Lal Singh also raised the issue of the atta-dal scheme, claiming no provision had been made for it because the state was getting surplus wheat from the Centre at subsidised rates. He said the state was getting wheat at Rs 610 per quintal but selling the same at Rs 1,210 per quintal. He said the state was spending only Rs 290 on milling and commissions and that it was earning a profit of Rs 300 a quintal. Lal Singh said the state in this way was earning Rs 200 crore per annum from the scheme under which central rice was being sold in the open market also.

The BJP’s Amarjit Sahi demanded the Kandi canal be repaired on a priority basis. The SAD’s Harish Rai Dhanda demanded more funds for research besides urging for the construction of more civil hospitals in Ludhiana. The SAD’s Sarabjit Singh Makkar and the BJP’s Vineet Joshi urged more money be allocated for Durgiana Temple, Ram Bagh and the Kapurthala heritage sites.

Chandigarh, March 25
The Vidhan Sabha’s business advisory committee today indicted former managing director of Punjab Agro Corporation and senior staff of the Council for Citrus and Agri-Juicing for causing a loss of 3.14 crore to the state exchequer due to wrong planning as well as misutilisation of funds.

The committee, headed by Virsa Singh Valtoha of the SAD, during a review of the functioning of the citrus council found that a large number of officers, including former Punjab Agro Corporation managing director Himmat Singh, Council CEO VS Chimni and senior officers, including Gurpreet Singh Nain, Ekam Singh Dhillon, Nirmaljit Kaur and Harvinder Singh, had acted irresponsibly and in some cases even misutilised government funds.

The report, while recommending a police case be registered against officers of the citrus council, also recommended that the money lost due to misutilisation of funds be recovered from them. Himmat Singh has been indicted for not acting responsibly. The report has recommended departmental action against him as well as identification of lapses committed by the officer.

Giving details, the report said as much as Rs 42.76 lakh had been spent on wrong planning that had, in fact, derailed the project to introduce imported citrus varieties in the state.

It also stated that the associated works, including creation of a strawberry project and supply of organic fertiliser, had also not been done with false number plates being put in vehicles to show supply of the fertiliser.

The committee also stated that Rs 8.66 lakh had been shown as taxi expenses, which were not need based. It also castigated the citrus council for not properly executing contract farming projects worth Rs 78 lakh.

The Ludhiana Police Commissioner had investigated allegations of wrongdoings by the officials of the citrus council. The Chief Minister had also recommended a case be registered in the matter following which the Mohali crime branch police station had registered an FIR in the case. 

Chandigarh, March 25
The Punjab Assembly today passed 10 bills today with most of these being hurried through without adequate discussion even as the government faced embarrassment by failing to adequately explain the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund Bill.

Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia was at a loss for words when Sunil Jakhar from the Congress said the BJP, which considered itself to be the custodian of urban voters, should explain how it would raise the Municipal Fund after the court had struck down its decision to mortgage municipal property.

Kalia claimed that the government would raise a corpus of Rs 200 crore from the surcharge collected on account of VAT and that additional money would be raised through banks. He, however, had no explanation how this would be done when Jakhar pointed out that municipal bodies had already mortgaged their earnings.

Ajit Inder Singh Mofar of the Congress, while speaking on the Punjab Civil Services bill, said a precedent was being introduced by the government by proposing to keep employees for a period of induction between three to five years before confirming them in service.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Congress spoke on the amendment to the Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Bill, claiming that while taxation rates had been reduced for luxury integral coaches, they had been increased for ordinary buses. Transport Minister Mohan Lal said while the last government wanted to close down the state transport undertakings, the present one had revived both Punjab Roadways and the PRTC.

Other bills which were also passed included the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Security of Land Tenures (Amendment) Bill, Pepsu Tenancy and Agriculture Lands (Amendment) Bill, Punjab Value Added Tax (Second Amendment), Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill and Punjab Appropriation (Number 2) and Punjab Appropriation (Number 3) Bill.

Chandigarh , March 25
After having battled it out both within and outside the Vidhan Sabha for the past few days, legislators from the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the Opposition, Congress, appeared to have run out of steam on the penultimate day of the Budget Session. Starting from Question Hour to the end of Zero Hour, which normally generates a lot of heat, today there were hardly any worthwhile questions or issues on either side.

The hour-long Question Hour mainly remained confined to issues with regard to drains, link roads, streets, etc raised by legislators specifically pertaining to their respective constituencies. The most significant event of the day was passing of the annual Budget of the state.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in reply to a question said that the state government was examining a proposal to launch a special scheme for allotment of plots at Mohali for Punjab Government employees. But he clarified that a decision in this regard would be taken after the proposal was cleared by the legal cell of the government.

Taking up another important issue with regard to fixing of seniority list of school lecturers raised by Sukhpal Singh Khaira of the Congress, Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan said a committee headed by the Director-General of School Education had reviewed the seniority list and the government had received a revised list on March 7, 2011, that would not be treated as final.

Ajitinder Singh Mofar of the Congress raised the question of favouritism and money exchanging hands in the allotment of licences to nursing colleges. He directly accused Medical Education Minister Tikshan Sud of corrupt practices. Sud, however, refused to comment, saying that the matter was sub-judice.

Avtar Brar of the Congress raised the issue of forcibly acquiring agricultural land.

Congress legislator from Nabha Randeep pointed out that in one villages of his constituency five whistle- blowers, who pointed out embezzlement by a woman sarpanch, had been suspended. Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura assured the House that action would be taken. 

Khatkar Kalan, March 25
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who will launch his political party here on March 27, is likely to give a call to bring about a “basanti revolution” in the state as well as in the country to engineer far-reaching and drastic changes in governance besides political and administrative system.

For the past several months, Manpreet has used the word “basanti” as the fulcrum of his political campaign.

Basanti, a colour related to the spring season, which marks the arrival of happiness and prosperity, was associated with the Indian freedom movement.

Manpreet Singh, who swears by the ideology of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, especially his spirit, commitment and sacrifice for the country, has deliberately selected the native village of the Shaheed to launch his political party.

Sources said the constitution of the party was ready. It would have many path-breaking articles. He was likely to fix the upper age limit for the party MLAs to become ministers. The earlier proposal to name the party as the “Punjab People Party” has been dropped.

Meanwhile, Manpreet’s political managers are busy in installing a canopy over 14 acres to accommodate four lakh people. Fiftyfour acres of land has been earmarked for the parking of the vehicles.

“We have applied for necessary permissions to the Deputy Commissioner and other officials concerned,” said a close associate of Manpreet Singh. 

Chandigarh, Marcg 25
Former Finance Minister and leader of ‘Jago Punjab’ yatra, Manpreet Badal today expressed his shock at attempts by the administration to sabotage his political rally scheduled for March 27 at Khatkar Kalan.

In a statement, he said the area around the venue of the rally was being flooded as farmers were being coerced to run their tubewells incessantly. Besides, the government was using state Transport Department and the state CID to harass and intimidate his supporters and well wishers.

“I have got complaints from my supporters that officials from the Transport Department are openly intimidating the transporters who are providing buses to enable our supporters to commute to the rally. It is a pity to see that senior transport officers are coercing these transporters to cancel our bookings. When the transporters refuse to yield, the officers are imposing penalties and challans on false grounds,”said Mr Badal.

He added that CID wing of the state Police Department was threatening people who have been associated with the ‘Jago Punjab’ movement. The CID men were using coercive tactics to dissuade people from attending the rally.

“I appeal to the Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the state home portfolio, to put an end to this. Government officers owe their allegiance to the Constitution of India. It does not behove them to act in such partisan manner,” he added.

Fatehgarh Sahib, March 25
Don’t get surprised if a cop sniffs your breath during a naka at Fatehgarh Sahib, especially during night hours, as traffic cops here do not have alcometers — a device to read level of alcohol in blood.

While most of the traffic cops deployed at various nakas said they had to sniff drivers’ breath, senior police officials including SP (Headquarters) JS Sidhu claims that they had two alcometers in the district and one of it was not functioning for sometime now.

Most of the traffic cops in the district do not even know about alcometers and speed radars and their use.

When asked how the traffic police can manage with a single alcometer and lack of a device to check overspeeding, Sidhu said they had to manage whatever they were provided with from the government. He pointed out that the cops do not check speed of a vehicle while awarding challan but fine the violators for rash and negligent driving.

Even without having a speed radars and alcometer, the Fatehgarh Sahib police had last year challaned 93 persons for overspeeding and five for drunken driving. Besides this, 2,720 persons were fined for not wearing helmets, 78 for overloading, 194 for using pressure horn, 712 for driving without seatbelt, 287 for driving without a number plate on their vehicle, 1,912 for driving without a license, 123 for affixing black films on window screens and 356 for using mobile phone while driving.

Traffic officials on condition of anonymity said besides lack of gadgets, there is acute staff crunch in the traffic wing and problems arising during state-level functions in the district or during the visit of the VIP’s. On defunct alcometer, the cops said the cost of its repair was too high and their senior officials have told them to manage on their own. “Now, we have to sniff breath of drivers. Reluctant and suspected drivers are taken to a nearby hospital for medical examination.”

The patrolling cops have recently got speed radars, but they accommodate an area of 120 km between Ajitwal village in Ludhiana and Basantpura village near Rajpura. They check overspeeding on the GT Road in Fatehgarh Sahib district only once or twice a week.

Attari, March 25
A technical-level meeting between India and Pakistan to discuss issues relating to the border infrastructure for facilitating cross-border travel and trade was held on the Indian side of the border here today.

While the Pakistan delegation was led by Shabbir Ahmad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Interior, the Indian side was headed by Sada Kant, Joint Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs. Amritsar DC KS Pannu was also present at the meeting.

The two sides discussed issues relating to the development of the infrastructure, including the construction of the integrated checkpost (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah border for travel and trade.

The two sides agreed that the location of the second gate at the zero line as proposed by Pakistan would be adhered to. It was further agreed that a road coming from the ICP on the Indian side would be constructed to meet the alignment of a road from Pakistan through the second gate.

Also the exact location of the second gate and the proposed alignment of the road on both sides were approved on the ground after a field visit of the joint delegation. A decision was also taken to construct the approach roads from the second gate towards the respective ICPs/border crossing facilities and further to connect to the Amritsar-Lahore highway on the respective sides within a suggested time period of six months, starting today.

They also agreed that to sanitise the area around the second gate, the Indian side may construct a cattle fence as deemed appropriate in its territory.

The next meeting of the joint technical group between India and Pakistan is proposed to be held by mid-June.

Amritsar, March 25
As the controversy surrounding Khalsa College is raging, the road from the college to a private university seems to be getting tougher with each passing day.

A day after the SGPC passed a resolution to maintain status quo at Khalsa College, the Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) today passed a similar resolution that says the existence and the distinct identity of the college should be preserved. This has come as a surprise as many of the Chief Khalsa Diwan office-bearers are also part of the college’s governing council. In fact, Chief Khalsa Diwan president Charanjeet Singh Chadha is also senior vice-president of the council. However, Chadha does not see any contradiction in his stand. “Nobody at the Chief Khalsa Diwan has objected to the university. We have hailed setting up of the university, but have demanded that the college should continue to function as it is. The college’s affiliation may be with the Guru Nanak Dev University or the proposed Khalsa University,” he averred.

The resolution is being seen here as a result of factionalism within the organisation. There are reports that Chadha’s rival group headed by Diwan’s honorary secretary Bhag Singh Ankhi is behind moving the resolution. Talking to The Tribune, Ankhi said: “The 120-year-old college is an invaluable Sikh heritage to which the sentiments of the entire community are attached. Its existence and current form should not be tinkered with at all.”

The SGPC had also passed a resolution yesterday, stating that Khalsa College should continue to function as it is while separate arrangements should be made if the management wants to set up a university.

On the other hand, the protesting teachers have intensified their efforts to stop the conversion of the college into a private university and are seeking support from different quarters in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Khalsa Action Committee and the Dal Khalsa today expressed their reservations on the move to “elevate” the college into a university, contending that there was more to it than meets the eye. 

Jalandhar, March 25
Not only Khalsa College, Amritsar, but many other educational institutions and groups are in line to set up private universities in the state. If one is to go by the existing proposals to set up universities, the number would soon go beyond 20 in the state.

The management committee of Layalpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, has also sought permission to set up Layalpur Khalsa University here. “We have applied for permission to set up the university. But, we will maintain the identity of Layalpur Khalsa College, which is an integral part of the state’s history,” said Principal Jaspal Singh Randhawa.

“Our university would be a unique but separate institution. Our focus would be on research and academic streams not available in most of the universities in the state,” he said, adding: “I can assure you that it would not be a run-of-the-mill institution.”

DAV University is already started coming up near here. “We have the plans to start classes from the coming academic session at DAV University,” said CL Kochher, director of the DAV Colleges Management Committee, New Delhi. Asked about the viability of such a large number of private universities in the state, Kochher said there would be no problem of viability if the standards were maintained. “The DAV institutions are known for maintaining high academic standards and the upcoming university would also be developed as an excellent centre of knowledge,” he said. There should 2-3 universities in each district, he added.

The Chandigarh Group of College (CGC), Landran, near Mohali, is also keen to set up a university. “We have also applied to the state government in this regard,” said Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal, president of the CGC. “Compared to European countries and the US, we have a far less number of universities. There was ample scope to set more in the state,” he added.

The Rayat and Bahra Group of Institutions has also applied to set up a private university. “We have the requisite land to set up the university. We are already running a number of educational institutions,” said Gurvinder Singh Bahra, president of the group. The Chitkara Group is also planning to set up a university. The SGPC has set up a Sri Guru Granth Sahib University at Fatehgarh Sahib. Lovely Professional University is already established here for the past few years. The KMV Group of Institutions is also keen to set up university.

The state government has planned to set up a business, commerce and management university. Already, there is a law university, Punjab Technical University, a veterinary university and Punjab Agricultural University. Besides, there are other universities such as Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and the Central University at Bathinda and the deemed Thapar University.

Patiala, March 25
The Court of Special Judge (CBI), Patiala, Balbir Singh, has directed Kamaljit Singh, the main witness in the murder case of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, to appear in the court on the next date of hearing fixed for April 2. As the hearing in the high-profile case started today, the application filed by Kamaljit through his counsel Arun Singla, pleading before the court for his re-examination, came up.

Since Kamaljit had backtracked from his statements earlier, CBI counsel stated that it needed to be verified that the application moved in the court is signed by Kamaljit. “The court has ordered that application for re-examination of the statements of Kamaljit would come up for arguments on the next date of hearing only if Kamaljit himself appears in the court on April 2,” informed Bibi Jagir Kaur’s counsel Satnam Singh Kler. Confirming the same, Singla told The Tribune: “The court has directed that the application will come up for the arguments in the presence of Kamaljit and hence directed that Kamaljit should appear in court on April 2.”

Giving further details, Kler said: “Regarding the application moved by the CBI, pleading before the court to cancel the bail of Bibi Jagir Kaur and the other accused in the case, arguments were concluded in the court today. The court will pronounce its orders order on April 2.” He informed that since the CBI had closed the case of the prosecution on March 18, the CBI counsels today came with questions based upon the evidence put up on the case file. “On the next hearing, CBI counsel will come with more questions that will be put to the accused during the court proceedings,” added Kler.

During today’s court proceedings, the main accused in the case, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and the co-accused, Paramjit Singh Raipur, Harminder Singh, Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Sanjeev Kumar, were present. Two of the co-accused Nishan Singh and Satya has taken exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds. 

Chandigarh, March 25
Directing the State of Punjab to pay within two weeks the “entire amount of revised pension” to a 90-year-old, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear to the state government that it was in favour of the authorities modifying the policy at least for the aged. Taking up a petition by HB Malhotra, Justice Permod Kohli asserted: The petitioner, who is 90 years at present, is clamouring for his revised pension….

“The policy of the state should be for the welfare of the citizens at large. A welfare state cannot deprive its citizen of his valuable rights…”

“It would be prudent if the Government itself modifies its policy at least for the senior citizens, who are above the age of 75,” Justice Kohli added before fixing April 7 as the next date of hearing. — TNS

Ropar, March 25
A gang of fraudsters from Pakistan is duping local residents. City residents are receiving calls on their mobile phones from numbers with 92 (code of Pakistan) prefixed. The gang calls up vulnerable people, such as housewives, and claim that they (the people) have hit a jackpot. Thereafter, they are asked to deposit some money in an account so that the lottery amount can be given.

A resident of Sarthali village complained to the Ropar police. On his complaint, the police rounded up a woman from Katli village and is conducting inquiries. The woman, too, is a victim of this gang.

Police authorities said the woman did not seem to be involved in the crime, but is needed for inquiry.

The woman told the police that she had already deposited Rs 80,000 in the account of the gang members. She received a call from a number with 92 code, stating that her mobile SIM number had won a lottery of Rs 15 lakh.

Gang members directed the woman to deposit Rs 80,000 in a particular bank account so that her amount of lottery could be released. The callers claimed themselves to be Vijay Sharma from Chandigarh and Taheem from Delhi. When the woman did not get her Rs 15 lakh lottery amount, she asked the men on phone to return her money.

“The callers then directed the woman to open an account in the State Bank of India, Ropar branch. She was told to withdraw money from the SBI and deposit the same in yet another account of ICICI. The woman was being given Rs 1,000 per transaction,” police officials said.

Sarthali village’s Satish Kumar had given a complaint to the SSP, Ropar, stating that he had got calls from 00923455895072 and 923474212593 stating that he had won Rs 15.60 lakh. He was directed to deposit Rs 13,500 in an SBI account to get the winning amount. Satish was again asked to deposit Rs 24,000 on March 23. “He suspected foul play and informed the police,” said the officials.

When the police conducted investigations, it was found that account was in the name of a woman from Katli. The police officials said that the woman had opened an SBI account a few days ago and the ICICI bank account, where she deposited money, was in the name of someone from Kerala.

SSP Aulakh said the police was investigating the case.