Jalandhar, March 26
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) yesterday booked a retired IAS officer and three others for their alleged involvement in embezzling crores of rupees in the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary celebrations that were held in 2008.

A former chairman of Punjab Kala Parishad, Dr Swaran Singh, and three others, Vikas Mehra and Sanjay Ghera, proprietors of GMS Entertainment, Faridabad, and Satbir Singh Bajwa, the proprietor of The Professionals, Chandigarh, have been booked on a complaint of Parwinder Singh Kitna, president of a Nawanshahar-based NGO, “HELP”.

A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and other provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against them at the Jalandhar- based police station of the VB. No arrest has been made in this regard as yet.

Kitna had filed a complaint before the chief of the VB in August 2009, seeking action against those involved in embezzlement, Swaran Singh and others. The complaint was moved before the VB after Kitna got information from the state government under the Right to Information Act regarding expenditure on the Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary celebration at Khatkar Kalan in 2008.

In his complaint, Kitna has said that the state government spent Rs 2.76 crores on birth celebration that continued for three days in Amritsar in 2007 while a sum of Rs 3.05 crores was spent on the Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary in 2008 in a day long programme. The government spent Rs 1.29 cores extra amount in 2008 event though the function continued for over four hours.

The Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, had ensured action against erring persons in the embezzlement of funds sanctioned by the union ministry of cultural affairs for the birth anniversary celebrations in 2008, after the Congress raised the issue in Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, last.

Chandigarh, March 26
State Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and former BJP Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Jagdish Sahni had a slinging match on the floor of the House yet once again with Sahni alleging irregularities in the appointment of the Director (Ayurveda).

Much to the amusement of legislators from both side of the benches, the two continued with heated exchange for several minutes before someone else dared to intervene. After the two had traded charges for a while, Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon agreed to a demand for the setting up of a House committee that would probe if any rules had been flouted in the appointment.

Yesterday, Sahni had asked a question regarding the norms that had been prescribed for the appointment of the Director (Ayurveda) and if the present Director fulfilled all these qualifications. The question was postponed for today. In Question Hour, this was the second question and Sahni was obviously not satisfied with the minister’s answer, who said all was as per the rules.

Flouting the copies of the rules, Sahni questioned the appointment saying the rules had been flouted. He offered to quit if his allegations were found to be untrue. At the same time, he demanded that if he was proved right, the minister should quit. At this point, Congress legislator Sunil Jakhar got up and told the Speaker to intervene saying the precious time of the House was being wasted time and again by the two.

Since barbs did not appear to mellow down, the Speaker announced that as per the asking of the BJP legislator, a House panel would be set up, which would probe the issue. The minister was later saying that she would not be the person who would resign and Sahni would be the one who would be proved wrong and would have to go.

This was the third time that the Health Minister and Sahni have had open verbal duels. Sahni has openly alleged that there is a lot of corruption in the Health Department, much to the embarrassment of the minister and the BJP party leadership.

On an earlier occasion, Sahni had tried to embarrass the minister by alleging that higher price was made in some purchases by the Health Department. The two have been on loggerheads ever since officials of the department raided a nursing home run by a relative of Sahni.

Chandigarh, March 26
It is not only ordinary folks, but also legislators who are anxious at missing the India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final tie. The issue rocked Zero Hour with legislators raising the issue of black marketing of tickets and demanding they be given tickets for the match.

Luv Kumar Goldy of the Congress raised the issue during Zero Hour urging Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon to intervene on behalf of “representatives of the people”. Goldy said it was unfortunate that the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) had usurped government land, but was denying tickets to legislators. Harminder Jassi from the Congress also made a similar plea.

Khatkar Kalan, March 26
Rebel Akali MLA Jagbir Singh Brar said today that he was ready to submit his resignation to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker. “The resignation will be submitted to the Speaker immediately after I got instructions in this regard from my leader Manpreet Singh Badal,” said Brar.

Manpreet, who was expelled from the SAD, submitted his resignation to the Speaker today. Brar and other rebel Akali MLA, Manjinder Singh Kang, were not expelled from the party and they continued to be SAD MLAs. However, they stayed away from the Budget session. “I will also talk to Kang before submitting the resignation,” said Brar.

Though it is not confirmed, Brar may submit his resignation on March 28, a day after the launching of a new political party by Manpreet .

Meanwhile, Brar alleged that SAD and Congress leaders were working in tandem against Manpreet and his associates. “Masked understanding between the SAD and the Congress against Manpreet was fully exposed today. The SAD leadership did not stop transporters from giving buses to Congress leaders for a rally at Khatkar Kalan on March 23. But officials of the Transport Department, on instructions from SAD leaders, today worked overtime to prevent transporters from providing buses to Manpreet’s supporters to ferry people to Khatkar Kalan for tomorrow’s rally,” alleged Brar.

Sangrur, March 26
The local police has solved an abduction case of a minor girl within hours after getting information about the crime in Malerkotla here.

SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar said the police solved the minor’s abduction case in five hours after it got the information. He added that a case under Section 364, IPC, was registered at city police station-II, Malerkotla, on the statement of Kalsoom wife of Muhammad Firoze of Ajimpura, Malerkotla. “The complainant, in her statement to the police, had stated that she belonged to Jalandhar and her father and younger sister, Nillofer, still lived there.

On Thursday at 8.15 pm, Muhammad Aseef, alias Achhu Khopa, son of Ajhar Khan, cousin of his husband, who lived in their neighbourhood, came to her home and took her three-year-old daughter for playing with her. At 8.30 pm, Aseef made a phone call from his mobile to her sister, Nillofer, telling her that he had abducted her niece (daughter of Kalsoom) and threatened her to marry him; otherwise he would kill the child,” the SSP said. “Later on, he used to make her phone calls and send SMSes frequently.”

The SSP added that on getting the information, a police team was constituted to trace the kidnapped child. He added that they traced the girl by arresting the accused, Aseef, at 10.30 pm when he was on the way from the railway station to City Malerkotla.

“During interrogation, the accused revealed that he spent the night at Civil Hospital, Malerkotla, then he took the child to Ludhiana in the morning and at 10 pm, he returned from Ludhiana and remained at the railway station,” the SSP said. 

Jalandhar, March 26
As a part of his inspection tour to air bases under the Western Air Command, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Air Command) Air Marshal DC Kumaria, visited the Air Force Station, Adampur, today.

He was accompanied by Vaneeta Kumaria, President of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA). They were received by Air Commodore M Fernandez, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Adampur, and Vanita Fernandez, President of the AFWWA, Adampur.

Air Marshal Kumaria was presented a guard of honour followed by his visit to the Station War Memorial to pay tribute to the martyrs. He later addressed station personnel, including civilians. He also inspected various operational and technical installations as well as administrative setup and facilities of the station.

Patiala, March 26
The Patiala Zila Parishad has unanimously passed a budget of Rs 65.88 crore for 2011-12.Presiding over a special meeting held at the mini-secretariat here yesterday, Zila Parishad Chairman Mahinder Singh Lalwa tabled the budget of the Zila Parishad and the Panchayat Samitis coming under the jurisdiction of this district. After having deliberations on the proposals, the budget was unanimously passed.

Giving details, Lalwa said: “For the Patiala Zila Parishad, Rs 1.56 crore has been kept. For the panchayat samitis, the funds allocation is - Patiala (Rs 4.64 crore), Sanaur (Rs 9.31 crore), Samana (Rs 8.6 crore), Patran (Rs 11.94 crore), Nabha (Rs 12.11 crore), Rajpura (Rs 8.45 crores) and Ghanaur (Rs 9.78 crore).” He further said the budget for the Panchayat Samiti of Bhunerheri would be passed separately.

Lalwa also instructed Zila Parishad members and Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), who were present at the meeting, to ensure that development works being undertaken in their respective areas of jurisdiction progressed at a fast pace. Besides, they had also been instructed to monitor the quality of the ongoing development works, he added.

BDPOs had also been asked to ensure that a maximum number of BPL people get employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He said action would be initiated against employees or officials found guilty of not implementing the MGNREGA in a proper manner.

Notably, the Patiala Zila Parishad had already approved the budget of development works to the tune of Rs 32.85 crore to be undertaken under the MGNREGA in the rural areas of the district for 2011-12. According to details, funds to the tune of Rs 11 crore would be spent on the cleansing of village ponds and Rs 4.74 crore would be utilised on connecting link roads with villages of the district. 

Rajpura/Sirhind, March 26
Despite the registration of cases and the imposition of heavy penalties on transporters, there is no sign of a let-up in the plying of overloaded trucks, which use escape routes to evade tax at information collection centres or sales tax barriers.

The trucks, most of them plying between Mandi Gobindgarh and Delhi after passing through Rajpura, carry over 40 tonnes of iron which is beyond the permissible load. According to rules, only 8 to 10 tonnes of iron are allowed. Instead of using four or five trucks, transporters carry iron and scrap in just one truck illegally.

Officials of the first India Reserve Battalion, who detect tax evasion with the help of excise officials, said though the number of trucks plying on escape routes illegally had reduced to a great extent since the deployment of the IRB, there were some “influential gangs” still operating on these routes. IRB Commandant Mandeep Singh Sidhu said the drivers of 55 trucks had either been booked or fined for evading tax since September 2009. Most of these trucks were found overloaded.

In a recent instance, the owner of a weighbridge refused to read weight of an overloaded truck and it was later found that the truck was carrying iron more than 40 tonnes. Some of these trucks are fined even between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 6 lakh.

Police officials said there were 36 information collection centres or tax barriers in the state wherein trucks loaded with goods were supposed to pay entry tax and VAT. However, to evade tax, they opted for various escape routes, sometimes allegedly in connivance with the checking authorities.

Amritsar, March 26
Pakistan feels a need for the formation of India-Pakistan forum of parliamentarians for giving impetus to peace process between the two countries. These views were expressed by the 12-member delegation of peaceniks that returned from Pakistan yesterday.

Ramesh Yadav, president of the Folklore Research Academy, stated in a press release that during the visit the delegation met Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani besides participating in a seminar on ‘Revival of Pak-India Dialogue’ organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).

The members included veteran columnist Kuldip Nayyar, Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt, Shahid Siddiqui, Jatin Desai, Dr Mazhar Hussain and Ramesh Yadav.

Yadav said Gilani had expressed hope that the resumption of dialogue with home secretaries meeting in New Delhi would yield positive results. The Prime Minister also said his government was committed for furthering the peace process between two countries.

Meanwhile, while welcoming the resumption of dialogue various speakers during the seminar had urged the governments of India and Pakistan to release all the fishermen from prisons besides relaxing visa facility for senior citizens and children below 12 years. They also stressed on joint mechanism against terrorism.

The delegation also met family members of Salman Taseer, who was assassinated by his security guard for his stand against blasphemy law and values of human and minority rights. 

Chhat (Banur), March 26
Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park today got new field director. Basanta Raj Kumar, deployed as deputy conservator of forests in the office of Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh, has been chosen for the post.

Former director Churchil Kumar has been transferred to the Tourism Department after serving as zoo field director for about nine months. Before him, Tushar Kanti Bahera too served for just a couple of months and was transferred to the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden, Chandigarh.

Zoo employees said the new field director visited the zoo yesterday along with other officials and was likely to join office tomorrow.

The employees and animal lovers said frequent transfers affected the functioning of the zoo. According to them, when a field director gets acquainted with the functioning of the zoo, he is transferred. — TNS

Ludhiana, March 26
Expressing concern over suicides by farmers in the region, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSA) has chalked out a plan to tackle with the problem. For this, the SLSA has decided to recruit paralegal volunteers for sensitising the farmers about their rights. The volunteers will comprise law students, advocates and NGOs.

They will be trained to generate awareness amongst the farming community about their legal rights.

Justice MM Kumar, executive chairman of the state legal services stated that majority of suicides were being committed by the debt-ridden farmers for want of legal assistance. “Since farmers provide food security, they must not feel helpless in fighting for their rights,” said Justice Kumar.

Apart from giving free legal advice, these farmers would be provided services of capable lawyers free of cost and all incidental expenses would be borne by the authority itself, he added.

Expressing concern over the declining sex ratio, he stated that the volunteers would also sensitise the people against female foeticide.

Justice Kumar was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the mega lok adalat at district courts complex here. The mega lok adalat comprising 31 benches settled 10,556 cases involving compensation of Rs 13.5 crore. Sessions Judge SP Bangarh and state legal services authority member secretary Munish Singal supervised the functioning of the lok adalats. 

Transporters face ‘threats’
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 26
With transporters from Sangrur, Mansa, Malerkotla, Moga, Lehragaga and Muktsar areas cancelling their bookings for ferrying Manpreet Badal’s supporters for the ‘Jago Punjab’ conference scheduled tomorrow at Khatkar Kalan, the issue has become a major headache for the former Punjab Finance Minister.

Chief organiser of the rally and former OSD to Manpreet, Charanjit Singh Brar, said the bookings for over 250 buses to help workers commute to the rally venue had been withdrawn by the transporters at the last moment.

Sukhbir Singh, a party worker from Sangrur, said the transporters had been complaining that they had received threats that their buses would be impounded in case they offered their services for the rally. A transporter in the area, when contacted by The Tribune, confirmed having received threats from the state transport authorities.

Sukhbir said that the workers had tried to contact the DTO but his phone was switched off. He said that they had lodged a protest outside the camp office of Deputy Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu but to no avail. Asked for his comments, DC Sangrur said that he was away to New Delhi and was trying to sort out the matter by contacting the DTO.

Brar said he was now persuading the workers to make arrangements for coming in trolleys, trucks, Sumos or other vehicles.