Chandigarh/Dubai, March 27
Relatives and friends of eight Indians and two Pakistani boys heaved a sigh of relief today as a Sharjah appeal court, after accepting their blood money, waived their death penalty and reduced their sentence to three-year imprisonment in a bootlegging-cum-murder case.

This is one of the several cases in which Indian and Pakistani workers are being tried for bootlegging-cum-murder of their fellow expatriate workers.

In yet another case, where three Punjab boys were convicted and given death sentence for the murder of a Punjabi worker, are all set to be released in the next few days after the appeal court not only accepted the settlement and allowed the family of the victim to take blood money, but also reduced the revised sentence to three years after waiving their death sentence.

The beneficiaries are Pardeep Kumar of Hoshiarpur, Kashmiri Lal of Nawanshahr and Tarlochan Singh of Hoshiarpur. The victim was Bikramjit Singh of Gurdaspur. In this case also, the blood money was paid by SP Singh Oberoi. Since the convicts have already completed their reduced three-year imprisonment sentence, the process of setting them free has been set in motion.Their formal release from the prison is expected any day.

In today’s case, Mumtaz Yousuf, a worker from Faisalabad in Pakistan, was murdered on July 11, 2009, in a drunken brawl between two groups of expatriate workers. The Sharjah Shariat Court had convicted all the 10 suspects, eight Indians and two Pakistanis, and sentenced them to death.

Those who had their death sentence waived today are Kuldip Singh of Moga, Sachin Kumar Sharma of Goraya, Rakesh Kumar of Maqsudan, Sukhpal Singh of Mansa, Hardev Singh of Kotkapura, Charanjit of Nawanshahr, Amarjit Singh of Goraya, Rashwinder Pal of Moga besides Mohammed Ansar Chaudhary (Azad Kashmir) and Shahid Hussain Ifthreen Rana of Multan Burewal of Pakistan.

The appeal court that accepted the settlement between the families of the bereaved and the suspects on November 24 last year had deferred the revised final verdict after a couple of adjournments.

Dubai-based SP Singh Oberoi, who not only helped in brokering a settlement but also paid blood money on behalf of the convicts, told The Tribune over the phone that the revised verdict would facilitate the release of all the convicts in the next six months. Since their sentence had been reduced to three years, they had already undergone imprisonment for almost two years.

“The computed sentence of 27 months would end in six months from now after which all of them will be deported back to their countries,” he said.

The settlement was reached with Mohammed Yousuf, father of the deceased, who had accepted the blood money in the court besides submitting to the appeal court to review the death sentence as per the Shariat law.

Khatkar Kalan (Nawanshahr), March 27
Despite much heat inside the pandal and no arrangement of fans, enthusiastic supporters of Manpreet Badal today listened attentively to their leader during a massive rally organised at Khatkar Kalan.

Having tied spring yellow colour (basanti) bands around their turbans, wrists and waists, they raised Inquilab Zindabad slogans from time to time. A huge applause was heard as he announced his party’s name -- the People’s Party of Punjab. The supporters stood quietly with folded hands and heads down as he asked them to observe silence for half a minute.

Showing little interest in the langar and stalls around the venue, the supporters were seen hooting as Manpreet announced that rallies of such a magnitude would not be organised by his party more than once or twice a year as these caused much inconvenience to the public.

He once again managed to win the hearts of the masses as he appealed to his supporters and organisers that there should be no litter and the village of the martyrs was left spic and span, once the rally was over.

Hundreds of youngsters who had descended on the village donated blood at a camp organised by Rotary Club, Banga, and a few organisations there.

With no traffic diversions, the commuters across the highway had a harrowing experience today as they got caught in a jam. All connecting roads to Khatkar Kalan remained congested for a considerable period of time today. Mobile phones in the area also remained jammed for more than two hours owing to congestion of network.

Despite all clearances by the administration given to the organisers last evening, only a few policemen could be seen around the venue today.

Mehta, March 27
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has refused to comment on floating of a new party by Manpreet Badal here today.

He held the Sangat Darshan for panchayats of 116 villages of Jandiala block in this village, about 45 km from Amritsar. In response to a question in this regard, he ruled out commenting on the move of the expelled Akali leader.

When asked that the SAD had not yet taken action against its two other rebel MLAs, Jagbir Singh Brar from Jalandhar cantonment and Manjinder Singh Kang from Beas, who have sided with Manpreet, his terse remark was that the power to take action or not vested with the party and he could not comment on it.

On another burning issue, Badal said the proposed conversion of Khalsa College into a university or not would ultimately be taken after consensus emerged between the management of Khalsa College and the people. However, these views were different from the previous ones given in the Assembly on March 17 in which the CM had said that the conversion of the college into a private university must be welcomed as it would raise the standard of higher education.

In Sangat Darshan, Badal disbursed cheques for Rs 5 crore for various development works.

Amritsar, March 27
Just three days after passing a resolution to maintain the status quo at Khalsa College, the SGPC today made a U-turn saying the proposed conversion of the college into a university would hardly make any difference.

On the other hand, during a sangat darshan programme held at Mehta Dana Mandi near here, CM Parkash Singh Badal chose to reserve his comments on the issue and left the final decision on the college management.

During the budget session on March 24, the SGPC had passed a resolution stating that Khalsa College should not be converted into a private university and continue to function as it is. Separate arrangements should be initiated for establishing a university.

SGPC President Avtar Singh, however, said no resolution in this regard was passed in the House. “During the session, members have right to put their views forth on certain issues. The issue of Khalsa College was one among them, which was discussed during the session. But no such resolution was ever passed that the college should not be converted into a university, ” he said. Nevertheless, this announcement by the highest Sikh temporal seat would come as a surprise to several quarters that included the Chief Khalsa Diwan.

Meanwhile, this controversy has also indicated factionalism within the college’s Governing Council, which comprised some common members belonging to different religious and political organisations.

A meeting of the Khalsa College Governing Council has been scheduled for tomorrow to deliberate over the issue. On the other hand, teachers have intensified their agitation against the move, which entered the 12th day today. The agitating teachers, supported by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, took out a rally at Hall Gate.

SS Rangi, president of the Khalsa College Teachers’ Union, clarified that they had no objection if a university was being conceptualised separately without tempering with the existing infrastructure of the college.

Jalandhar, March 27
Punjabi nationalism as well as the Indian nationalism are the heart and soul of the new People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) launched by Manpreet Singh Badal today. In fact, he has maintained a fine balance between the Indian nationalism and regionalism that makes his party a different entity from the other regional parties.

Regarding aims and objectives the PPP, Manpreet has stated that it would be committed to the concept of India being a sovereign, a socialist, a secular, a federal and a democratic Republic. Along with it, he has also stated that the party would be committed to the glory of the Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat, that abundantly reflects about the Punjabi nationalism.

Focusing on the Punjabi nationalism, he has remarked that the PPP would act as a vanguard both for Punjab and its people and would ensure that Punjab and Punjabis get their rightful due in the national polity, administration and financial affairs.

Manpreet is clear about the political line and philosophy of his party. In statutory declaration of his party, he has clearly stated that the PPP shall bear faith and allegiance to the constitution of India and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy and would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The party will not, in any manner, promote or instigate or participate in violence. As membership of the party would be open to all, it would not discriminate on the basis of gender, caste, creed, religion or in any other manner.

Explaining the agenda of his party, Manpreet said, “One man or one family rule is antithetical to the idea of democracy.” The party constitution details the checks and balances provided to prevent domination by one individual and clan. He further said, “Hero worship and one-man rule have to be prevented in every possible way. No new public scheme or project would be launched in the name of a party leader or someone who is part of a family of a member of the party”.

Manpreet has come out with some novel ideas. For instance, he talks about evaluating the performance of ministers by a secret ballot in the Vidhan Sabha. He is for fully empowering zila parishads and block samities and is for a drastic cut on the government expenditure. He is especially against personal expenditure of ministers, bureaucrats and other members of the government.

Chandigarh, March 27
It was the last Budget session before the state goes to the Assembly poll in February next year. The SAD-BJP government made the most of it, coming out with a Budget that focused on health and education besides populist schemes aimed at voters.

The Congress frittered away an opportunity to take its case to the people by boycotting a debate on the Budget and the BJP came across as a party divided.

The session, which came to an end yesterday, was also all about politics. The government hammered in the development plank successively comparing development done vis-a-vis the Congress during its earlier rule in the state. Along with the focus on power projects and the Bathinda refinery, the SAD also took up an aggressive Panthic agenda.

To safeguard its Panthic vote bank, which has become very important following a revolt by former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the SAD focused on attacking the Congress on the issue of the Operation Bluestar and later even bought in a resolution to condemn the Hondh Chhillar massacre.

In direct contrast, the Congress adopted a bizarre attitude by deciding to boycott a debate on the Budget after PPCC President Amarinder Singh initiated the debate on its behalf. Amarinder claimed that the Budget was fudged and demanded a White Paper on the issue. He, however, could not substantiate his claims adequately and opened himself as well as his party to accusation of running away from a debate.

Observers feel that instead of getting bogged down in numbers which more then often were estimates that can differ later, the Congress could have focused on the economic model being followed in Punjab. The model focuses on massive borrowings to fund expenditure, which is bound to leave a huge debt in its wake.

Due to lack of any opposition, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal almost made it sound as if the model was best for the state. The SAD-BJP earned bouquets by increasing spending on health (Rs 720 crore) and infrastructure (Rs 986 crore). It also caused alarm to the Opposition by bringing in populist schemes, including bicycles for girl students and enlarging the base of the ‘shagun’ scheme.

In direct contrast, the BJP, besides a flash of brillance from Harish Rai Dhanda during the reply to the Governor’s Address, came across as a divided house with members looking on as Batala legislator Jagdish Sahni accused his party colleague and Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla of indulging in corruption on three separate occasions.

The Congress tried to redeem itself by participating in the discussion on grants relating to the Budget estimates and Congress Legislature Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal even admitted that the boycott of the debate on the Budget earlier was a mistake. The Congress should be satisfied by the performance put up by a few legislators, including Sukhpal Khaira, Sunil Jakhar and Lal Singh, who put the government on the defensive repeatedly on several issues.

Kharunj (Ferozepur), March 27
Jagmeet Brar, member, Congress Working Committee (CWC), said today that he would recommend to the party high command that only honest and dedicated workers should be fielded in the next Assembly elections.

Brar was in Kharunj village today to attend a religious function and a rally organised in his honour by Grubir Singh Sandhu, a senior Congress leader, after he (Jagmeet) was inducted into the CWC by the Congress high command. Sandhu also presented a purse containing Rs 11 lakh to Brar.

Addressing the rally, he said it would be ensured that those party leaders, who had caused setbacks to the party in the past, must be kept away from the party’s nomination for the coming elections.

He also announced that henceforth, Sandhu would look after the affairs of the Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency as his representative.

Claiming that he had been touring the state to strengthen the party on instructions of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Brar said if the Gidderbaha Assembly by-election was held after the acceptance of the resignation of its MLA Manpreet Badal, workers would be mobilised to ensure the victory of a party candidate, who would be selected by the PPCC President.

“An era of a family rule in Punjab has been heading towards its end. After 10 months or so, a new era of rule of law will begin when the Congress will form its government by ousting the SAD-BJP combine from power,” Brar claimed, adding that every section of society was fed up with the “misrule” of the SAD-BJP government.

Brar claimed that whenever the Congress formed its government at the Centre, the border areas of Punjab witnessed development.

Bathinda, March 27
After the Jats withdrew their agitation for reservation in Haryana on Saturday, the Bathinda railway station today witnessed a heavy footfall of commuters as dozens of trains which were suspended due to the blockade have started coming back on the track.

Nearly a fortnight-long agitation had paralysed the rail network, connecting Bathinda to various destinations, including Delhi and Mumbai. Though the railway authorities had adopted a number of alternative routes, a majority of the trains were cancelled or terminated.

According to details collected from the railway officials, the worst hit were the passengers of the Ferozepur-Rewari Express, Kissan Express, Bathinda-Delhi Intercity Express, Sriganganagar-Delhi (via Rohtak) Express, Janata Express, Hisar-Jind Express, Awadh-Assam Express, Sriganganagar-Howrah Express, Punjab Mail, Nanded Sahib Express, Amritsar-Jaipur Express, Sriganganagar-Ambala Intercity Express and Sriganganagar-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Superfast Express, as these trains were not plying through Bathinda for the past couple of days due to the agitation.

Besides, the commuters of some passenger trains, namely Ferozepur-Jind, Ferozepur-Delhi, Hisar-Jind and Rewari passenger train also faced difficulties as some of these trains were suspended at their point of origin, while the others were covering just half of the distance.

The agitation made the Railways Department incur heavy losses.

The chief booking supervisor, Bathinda railway station, RS Gosain said that they were recording an average loss of Rs 4 lakh per day due to the agitation.

Meanwhile, staff at the reservation office of the railway station said that since the trains were suspended, they had refunded more than Rs 13 lakh to nearly 4,700 passengers, who had no option but to get their advanced tickets cancelled.

As the tracks are now clear, the railway authorities have started flashing green signals to move all trains to their respective routes.

The station supervisor, SS Rai, said, “As the bulletin has started reaching us, we are despatching the trains towards their destinations. Though the process has been started, it may take a day or two to put the service in place.”

A number of passengers at the railway station were found to be happy after the trains were back on the track but there were a few who were anguished and blamed the Haryana Government for delaying efforts to resolve the issue.

Anandpur Sahib, March 27
The Himachal Government has handed over the Naina Devi-Anandpur Sahib ropeway project to the Punjab Government, so the onus of starting and completing the project now lies with Punjab.

Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, while talking to mediapersons at Sri Dasmesh Academy. Punjab BJP secretary Jatinder Singh Athwal, Himachal minister Thakur Ravinder Singh Ravi and MLA, Kot Kehlur, Randhir Sharma, flanked him.

Dhumal said the ropeway project was conceived to boost pilgrim centres, Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi. “The Punjab Government will soon start work on the project. We have already written to Punjab notifying this,” he said.

Talking about the incidence of turbans of Sikh pilgrims, bound for the Manikaran area, being removed by the Himachal police, Dhumal said he would deal strictly with such issues. “Pilgrims are dealt with most respectfully in our state. I am not aware of this issue and will surely look into it,” he added.

Rejecting allegations of Hindutva levied on BJP leader Arun Jaitley following Wikileaks, Dhumal said all allegations were baseless. He added that Wikileaks had made this revelation without any substantial evidence.

Patiala, March 27
Following recovery of a car and preliminary investigations, the Patiala police have registered an FIR against the owner and employees of Patiala-based car showroom, DPG Hyundai. The police have registered a case pertaining to fraud following the matter coming to light where the agency evaded tax worth crores.

According to the FIR, the accused have been identified as owner of DPG Hyundai DP Goel, manager Bhupinder Singh, mechanic Varinder Singh, salesman Amrik Singh, and Parveen Kumar. A case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the IPC pertaining to fraud, cheating, and conspiracy have been registered following investigations carried by SSP (Excise and Taxation) Mandeep Singh Sidhu.

On Friday, the Excise and Taxation Department had unearthed a scam of tax evasion by car dealers across the state with impounding of a car that was being smuggled in without paying any tax. The driver told the policemen that they used to smuggle about 12-15 vehicles a month. As per excise norms, a vehicle is expected to be fined about Rs 4 lakh, which make the total fine till date run in crores.

“We are waiting for a proper scrutiny of the entire documents in the showroom on Monday,” claimed a senior excise officer.

The FIR states that the showroom had procured cars from the company and got them offloaded outside Punjab near Jind (Haryana), Nada Sahib and Dabwali. “From there the agency use to allegedly send their people to drive the car into Punjab through escape routes, and then deliver the same through the agency in Patiala,” it reads. Sidhu said the documents pertaining to car smuggling and the modus operandi of the accused would be known once they were interrogated. “A team of the Excise Department would take on the case now and they would carry their investigations into the entire racket of tax evasion,” he told The Tribune.