Chandigarh, April 4
Strict enforcement of the PNDT Act, which saw a rift in the Punjab BJP earlier, may now result in another row with the Gurdaspur Civil Surgeon being summoned by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, following the sealing of a hospital in Batala last month.

Civil Surgeon Dr Dalip Kumar told TNS today that he had received a call from the Speaker after the district Advisory Committee under the PNDT Act had recommended that Baba Deep Singh Hospital’s registration be suspended and the facility be sealed for a 12-week period.

A team under the SMO, Batala, had earlier raided the scanning centre on March 5 and found major irregularities in its records. These included false residential proofs as well as reference slips. The Centre was issued a show-cause notice on March 10 and finally action was taken against it at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Gurdaspur Civil Surgeon was summoned to the Vidhan Sabha on March 29 to discuss constituency-related works by the Speaker. Dr Kumar reached the Vidhan Sabha in the morning and kept waiting for the Speaker who did not come to the office till 5 pm. Now, he has been asked to present himself at the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow.

Dr Kumar said he had briefed the Principal Secretary, Health, about the entire issue and also sent the entire case to the Director, Family Welfare. He said he had also asked for guidance from the department after receiving a call from the Speaker but was still to get the same.

Meanwhile, Kahlon when asked whether he had rung up the Civil Surgeon after the Baba Deep Singh Hospital had been sealed in Batala, said he did not know anything about the issue and that the Civil Surgeon alone would know whether he had rung him up or not.

Earlier last year a major controversy was created in the BJP when a Health Department team raided two ultrasound scanning centres in Batala belonging to relatives of Batala legislator Jagdish Sahni.

The legislator had publicly started a tirade against Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, following the raids and had even launched a virtual attack on the minister during the Budget session in the Vidhan Sabha recently. 

Patiala, April 4
The amnesty scheme, announced by the SAD-BJP government, giving an opportunity to defaulters of water/sewerage and house tax charges, to deposit the arrears without any interest, has brought desired results to Patiala Municipal Corporation. The corporation has recovered Rs 2.90 crore in just 15 days in March. In the wake of the fact that the Patiala MC staff remained on strike for almost two weeks in March, the recovery of arrears amounting to Rs 2.90 crore has brought a smile to the faces of top municipal officials, including Municipal Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang and Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli.

According to the data provided by the civic authorities, against the budgetary target of Rs 10 crore for house tax for 2010-11, Patiala MC collected Rs 7.51 crore till January 31, 2011. “In February and March, Rs 2.49 crore were collected from the house tax bill collection. The civic body managed to achieve 94 per cent of the target fixed for the house tax bill collection. What is important is the fact that the civic body managed to recover Rs 1.70 crore from house tax in March, notwithstanding the fact that the civic staff remained on strike for 15 days in March,” said the Municipal Commissioner.

Bathinda, April 4
Taking cognisance of the news item published in The Tribune ‘Three PRTC staffers allege torture by cops’ on March 30, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) today asked the Bathinda SSP to submit a report by August 1.

The development has landed the district police in trouble as during the investigation, the PRTC staffers, who were subjected to third-degree torture, were found to be innocent. Besides, the district police chief, during a recent press conference, had also admitted that the actual culprits were two former drivers of the PRTC, who were nabbed with cash of about Rs 5.7 lakh.

The PSHRC took action after Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna lodged a complaint with the commission along with the copy of news item and sought an action against the guilty police officials.

Using their authority vested under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the double Bench of the commission, comprised of LR Roojam and Justice Baldev Singh, today directed Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill to submit a report by the next date of hearing.

While issuing the direction, the commission members mentioned that it was highlighted in the news report that the CIA staff, Bathinda, had subjected the PRTC employees to third-degree torture, detained them in illegal custody and also pressurised them to confess the theft of cash worth Rs 14 lakh.

Meanwhile, dozens of PRTC employees today held a rally at Bathinda workshop and accused CIA in-charge Rajinder Kumar of threatening the victims of dire consequences if they took the matter to the court. Later, a delegation of the PRTC employees’ union met senior police officials and demanded action against Rajinder Kumar.

Despite repeated efforts, Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill could not be contacted.

Chandigarh, April 4
It is still 10 months to the Assembly poll in Punjab, but a soap opera of sorts has already started with each claimant to power pulling at heartstrings of the people of the state.

This opera is seeing CM Parkash Singh Badal painting his nephew and People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal as an opportunist, who was jealous of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s rise in politics.

Efforts being made by the CM to ensure that people see him in the right in a war against Manpreet is set to become muddier with Manpreet reacting on the issue today. Manpreet has claimed that Sukhbir has done nothing till now to be jealous about.

There is a growing feeling that the coming months are all about capturing the mind space of the people of the state and this may even dwarf other factors like development and corruption. It is in this context that the CM has launched a campaign to remove the sheen acquired by Manpreet since his ouster from the SAD.

This is part of the second part of the campaign of the SAD to ensure that Manpreet does not build legitimacy in the eyes of the people in the run-up to the poll. Earlier the SAD, particularly Sukhbir, had effectively guarded its fort ensuring Manpreet could not ensnare any senior leader from the party. Sukhbir has earlier also streamlined the party functioning besides infusing new blood in it, which was responsible for the SAD-BJP triumph in the 2007 Assembly elections and also a good show in the last parliamentary elections.

The CM, who apparently wants to pass on the baton to Sukhbir, is highlighting all these issues in the public. Sukhbir is being projected as a party builder as well as one who has done proven development in comparison with Manpreet, who is being painted as an opportunist.

Manpreet on his part countered the SAD propaganda today by asking the CM to substantiate his claim that he was jealous of Sukhbir. He also claimed that he had been fielded from Gidderbaha in a byelections in 1995 because no senior leader was willing to contest the elections. He claimed that as the Finance Minister, he had highlighted the precarious financial position of the state, something that was his duty. He has also questioned why was he being criticised vehemently if he was inconsequential.

Manpreet has started the process of recruiting members with nearly 1 lakh membership forms being distributed to party supporters at his Chandigarh residence today. Both Congress men as well as Akalis thronged his residence indicating he may get support from both the parties. What was surprising is the support Manpreet is getting from Sangrur district with many former loyalists of senior SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, including the former and the present Market Committee Chairmen, flocking to him.

Patiala, April 4
Patiala is expecting a wheat crop of over 10.95 lakh metric tonnes to come up for sale in various mandis of the district. A meeting of the administrative officials was held today to oversee arrangements and ensure that the farmers do not face harassment in the mandis.

In the meeting, chaired by Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh, officials of various procurement agencies, representatives of farmers’ bodies and members of arhtiya association shared views ahead of the procurement season. A total of 100 buying centres have been set up so that the farmers do not face any harassment in selling their produce.

Dipinder said the arhtiyas and the procurement agencies should install metres to measure the prescribed moisture content in the wheat crop allowed by the government during purchase. “The farmers should adhere to the guidelines of bringing in their wheat only when the entire crop is dry so that unnecessary delays and rush is avoided in the mandis,” he added.

Meanwhile, power board officials have been told to ensure that there is round-the-clock power supply in all the mandis. The SSP has been asked to create temporary police posts in the markets so that the law and order situation is under control.

Farmers have been asked not to use combine machines for cutting the crop as it results in excessive moisture content in the wheat grain. “The farmers should take all possible steps to ensure minimum moisture for early buying of their crop by the procurement agencies”, said the DC. 

Amritsar, April 4
The rice industry has voiced its resentment against the Punjab Government move to raise the purchase tax/VAT on paddy from 4 per cent to 5 per cent, contending that it would ruin the industry in the state.

Talking to The Tribune, KRS Sobti, vice-president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association, lamented that they were already reeling under high taxes and now the government had further added to their woes by increasing VAT.

“We will now end up paying 12 per cent tax, including 5 per cent VAT, 3 per cent Punjab infrastructure development fund (PIDF), 2 per cent rural development fee (RDF) and 2 per cent market fee, apart from 2.5 per cent to arhtiyas, making it a total of 14.5 per cent. In such a scenario, we simply cannot compete with other states,” he said.

APS Manchanda from Lal Qilla Rice opined that the hike could not have come at a worse time as the rice industry in the state was passing through its worst phase due to a sharp decline in export orders worldwide.

According to him, taxes in the state were the highest as compared to other rice producing states like Haryana (8 per cent), UP (6 per cent) and Delhi (1 per cent).

Manchanda rued that the government not only hiked VAT, but also gave huge tax concessions to mega units by waiving PIDF and market fee to them, creating a disparity of 7 per cent taxation between mega units and the existing rice producing units in the state.

He said they had already made several representations at the highest levels over the past five years to bring in parity in the taxation structure, but in spite of the assurance given by the Punjab Chief Minister to exempt the PIDF, the industry’s efforts had drawn blank till now.

The industrialists here also contend that the increase in VAT by the “farmer-friendly state government” would hit the farmers adversely as the industry will not be able to absorb this hefty tax rate and the farmers may not get their due price in view of the prevailing international food crisis.

They demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike in VAT along with the PIDF for the survival of the rice industry while cautioning that they might be forced to boycott the procurement of various basmati varieties in the coming rabi season.

Patiala, April 4
Known for their love for guns, Punjabis are facing difficulties to get clearances and procuring valid permits to buy them as the police is checking every application minutely. As a result thousands of applications are pending in the state with many people alleging that those with an “Akali sifarish” are getting arms licenses while others are kept waiting.

Following tougher guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) pertaining to grant of prohibited bore arms license to individuals in the state, the government has authorised the Police Department to clear an applicant if they face threat from terrorists or have served at a post by virtue of which they are vulnerable to a terrorist attack. According to the new rules passed to all district police chiefs “No person would be able to procure an arms licence without police verification”.

Sources confirmed that following tougher guidelines, the Station House Officers (SHOs) have been told not to give a clearance certificate until nod from senior officers. “This is wrong as numerous people with Akali background and those close to the police officers are getting licenses easily while others are still in the waiting list,” claimed an applicant whose application is pending from the past three months.

Another applicant told The Tribune that with elections almost 11 months away, the ruling government wants only their supporters to get arms. “There should be complete transparency and all licenses issued in past six months be scrutinised,” he added. As per a recent communiqué shot by the MHA to the state government, a report by the police authorities under Section 13 (2) has been made mandatory before granting arms license.

Following numerous applications wherein applicants had tried to procure prohibited bore (PB) licenses on the plea of threat perception, the MHA has asked all state Home Secretaries to ensure that only those with genuine threat perception get weapons and there date is collected and shared with the Central government.

“As we have 45 days to clear an applicant as per rules, we usually verify all credentials and then wait for the SSP to clear a name before police verification,” claimed an SHO. “Though we can give a report in 10 days, but following verbal orders the clearance is given only after the senior officers pass instructions,” he added.

A senior Punjab police officer confirmed that though there could be some delays, but licenses are issued as per norms. 

Jalandhar, April 4
The employees of all the five procurement agencies of the state are boycotting procurement of wheat to put pressure on the authorities to accept their demands.

As a result, the procurement process has been affected despite announcement by the government of smooth purchasing of the crop from April 1.

The employees of all the five procurement agencies of Punjab, including Pungrain, Markfed, Punjab Agro, PUNSUP and Punjab State Warehouse Corporation, held a rally in Jalandhar today.

Addressing the protesters, representatives of the employees reiterated that the boycott would continue until their demands were fulfilled. They

further stated that neither any space for storing wheat was available in the godowns nor enough staff was available for conducting smooth procurement. The government should make arrangements to provide proper space and staff to conduct for the same besides accepting their other demands.

The government and authorities concerned should take the responsibility in case wheat is damaged due to shortage of space and staff, they added.

The representatives further stated they had been writing to the concerned authorities since long, but to no avail.

They had to resort to take the harsh decision of boycotting procurement of wheat in the last, they added.

The representatives of the employees further said they had already held a division level rally at Patiala on April 2 and a similar rally would be held at Faridkot on April 6.

Amritsar, April 4
High drama was witnessed today during a press conference called by Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Akal Takht Jathedar, over the Khalsa College issue when college Principal Daljit Singh made a surprise entry at the venue.

The sudden turn of events created chaos as those accompanying the former Jathedar confronted the college Principal who, after reaching there, sought an audience with the former.

Daljit Singh was carrying a laptop and a photo album and was keen on presenting his side of story before Bhai Ranjit Singh. The duo had a brief meeting during which Daljit Singh showed him a video footage of a teachers’ protest staged outside his residence on March 16 and17.

He tried to convince the former Jathedar that cases registered against the agitating teachers were justified. However, Bhai Ranjit Singh told him that if he wanted to resolve the issue amicably, he should first withdraw the cases, to which the latter did not agree. This infuriated Bhai Ranjit Singh’s aides, who later had a heated argument with the Principal.

Earlier, describing CM Parkash Singh Badal’s recent statement about deferring the decision on the proposed conversion of the college into a private university as a mere eyewash, the former Jathedar demanded that the government should scrap the proposal and put an end to the controversy. He also demanded an unconditional withdrawal of police cases registered against the teachers on the basis of complaints filed by the Principals of Khalsa College Society-run institutions.

“The CM has also been deceiving the protesting teachers and all stakeholders of the college with frivolous statements which have no value until the proposal is scrapped by the government,” he said. He also criticised the SGPC President’s U-turn over the issue.

Meanwhile, the President of the District Congress Committee (rural), Amritsar, SRS Lalli Majithia, has sought information under the RTI Act from the government regarding the UGC communication about the proposed conversion, revenue entries of the society, the documentation of the conversion of land ownership and methods adopted to include members in the Governing Council of the society. Majithia said if he did not get information, he would challenge it in the high court.

Talwandi Sabo, April 4
Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, today said that Akal Takht would take notice of the visit of former Chief Minister and state Congress President Amarinder Singh to the headquarters of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect at Sirsa.

Giani Gurbachan Singh, who was here today to preside over a function in connection with the Sampurnta Nagar Kirtan organised to mark the completion of the 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib, said that as per information of Akal Takht, Amarinder Singh had not visited the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect at Sirsa so far.“Whenever Amarinder will make a visit to the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, Akal Takht will take notice accordingly,” he said, adding that Akal Takht had already issued an edict banning Sikhs all over the world to sever their ties with Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect.

Sometime ago, Amarinder Singh had made a statement that he would be visiting important deras of different sects dotting Punjab. About a week ago, Amarinder Singh had reportedly visited the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa.

Expressing concern over the menace of female foeticide, the Sikh high priest said that those families, which were full of ego, were indulging in commission of such sin despite the fact that Akal Takht had already issued an edict, asking members of the Sikh community not to indulge in the heinous crime. “The practice of dowry was responsible for the rising incidence of female foeticide,” he said.

He advocated that women must be respected by all sections of society. Women have started making their presence felt in all fields, including education, Army, aviation and other jobs and as such they must be given an opportunity to take birth and grow in a conducive atmosphere.

Giani Gurbachan Singh said to make people follow the principles of Sikhism and to lead a life of perfection, Akal Takht had started making efforts to carry its movement of getting people baptised at the village level. Apart from it, spread of the Sikh religion would be used as a tool to make people fight social evils.

When asked about his comments over the decision of the SAD leadership to shift the venue of its political conference to be held on the occasion of Baisakhi from Diwan Hall of Takht Damdama Sahib to local grain market, he said Akal Takht had nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, a kabbadi championship was organised in the local Mata Sahib Kaur College today to mark the formal end of Sampurnta Nagar Kirtan, organised by Sant Mann Singh Pehowa Wale. 

Amritsar, April 4
Stressing on the need to create a forum for police station reforms in South Asian countries, experts today advocated the need for evolving an institutional mechanism for co-operation between SAARC nations.

Participating in a pre-inaugural talk ahead of two-day conference on “Global Conference on Citizen-Centric Police Station Reforms” to be held on April 5-6, the experts also emphasised that the political leadership in these countries should democratise the police by making it more citizen-centric and friendly to people, seeking their help.

The conference is being organised by the Punjab Police in association with the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) and Altus Global Alliance.

Dr Pramod Kumar, Chairman, Punjab Governance Reforms Commission, said the people’s distrust and fear in the police was a reality throughout the world and there was a great need of undoing this by strengthening the police’s accountability towards local citizens particularly poor and marginalised population.

“Many police stations in the Asian countries are dreaded places to visit due to fears among the public that they themselves might be involved or asked to pay bribe for even routine services. These fears and poor management leads to under-reporting of crime and contempt for the police which ultimately threatens the people’s safety besides denying justice to common man,” he said.

Dr Kumar said the main aim of the conference was to provide a forum for police departments of South Asian Countries to share these reforms and to learn the best practices adopted by the police at the global level.

Michael Jacobson, director, Vera Institute of Justice, New York, pointed out that increasing the transparency of police service at police stations would help in improving the trust and cooperation between the police and public. This would lead to greater safety and access to justice which is the main aim of this programme.

Abraham and Nishat from Maldives opined that there was an urgent need to reform police stations by building people’s stakes. The conference would deliberate on difference topics, including Community Orientation, Physical Conditions and Detention Conditions.

Gidderbaha, April 4
Even as the police has launched an investigation into the case pertaining to the alleged siphoning of paddy worth about Rs 1.5 crore of Pungrain by Sukhdev Singh, father of Charanjit Singh, a close associate of Manpreet Badal, the food and supply authorities have also started inquiring about the fact that how Sukhdev was given permission to run a second rice mill on the premises of existing rice mill.

Sukhdev alongwith his partner Harjinder Singh managed to get permission from the officials of the Food and Supply Department for running a rice mill on the premises of an existing rice mill located on the Gidderbaha-Husnar road.

A case under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act has been registered against Sukhdev and Harjinder for their alleged involvement in siphoning off paddy on the complaint of Food and Supply Department authorities.

Information gathered by The Tribune has revealed that Sukhdev and Harjinder succeeded in getting permission from the departments concerned for starting their mill - Sidhu Agro Industries - in 2009 on the premises of Sidhu Rice Mill being run by Surjeet Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh, and Malkit Singh.

Kaushal Rao Singla, district food and supply controller, Muktsar, said records pertaining to the permission granted to Sidhu Agro Industry was being examined and action would be taken against the official found guilty of granting permission to the mill against the norms.

Meanwhile, employee of Sidhu Agro Industries failed to produce record pertaining to its transactions to the Excise and Taxation Department despite the fact that they were asked to do so by today evening.

DSP Bhupinder Singh said efforts were on to arrest Harjinder Singh and records pertaining to the fraud committed by him and Sukhdev were being collected. 

Bir Raoke (Moga), April 4
Though the provisional report of Census 2011 has shown a disturbing trend of sex ratio in Punjab, Bir Raoke village in the Nihalsinghwala subdivision of Moga district has more girls than boys, thanks to an Indian-born British businessman, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, who has set up a charity, which aims to prevent families in India from aborting a girl child

The village has 108 females born for every 100 males. Having a population of nearly 3,000 persons, this village celebrates the birth of every girl.

The NRI became involved in this social cause when he visited this village, where he was born, a decade ago and noticed that most of the children in the local school were boys.

He formed a charitable organisation, the Sant Singh Dhaliwal Trust, after the name of his father to help the girl children of his village in getting free education, dress, books and also money to the poor families for marriages of their daughters.

Talking to The Tribune from Appleton, Warrington (UK), he said: “I have adopted my village and asked families not to abort a girl child by giving them an assurance that the Trust will take care of all the girls, from education to their marriage and health needs,” he said. 

Chandigarh, April 4 
The legislator’s hostel here today witnessed a unique celebration with Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla conducting a ‘havan yajna’ to mark Bikram Samvat, the start of the new year, according to the traditional Indian calendar.

Relatives, friends and officers of the department attended the New Year function at the legislator’s hostel where the Health Minister lives in a two-room set. Prominent among others who attended the function were AR Talwar, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary, Health, Raji Srivastava, MD, Health System Corporation, and Krishan Kumar, MD, NRHM, and Kunwar Vijay Partap, IPS.

The Health Minister urged the people of the country to celebrate traditional festivals with gaiety and fervour. 

According to a social activist, Dr Kavita Saronwala, the day marks the start of the Indian calendar by King Vikramaditya in 57 BC after he liberated Ujjain from foreign rulers. This day is also considered auspicious, as it is believed Brahma started creating the universe on this day. Dr Saronwala said ‘navratra pooja’ also starts on this day.

Mohali, April 4
On a thanksgiving spree after lifting the ICC World Cup, spinner Harbhajan Singh paid obeisance at Singh Shaheedan Gurdwara, Sohana, amid a sea of fans and curious onlookers here this afternoon. The star had to jostle his way through the fans to enter the gurdwara premises.

Much to the disappointment of the fans, cricketer Yuvraj Singh did not accompany Harbhajan to the gurdwara.

On way to Sohana, Harbhajan stopped for a brief while at the Sector 70 residence of his family friend. As the news about the spinner visiting Sohana gurdwara spread, hundreds of fans descended on the scene from nowhere. A number of outdoor broadcasting (OB) vans of television news channels were also stationed outside the gurdwara to give a live footage of his thanksgiving visit. In the absence of adequate police presence, the spinner had to make a hasty retreat after paying his obeisance.

Apparently troubled by the presence of large number of fans, the spinner did not interact with the mediapersons, waiting for him at the gurdwara. Gurmeet Singh of Singh Shaheedan Gurdwara said the spinner had promised to bring the entire team to pay obeisance at the gurdwara. “Had the spinner informed us in advance, we would have made adequate arrangements,” he added.

Later the spinner, on way to Jalandhar, left for Hansali Dera, around 10 km from Sirhind. He reportedly spent around two hours with Baba Ajit Singh at Hansali dera.