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Badal storms brother’s den |
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My party has no place for wornout leaders, says Manpreet
Khalsa College Imbroglio
Justice on wheels for the poor
After 26 years, man arrested for spate of robberies
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Badal storms brother’s den
Abohar, April 22 Taking a dig at the leaders of the People's Party of Punjab, floated by his nephew Manpreet Badal, former Finance Minister and son of Gurdas Badal, the Chief Minister said it was a group of such people who "deserted their mother parties". Such leaders, said he, always failed to win the confidence of the people. Earlier scheduled to hold sangat darshan till the evening and then fly back to Chandigarh, the Chief Minister cancelled his programme and decided to listen to the grievances of every panchayat till late night. Accompanied by Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh, Badal first met the residents at the house of Sanjeev Godara, Director of Punjab Mandi Board and SAD political advisor, at Seeto Guno village in the morning. Later, he held three sangat darshan programs in Balluana and Abohar Assembly segments. Distributing grants worth Rs 6.5 crore among the panchayats for carrying out developmental works, Badal claimed the revenue earnings of Punjab had increased and, therefore, funds would not be a problem for initiating welfare projects. Badal also directed the deputy commissioners of various districts falling in the cotton belt of Punjab to ensure that BT cotton seed was easily available to all growers. Stern action, said he, should be taken against those found negligent of any wrongdoing in the distribution (of BT cotton seed). He also directed the senior functionaries of the Agriculture Department to extensively tour the cotton belt to oversee the distribution of BT cotton seeds. About wheat procurement, he said the process would remain hassle-free and if farmers faced any problem on account of delay being caused by any procurement agency, the deputy commissioner concerned would take necessary steps to set things right. Regarding SGPC elections, Badal alleged that the Union government was deliberately delaying the process. "This is clear cut interference in the religious matters of Sikhs by the Centre," he said. Will Abohar and Fazilka be elevated to district level? Badal said a committee comprising Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia had been set up in this connection. "The state government would consider the report of this committee over the creation of new districts whenever it (report) was submitted."
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Badal meets Cong MLA Abohar, April 22 Instead of calling Jakhar and his associates into the hall, he reached to them and listened to them patiently. Jakhar praised Badal’ s goodwill gesture. He said he had raised the issue of overflowing of sewerage system in the city. It was also brought to the notice of the CM that in the absence of sewerage treatment plant, 700 acres of land, where the sewage accumulated, had become unfit for cultivation. Jakhar also apprised the Chief Minister about erecting of a wall in the Malukpura distributary by the Irrigation Department. Jakhar said Badal directed DC KK Yadav to look into the matter. He also assured of action regarding the wall in Malukpura distributary. He also said that the law would take its course in case of the murderous attack made on a local journalist Subash Gupta by goons and the murder of a leading hotelier in Jalandhar.
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My party has no place for wornout leaders, says Manpreet
Jalandhar, April 22 However, he said, the PPP was keen on building its own leaders who had a clean image and were willing to make sacrifices for the state and nation. “We will not provide space to the condemned and worn-out leaders”, he said. He was addressing party members at the local local Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall yesterday. He said the state government was denying him information under the RTI on the expenses incurred on the security and transportation of the Chief Minister, the Deputy CM and some other VVIPs. On Bir Devinder Singh, he said he had no differences with him, except on the age for retirement from active politics. Following Bir Devinder Singh’s suggestion the retirement age had been raised to 70, he said. “ I hope he will now join hands with the PPP,” he added. Refusing to talk about his ties with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, he said: “My focus is on issues related to the state and not me ties with some personalities.” On the reforms he espoused, Manpreet Singh said no policeman would have to be on duty beyond eight hours. There would be a roaster system for the SHOs and they would be moved from one police station to another. Monopolising posts would not be allowed. “Qualified youth would be empowered to register deeds with regard to landed properties. People would be free to get the deed registered from any person on the land rates fixed by the Deputy Commissioners concerned,” he said. The monopoly of tehsildars in this regard would have to be done away, he said. Earlier, Manpreet Singh inaugurated his party office near the local bus stand.
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Akali Dal MLA Jagbir Brar quits
Jalandhar, April 22 “I have decided to go along with Manpreet Singh Badal, who has launched a relentless campaign to throw out the corrupt and to fight against communalism, poverty, drug menace and other social evils. I will soon join the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP),” he said. Thanking the people of the Jalandhar Cantonment assembly constituency for electing him MLA, Brar alleged that the disciplinary committee had been created for a day only to remove Manpreet Singh Badal from the SAD. “The disciplinary committee, working at the behest of Sukhbir Singh Badal, acted in an unprecedented haste to expel Manpreet from the SAD”, he alleged. “Certain top shots in the SAD had planned the political demise of Manpreet Singh. But their plans were nullified by the people of Punjab, who have endorsed Manpreet’s agenda for development,” he said. He said that the acceptance of Manpreet’s resignation was delayed for a few weeks because the SAD did not want to face a byelection in
Gidderbaha.
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Makkar, his accomplices surrender in court
Jalandhar, April 22 The four were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. After being on the run for more than 24 hours, the suspects, all from high-profile families, were forced to surrender following political pressure. Amanpreet Singh Narula, alias Prince Narula, and Jasdeep Singh, alias Jassu, son of the owner of Regent Park surrendered in the forenoon while Prince Makkar and Amardeep Singh Sachdeva, an advocate, surrendered in the evening. In a joint application to the court, their counsel VK Sareen claimed that they had been falsely implicated in the case. Since a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and the Arms Act had been registered against them at police station Division No. 6, they had surrendered before the court. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajpal Singh Sandhu said the police would seek their custody to investigate the murder. The weapons used in the crime were yet to be recovered, he said. Meanwhile, the post-mortem of the deceased at the local Civil Hospital was videographed by the police. A bullet piece recovered from the body was sent to a forensic lab. People from all walks of life, including political leaders, attended Sekhon’s cremation this afternoon.
Correction: Jasdeep Singh Jassu is the son of the owner of hotel Regent Park and not Ranbir Classic as mentioned in these columns on Thursday. The error is regretted.
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Rajpura youth murdered in Australia
Rajpura, April 22 He was working in a tomato farm. His relatives in Australia informed his family at Rajpura that an unidentified man summoned Lakhwinder outside his residence and slit his throat. Though the police is said to have arrested the accused, the crime motive is still unclear. “We have been told to wait for a day to get all the details,” said a sobbing Kulwinder Singh, brother of the deceased. He said he had moved from Brisbane to Melbourne just two months ago. Lakhwinder was married to Beant Kaur of Balari Kalan village in Rajpura. Beant Kaur had gone to Australia on a student visa and Lakhwinder accompanied her after their marriage. Beant Kaur had returned to Rajpura just 15 days ago. She is in a state of shock. “ She would keep talking to her husband on her cell phone,” said a relative.
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Finally, Punjab to have equine breed of its own
Chandigarh, April 22 And the launch pad is going to be an endurance meet, the second one besides the annual event at Jodhpur, which is aimed at showcasing the Punjabi horse as well as drawing international tourists to Punjab. The endurance event in Patiala on April 24 is a run over two laps of 15 km each over natural trails. Sumrinder Sira, a horse breeder and member of the newly formed Horse Sports and Breeders Society, told TNS that indigenous horse breeders in Punjab wanted to win recognition for the breed. He claimed that the indigenous horses were as good and perhaps even better than the two recognised Indian breeds of Marwari and Kathiawar horses. Sira claimed that the strength of the Punjabi horse lay in the dynamics of the region, which has witnessed continuous strife. This had resulted in inter-mixing of the indigenous horses with the best warhorses. “For this reason, the horses in this region are not only the tallest in India, but are also strong-boned and known for their endurance qualities”. Sira said indigenous horses in the state with these qualities would be grouped under a single category and given a befitting name to give due recognition to them. As far as the bringing in tourism was concerned, horse breeders were banking on the Rajasthan formula to introduce equine tourism in the state. There was a plan to hold an endurance event in October every year after the Pushkar fair to attract horse lovers to Patiala. “We hope to create a hub for cultural tourism centered around horses,” said society member international equestrian judge Col (retd) Sarpartap Singh. Breeders feel sports horses have a good future with awareness on equestrian sports rising. There is also more money in indigenous breeds due to the Internet, which ensures quick sales even though big players continue to rear thoroughbreds. “Identification of superior bloodlines for equestrian sports will help develop a superior Punjabi breed,” according to breeder Kamalbir Dhindsa, who says indigenous breeds can be reared at small stud farms and are less susceptible to diseases. Meanwhile, the endurance event is expected to be a colourful one with Nihangs having entered six horses for the contest. Horse lovers are sure to get a kick out of this one.
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Gang war outside court complex, two injured
Bathinda, April 22 Prince, an alleged gangster who is facing several criminal cases and was released on bail on Thursday from the Bathinda Central Jail, reached the courts at about 12.35 pm to appear in some criminal case, it is learnt. There, he reportedly met his accomplices Vikas Kaushal, Rohit alias Illu, Deepak alias Machhar and Happy. Soon, the members of the rival Gurjeet Bhaati group reached there. Seeing them, Prince entered the court complex. Finding him slipping out of their range, Bhaati group members opened fire and a bullet hit Vikas on his shoulder. He fell on the ground. Then, Bhaati group members assaulted Rohit with some sharp-edged weapon, inflicting a deep cut on his head. A number of policemen from the district courts rushed to the spot, but by then the Bhaati group members boarded their vehicle and fled. As they were fleeing, they shot another bullet at Vikas, which hit him on the face. Finding the two lying in a pool of blood, their friends and some onlookers rushed them to the Civil Hospital. Police officials, including SP (City) HS Ghai and ASP (City) Bikramjit Singh Bhatti, also visited the court complex later. Besides recording the statements of eyewitnesses, they examined the video footage captured in the CCTV camera installed at the entrance of the complex. The Civil Lines police has registered a case against Gurjeet Bhaati, Manoj, Geeta, Jeeta and Kukkar under Section 307, 324, 148 of the IPC and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act. The police said efforts were on to nab the accused. Meanwhile, doctors at the Civil Hospital said the injured were out of danger.
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Grain movement hit by strike
Ropar, April 22 Today’s strike was the first observed in state in the series of such chain protests to be held all over Punjab in days to come. Opposing the orders, the transporters today did not lift wheat from grain markets across the district Ropar adding to the woes of farmers who had come to sell their produce. Talking to TNS President All-India Motor Transport Congress Charan Singh Lohara said the transporters were against the government’s arbitrary orders under which no truck would be given registration number unless these are equipped with speed governors. “The government issued these orders without considering the technical hitch in the entire procedure. A lobby of state officers has connived with manufacturers of speed governors and the decision is being forcefully implemented on us without giving second thought to the technical ramifications of same,” Lohara said. He said as per the service book of manufacturers of trucks, installation of any additional device in vehicle would mean withdrawal of the warranty period. Transporters reasoned that before issuing the notification at the state-level, the Central Government should direct the truck manufacturers to install the device in the vehicle itself. The notification issue on the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court is applicable only on the trucks bearing registration numbers of Punjab and Haryana. “Taking advantage of this situation, the trucks from Delhi, Himachal and other states are minting money in Punjab and at the same time have caused great losses to state exchequer,” he said. Lohara claimed that transporters have repeatedly sought an audience from the Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on the issue, but have failed to evoke a desired response. The transporters have already met Central Minister for Transport CP Joshi and apprised him of the issue. “The Motor Vehicle Act is applicable throughout the country and so should be orders of installation of speed governors. As per the latest review meeting of transport commissioners of various states convened at Delhi, the new speed limit for heavy vehicles has been extended from 65 kms to 80 kms. Present speed governor equipments available in market are in built with instructions of 65 kms, if the government notifies new speed limit, we will end up buying more equipments from market, which is unfair,” Lohara said.
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Khalsa College Imbroglio
Amritsar, April 22 Teachers in universities, government and non-government colleges staged a protest, seeking an end to the “victimisation” of the Khalsa College teachers by the college management. Addressing a rally in front of the administrative block of GNDU, Prof HS Walia warned: “If the college management does not withdraw its orders taken on frivolous grounds, the evaluation process will be suspended across the state from April 27." Meanwhile, the college continued to admit fresh students for the coming session on the old pattern without any hitch.
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Desi scarves for guests at UK’s royal wedding
Ludhiana, April 22 Centex Exports, an exporter of luxury stoles, has made about 4,000 scarves to be gifted to the guests attending the royal wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29. The scarves have been sourced by Boden, an online fashion firm. “The royal family has decided to give these scarves as a souvenir to the top dignitaries. Since they do not purchase directly, they asked Boden to source good scarf manufacturers and our company was chosen,” said Vineet Sood, Managing Director of Centex Exports. The scarves are made of superfine wool and each costs £45 pounds. “It is a singular honour to be asked to create such an important keepsake for a wedding which will be historic. This is a mark of Indian excellence and innovation.”
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Justice on wheels for the poor
The Legal Aid
Clinic to...
Patiala, April 22 Chief Justice Punjab and Haryana High Court Ranjan Gogoi said under the project, the clinic would provide free legal consultancy services to the litigants, residing in the villages and would create awareness pertaining to legal aid. “Villagers are not only unaware but also ill-equipped to fight for their rights and are deprived of justice,” Gogoi said. Notably, Legal Aid Clinics is a state-level project, aimed at providing legal consultation to those, who are unaware of filing litigation. Lawyers from many districts have pledged support for this generous cause. Gogoi was the chief guest at the annual day function of the university where he distributed prizes to 282 students. He also unveiled the first edition of the Law Review, prepared by the university. Gogoi said the institution of law, including courts and lawyers, play a very important role in the betterment of the society. “Further the new service will help provide justice to all and spread awareness regarding the legal system,” he added. Students of the university presented a play on various social evils. Others present at the function included Justice MM Kumar and Rajiv Bhalla and Principal Secretary Higher Education AR Talwar.
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After 26 years, man arrested for spate of robberies
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 22 Satta is facing more than 24 crime charges in various police stations of Punjab and Haryana since 1984. Station House Officer (SHO) Mandi Gobindgarh Bikramjit Singh Brar said the accused used to rob at gunpoint and target employees of the businessmen, who would be carrying money. Traders of Mandi Gobindgarh always transact in cash and avoid giving cheques and ECS (electronic transfers) to evade taxes. Employees carrying cash on two wheelers, hence become an easy target for robbers. Cops said Satta’s son was absconding and would be arrested in next few days. A luxury car, Skoda with red beacon atop, a 315 bore pistol with four live cartridges, motorbike, used to rob people, and Rs one lakh has been recovered from the possession of accused. Police officials said Karanpreet was married in a nearby village Talwara and used to sit around roadside tea stalls to keep a tab on activities of businessmen. SSP Fatehgarh Sahib Ranbir Khattra said they robbed Rs 2 lakh from a local resident, Raj Kumar, on November 20, 2009, and shot him. They again robbed Rs 6 lakh from Bhupinder Kumar on July 22 2010. Police got a tip off about the robbers on April 12 and cops laid a naka to arrest them but they managed to flee after firing gunshots on police party in Mandi Gobindgarh. Many cases registered against Satta are pending.
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Abohar, April 22
