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Chawla sends warning note
Don’t air dissent, Charak warns MLAs
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Amarinder: Indiscipline won’t be tolerated
Chandigarh, May 15 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today warned party members against raking up of party issues in public and the media. He said, during the past few days, certain partymen had rushed to the media on issues concerning the party, which was breach of discipline. Capt Amarinder said warned that strong disciplinary action would be initiated against those indulging in indiscipline.
Roll back petrol price hike: SAD
Sidhu not loath to heading party
Rs 5 crore for Harike wetland soon
‘Reveal 27 names on blacklist ’
Farmers sowing controversial PAU 201 paddy variety warned
Punjab Govt in fix over land to Radhasoamis
Help centres at railway stations in Punjab soon'
Six Thapar students win DRDO contest
Step up generation to check water spillage: Engineers
Work on memorial project from June 15
Phototherapy unit opens at Rajindra Hospital
NIS head to visit China
Martyrs’ kin await promised land
12 lakh youngsters not listed as voters: CEO Kusumjit
Moga MLA acquitted in attempt to murder case
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Chawla sends warning note
Chandigarh, May 15 Laxmi Kanta seemed in a good mood in the morning at the swearing-in ceremony, which she attended with her sister Mala and her niece. She gave the impression that the Health portfolio was hers, saying she would have to work for a few more hours past midnight to do justice to her job. Dispelling speculation that she would be divested of her ministerial berth, she said the fact that she had been sworn in again proved that the party had faith in her. But the newly sworn in minister’s demeanour changed within minutes at the Raj Bhawan itself. When asked whether her portfolio had been changed, she said she had received reports to this effect. She spoke her mind to senior leader Balramji Dass Tandon who congratulated her on her re-elevation. “I will accept congratulations only if you are able to get me the Health portfolio”, she remarked. On a more strident note, she added: “I have taken part in the swearing in but will take over my new assignment only if allocated the Health portfolio”. She said she would take up the issue with the high command. The minister claimed that in her more than four years in office she had led a crusade against adulteration and those selling drugs. She said the health services in the state had been streamlined and doctors persuaded to work to the optimum level. “Now when everything has been done, I do not want someone else to reap the reward”, she added. Chawla was later conspicuous by her absence at the press conference by BJP general secretary Shanta Kumar at the party office which was attended by all the other four ministers.
Khaira dares Badal on graft
Congress MLA from Bholath, Sukhpal S Khaira, has dared the SAD-BJP government to come out clear on corruption. "It is time that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal cleared his stand on the issue of corruption and dismiss tainted Akali Ministers from the Cabinet as done by the alliance partner BJP," Sukhpal S Khaira said.
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Don’t air dissent, Charak warns MLAs
Chandigarh, May 15 Also, Charak said that the rumbling within the party over the list allegedly appeared to be a handiwork of the BJP and the SAD. “It is a clear attempt to sabotage the chances of the Congress to return to power by BJP and Akali Dal leaders who feel intimidated.” A member of the Congress Working Committee too, he clarified that the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Captain Amarinder Singh, had brought certain lapses on the list to his notice, which would be taken up with party president Sonia Gandhi. In an exclusive interview to The Tribune, Charak said in case any MLA was unhappy with the list, he should take up the matter either with him or Amarinder Singh. But going to the media to speak against the party’s decision, said he, would invite “severe reprimand”. “I have asked for clippings of news reports and the names of the legislators indulging in anti-party activities. These will be sent to Delhi and an appropriate action will be initiated against them. Charak said he had summoned all record because the party would not tolerate any move to sabotage the party’s poll prospects. He said he had briefed the party high command and would forward all such reports, record and recommendation from the PCC president for action. He also refuted allegations that important Congress legislators had been replaced by unknown people for reasons other than merit. About reports that certain legislators would approach the party high command to get the list amended, he said: “I am a hard nut to crack, a difficult person who does not allow arm-twisting, so all these attempts to browbeat me will not work.” Notably, besides some past district presidents, the PCC list has left out youth Congress leaders who “worked hard” to rebuild the party post-terrorism.
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Amarinder: Indiscipline won’t be tolerated
Chandigarh, May 15 “If anyone has a grievance, he is at liberty to take up the matter with me, Gulchain Singh Charak or the Congress president ”, he said, pointing out that he had written to the party president, Sonia Gandhi, on accommodating more deserving persons in the PCC.
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Roll back petrol price hike: SAD
Chandigarh, May 15 In a statement issued here today, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said with NYMEX Crude falling from $98 during last 10 days, the Centre has no justification in crushing the people by the highest ever petrol price hike. He said during the last 11 months, crude has risen only 4 per cent ($90 to $98) and the Congress-led UPA Government has affected 27 per cent rise in the petrol price from Rs 51 to Rs 65 per litre, confirming the fear that by avoiding transparent price fixation formula, this government was playing in the hands of multinational oil companies. He said the UPA Government for the last four months deferred the hike to garner votes in West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry and Assam elections.
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Sidhu not loath to heading party
He said it was for the party high command to decide whether his services were to be utilised at the national or the state level. Sidhu has campaigned for the BJP in various states. He has an appeal, especially among the youth, across the country. A forceful speaker, he is fluent in English, Hindi and Punjabi. Party insiders said the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had heavyweights as presidents in the state. The Congress had Capt Amarinder Singh and the SAD Sukhbir Badal. Compared to them, BJP president Ashwani Sharma was a little known person. He had little mass appeal. “By elevating Sidhu to the office of state president, the party will have a leader who is known across the state and is a good orator”, said a party leader. “Moreover, Sidhu is a Jat Sikh. If the BJP is to increase its base in the state, it will have to bring forward Jat Sikh leaders to the forefront ”, said the BJP leader. Meanwhile, the BJP high command, sources said, is all set for revamping the party in the state before the assembly elections to be held in nine months from now. The BJP president, Nitin Gadkari, has reportedly initiated discussions in this regard with senior leaders of the party at Delhi. It is reported that Gadkari is keen in bringing forward those who have a clean image. “Public perception about political leaders has become an important factor in politics. People are rejecting politicians who do not have a clean image. There is a need to bring leaders with a clean image to the fore”, said a senior leader. With the BJP high command in the thick of a battle against the Congress at the Centre on the issue of corruption, it cannot compromise on the issue at the state level.
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BJP workers confused, demoralised
Chandigarh, May 15 Party state incharge Shanta Kumar said the removal of Manoranjan Kalia, Swarna Ram besides and Master Mohan Lal as ministers had nothing to do with the CBI investigation. “The reshuffle was in the offing since long and a wrong impression is been given by linking it with the bribery scandal, “he said. However, he contradicted himself while talking to mediapersons, claiming that the decision was on account of the party principals. Observers said the ouster of Kalia and Swarna Ram was a direct fallout of the CBI investigations into the bribery scandal. Hence, the high command’s explanation that the expansion was “overdue and planned” was not going down well with the workers.
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Rs 5 crore for Harike wetland soon
Amritsar, May 15 Under the project, the department is to develop eco sites at various places, create infrastructure, including construction of kutcha lanes, watch towers, information centres, tourist huts and tourist windows, introduce battery-operated vehicles and city rickshaws for tourists and make arrangements for boating.
“The department is likely to receive maney for the project from the Department of Tourism soon,” said Sanjiv Tiwari, Divisional Forest Officer, Feorzepur division. The project is to be funded by the Asian Development Bank. The main aim of the project is to ensure “ecologically responsbile tourism” which would help generate livelihood opportunitites to the local people besides promoting conservation awareness among the visitors and locals. “Our foremost priority will be to spread awearness among the locals about the importance and conservation of the internationally renowned wil life santuary spread over an area of 86 sq km in Tarn Taran, Kapurthala and Ferozepur districts,” said Tiwari. “We have approached various schools and educational insitutions for setting up eco clubs,” he added. Under the project, local educated jobless youths would be trained as guides or interpreters and registered with the Forest Department. “A team from Karnataka that visited the Harike wetland recently selected some youths from the area to be trained as guides. They will also be trained in identifying birds. This is an important effort to involve the community in tourism initiative,” he said. The area around Nanaksar Gurdwara from the north-end upwards the confluence of the Satluj and Beas has been identified as tourism zone. Based on its rich biodiversity, the Harike wetland was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990 (popularly known as Ramsar site). This wetland is on the list of 21-priority wetlands selected for intensive conservation and management.
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‘Reveal 27 names on blacklist ’
Jalandhar, May 15 Also, the Damdami Taksal has attributed the deletion of over 100 names from the blacklist to the Shiromani Akali Dal, particularly Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister-son Sukhbir Singh Badal. “We had been raising the issue with the Punjab Government for a long time. Following our efforts, the Home Department had recommended the case to the Centre,” said Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa. Khalsa said that there were a number of Sikh NRIs whose names were not figuring on the blacklist and still they were not being granted Indian visas as their names had been included in the ‘look out criminals’ list. “The Centre should reveal the names of 27 Sikh NRIs on the list and also it needs to clear the air on the crimes committed by them.”
Not on blacklist, still denied entry
Bhupinder Singh Holland, a well-known author and Holland-based NRI, has urged the Government of India to explain the refusal of visa to him post-2008 despite his name not figuring on the blacklist. He was even honoured by the SGPC for his role in perpetuating the memory of Sikh soldiers through his writings. “I am not facing any criminal case and my name has not figured on the blacklist too. I don’t understand why I am being victimised?” questioned Bhupinder Singh while speaking over the phone from Holland.
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Chief Minister’s wife in ICU
Chandigarh, May 15 Resting in the private ward of the VIPs, on the second floor, she became uncomfortable in breathing following which doctors referred her to the ICU. Sukhbir Badal, her son and Deputy CM, visited her in the hospital while the senior Badal was with her in the ward.
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Farmers sowing controversial PAU 201 paddy variety warned
Jalandhar, May 15
Though specifications were relaxed, but the Centre had accepted only a part of the rice prepared from it. About 4 lakh tonnes of rice prepared from it is still lying with the rice millers. “We want to make it clear that if any of the farmers is sowing the nursery of this variety, he is doing so on his own risk,” said Grewal. “Obviously, the issue will also be taken up with the government authorities concerned to ask the Agriculture Department to persuade farmers not to transplant 201 variety of paddy,” he added. Sources said the next crop of paddy would mature in October and November, a few weeks before the announcement for the Assembly elections in the state. Many farmers have the view that because of its electoral compulsions, the SAD-BJP Government would have to procure all the paddy brought to the various grain markets. “Keeping in view this factor, farmers may have sown the nursery of this variety at some places,” said an official of the department.
Agri Dept: Don’t transplant paddy before June 10
Moga, May 15 Scientists are of the view that the delay in transplanting paddy from June 10 onwards would help save 7 per cent in annual groundwater draft. According to a study, the groundwater table during the past five years has depleted by 48 cm annually. Rice is one of the most water-intensive crops in the state.
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Punjab Govt in fix over land to Radhasoamis
Mohali, May 15 Citing the special waiver, the managements of other religious outfits too are asking for a similar favour, reason being the land in possession of the management of Amb Sahib Gurdwara, Phase 8 here. Hardeep Singh, an SGPC member, said going by the revenue record of the gurdwara, the total land allotted to the gurdwara in Phases 8, 9 and 10 stood at 13.97 acres. He said a letter written by the Secretary Housing to the erstwhile PUDA shows that 7.26 acres of land had been transferred to Phase 8 in 1985. The management already had around 7 acres in its name in the revenue at the existing site of the gurdwara, but without it permission had occupied the remaining land out of a total of 14 acres. The member further alleged that another 23 acres of land in Manauli village and 6 kanal of donated land in Sectors 80 and 104 was being sold by the SGPC against the rules. Estate Officer of GMADA Balbir Singh said certain people were trying to confuse the situation. No land was being forcibly taken away from the gurdwara management. “After a series of meeting between SGPC appointees and GMADA officials, it had been decided that the land in the name of the gurdwara in the revenue record of Phase 8, 9 and 10 would not be taken away, provided the revenue records was produced by the management,” he added. Sources said GMADA was keen on integrating the gurdwara with the master plan of Sector 62 as conceived by Jurong. For that, total land in the name of the gurdwara would not be taken and rather it would be re-aligned at the existing place.
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Help centres at railway stations in Punjab soon'
Patiala, May 15 These were some of the important points that came up for discussion by Inspector General, Government Railway Police (GRP), Rohit Choudhary during an inspection of the Patiala Railway Station, with other officers. Choudhary met commuters and heard their problems, especially the ones related to the railway police. Choudhary directed the officers of the GRP to pull up their socks and ensure that no complainant faces harassment in the registration of an FIR at any of the GRP station. “Registering an FIR on the basis of a complaint is the duty of the officer concerned and all officers posted at the railway police stations should ensure that this is dealt at priority,” he added. Sources said following a meeting here yesterday a proposal had been drafted for installing CCTV cameras at all railway stations of the state. “The railway police will also get their own website for the effective working of the police wing at all railway police stations and it will have phone numbers of all officers posted there,” they said. The officers were also briefed to improve interaction with the local district police and the officers of the Railway Protection Force. Senior officers laid stress on the issue of better coordination between these three wings to improve law and order situation and also deal with mob-related troubles. Meanwhile, DSP (GRP), additional charge, Manjit Singh Brar said such inspections would be carried out at all railway stations of Punjab to improve police-public interaction. “This will also help in listening and solving the general problems faced by the commuters,” he added.
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Six Thapar students win DRDO contest
Patiala, May 15 The team of six students — Ashish Tanwer, Muzahid Hussain, Himanshu, Keshav Sodhi, Anubhav Mangal, Rohan Shukla and Punyata Gayatri — won the “Military Racing Challenge - autonomous ground vehicle for low intensity conflict” competition organised by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in Chennai. Out of 240 teams participating in the competition, 14 teams were shortlisted for the second round. Dr Abhijit Mukherjee, director, Thapar University, said, “I congratulate the winning team for their achievement. We believe in encouraging our students to think laterally and develop varied interests. I wish them all the best for this programme and believe it will be a wonderful experience for them,” he added.
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Step up generation to check water spillage: Engineers
Nangal, May 15 With the increased melting of snow from glaciers as well as rainfall in the Bhakra catchmemt area, the Sutlej river has already swollen. Water level in the Bhakra Dam was 1,570 feet today, while on the corresponding day last year it was 1,517.5 feet. At present, 8,500 cusecs of water is being released into the Sutlej from the Nangal Dam, while this figure is usually 3,000 to 3,500 cusecs in May. Rainfall in the Bhakra catchment areas was recorded 902 mm in 2009-10 whereas in 2010-11 (till March 11) it had reached 1,058 mm. The villages situated along the Sutlej, such as Bela, Mataur, Burj and nearby ones, have already embarked on their fight against the water, which usually starts in July-August. At Burj, villagers are risking their lives using an incomplete bridge to reach the other side of the river. Work on the bridge cannot be completed due to the increased Sutlej waters as well as the paucity of funds. “With the prevailing higher reservoir level at Bhakra there is a need to step up generation so as to minimise the risk of spillage in August-September. The 2011 monsoon forecast predicts 98 per cent average monsoon. In the case of mean inflows, water level in the dam will reach 1,680 feet (danger mark) by August 20 with spillage thereafter. In the case of dependable inflows, level of 1,681 feet will be reached on August 31 with spillage later,” said engineer Padamjit Singh, president of the All-India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF). The power-generating units numbers 2 and 5 are shut down for renovation. “Due to these outages, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) will be handicapped in maximising releases through powerhouses due to which the spillage risk can increase,” he added. Chairman of the BBMB AB Aggarwal was not available for comments. Meanwhile, Ropar Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said the district was prepared to deal with any kind of urgency. “Flood embankments have been taken care of. We have already got Rs 90 lakh grant for major embankment strengthening project, while funds for other seven projects will be released soon under NABARD,” he added.
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Work on memorial project from June 15
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 15 He said the memorial would be completed in a phased manner and tenders worth Rs 7 crore had been called to complete the construction of the first phase. Makkar reached Fatehgarh Sahib to participate in programmes organised during Sirhind Fateh Diwas. The first phase would be accomplished within one-and-a-half years after which the second phase would begin. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of the memorial on the tercentenary of the Sirhind Fateh Diwas last year. The memorial would come up on the SGPC land adjoining Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.
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Phototherapy unit opens at Rajindra Hospital
Patiala, May 15 Officials said the phototherapy unit would be further extended with 25 more units and the nursery would have close-circuit cameras. This would help parents keep a watch on their infants from outside the unit. Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the unit, Surjit Singh Rakhra, chairman of the district planning committee, said another grant of Rs 20.45 crore had been released for the hospital. “A 25-bed high dependence ward in the emergency unit of the hospital is also being built which will be fully air-conditioned,” he added.
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NIS head to visit China
Patiala, May 15 The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports h`as arranged this visit in order to explore the possibilities of collaboration with these organisations. He will be accompanied by Dr G Kishore, Director, SAI South Centre, Bangalore. Ranawat will have discussions with officials of these institutions and explore the possibilities of exchange of experts for eaching assignments. — TNS
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Martyrs’ kin await promised land
Chandigarh, May 15 Addressing a press conference, Ravinder Singh Bassi, president of the body, said that the Centre and state government had announced a compensation of 10 acres of agricultural land to relatives of those who lost their lives or were disabled in the wars of 1965 and 1971. There are 116 such cases pending with concerned authorities.” He said, “In 2010, the state of Punjab came up with a notification that in lieu of agricultural land, such persons be given Rs 1 lakh per acre. The notification is a slap on the face of the martyrs.” The forum said that “on winning the World Cup, cricketers are given crores of rupees. In the same country, dependents of soldiers, who lost their lives for the country in the 1965 and 1971 wars, are being made to run from pillar to post.” Cricketers have been requested to adopt one such family and honour the widows of the heroes who laid down their lives for the country.
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12 lakh youngsters not listed as voters: CEO Kusumjit
Ropar, May 15 She said youngsters were not attracted towards exercising their right to vote and consequent electing of the government. "There are 80,000 students in ITI and polytechnic colleges of the state, who have not enrolled themselves as voters. We should rope in principals of these institutes to encourage students," she said. She asked the officers to roll their sleeves for the elections of Punjab scheduled in February 2012. The states of Uttarakhand and Manipur too would go to the polls under the same schedule. Passing instructions on making the votes of migrants, she said the native district of migrant should also be informed about his or her vote in order to avoid duplication. The Election Commission has decided to mention contact number of each voter against his or her name in the voters' list. She directed that those who had not got their EPIC cards could register themselves from June 1 onwards and the work would be completed by June 30. It was directed that district-level and sub-division call centres be opened in offices of tehsildars to deal expeditiously with issues of voter I-cards. Ropar DC GK Singh said 99.29 per cent of voters had been issued EPIC cards. Also a call centre (number 01001-221469) had been set up to deal with issues of voter I-cards.
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Moga MLA acquitted in attempt to murder case
Moga, May 15 An FIR was registered against them under Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act and Sections 307, 148 and 149 of the IPC on May 26, 2008. Guriqbal Singh had stated in his complaint that his brother Hargopal Singh, who was contesting the panchayat elections. was attacked by Jain his associate Harnek Singh and a few others. He had alleged that they had opened fire on his brother and Jain had tried to crush him under the wheels of a car. Jain had moved an application before the court of the then Additional Sessions Judge BS Sandhu, who granted him interim relief by staying his arrest as elections were on at that time. Additional Sessions Judge Sukhwinder Kaur has acquitted the accused as the prosecution failed to produce the complainant and his brother, to testify in the case as the duo have been declared POs in another case.
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Amritsar, May 15
More than 20 lakh people in the state have not yet got their names enrolled in the voters' list and 12 lakh of these are youngsters, said Kusumjit Kaur
Sidhu, the chief election officer (CEO), Punjab, presiding over a meeting of deputy commissioners-cum-district electoral officers of
Ropar, Nawanshahr and Mohali.
Jalandhar, May 15
Though this is a high yielding variety and farmers prefer to transplant it, but the Centre does not accept the rice prepared from it for the Central pool. In fact, this variety was sown two years ago in a large area. The rice prepared from it had created a big headache for the Punjab Government, which had to hold several meetings with the Centre, to get some specifications relaxed in case of this variety.