Patiala, May 16
A research scholar at Thapar University has alleged that her guide was unnecessarily harassing her and when she refused to do her (guide’s) personal work, her guide denied helping her in the research work. Meanwhile, the guide has denied all allegations.

Poonam Garg said she was a regular PhD student in the department of biotechnology and environmental sciences. “I got registered in August 2009 under the guidance of Dr NT Prakash and Dr M Chibber and worked under their guidance till January 2010. Due to some misunderstanding between the two guides I started my work in September 2010 with other guides Dr M Anand and Dr S Saxena. Dr Anand encouraged me initially because I often did her personal work, but when I showed resistance, the matter became worse.”

“Once I stayed at her home for two days for taking care of her dog as she had gone out of station. Now she has started insisting me to stay at her home alone for 2-3 days in her absence, but when my parents objected to my stays, she started blackmailing me that if I did not come then she will not guide my work and throw me out from the university and that is what she exactly did,” she alleged.

“The last date of my proposal submission was April 11, 2011, but my guides refused to submit my proposal and told me that they are not interested to guide my PhD work further. I have written complaints to all the officials, but to no avail,” she added.

Dr Anand refuted all the allegations stating that the girl was creating unnecessary fuss. “She is incompetent and does not do any work. That is the reason her previous guides refused to work with her. Now, we have also discontinued to work with her as she has not even submitted her research proposal. Moreover, she has a political backing and is threatening me that in case I refuse to guide her work, I shall have to bear the consequences,” she alleged.

Her other guide Dr Saxena said she had not yet started working with her.

Director of Thapar University Abhijit Mukherjee said the matter had been brought to his notice and she had been relieved because her academic progress was not good. 

Suhag Heri (Fatehgarh Sahib), May 16
Villagers residing alongside the Bhakra Main Line (BML) canal and a Fatehgarh Sahib-based NGO have demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the repair of the channel.

Claiming that daily they come across fresh cracks and holes of cemented patches on the sides of the channel, the villagers of Suhag Heri, Chanarthal Kalan and Sidhwan and the general secretary of NGO Hindu Organisation, Manoj Banda, have written a letter written to the prime minister demanding a thorough probe into the alleged poor-quality repair.

Notably, the flow of water was stopped for 17 days for the repair, done after a gap of around 10 years at an estimated Rs 4.5 crore on the 159-km stretch.

Irrigation Department Executive Engineer BPS Brar, however, claimed that some miscreants had damaged the public property and that they had lodged a complaint in this regard. “Such incidents were reported in the past as well… Iron rods and hammers are used to damage the patchwork.”

Nangal, May 16
Three persons were caught hunting for varanus lizard (commonly known as goh) here today.

The lizard is a schedule 2 animal and attracts three to seven years imprisonment on being killed.

A volunteer of NGO Jagriti, Parbhat Bhatti, brought this illegal activity into the knowledge of wildlife officials. Bhatti said since long python, mongoose and varanus lizard were reportedly being hunted.

The police today raided near a local temple and arrested three persons with a varanus lizard and its baby. One of the accused managed to run away from the spot. Those arrested have been identified as Ramesh Lal, Pravesh Nath and Hardeep Singh.

Ropar district forest officer (wildlife) Balvir Singh said the lizards had been recovered from the accused. The lizards were commonly sold in markets wherein oil was extracted from the its fat and used for medicinal purposes. 

Chandigarh, May 16
Faced with the prospect of losing her new ministry, senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla has eaten a humble pie and taken over as Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister.

According to BJP sources, Chawla’s revolt yesterday after her portfolio was changed from Health to Social Security lasted only a few hours. The sources said she had to relent when her entreaties for being given back Health were outrightly rejected by the party high command.

Party general secretary incharge for Punjab Shanta Kumar is said to have told Chawla that she would be “used gainfully in the party organisation” in case she did not join the new ministry. Though the minister could not be contacted, her sister Mala told TNS that she had joined her new office yesterday evening. However, there is no official confirmation on this with the Public Relations Department also unaware of any such development. Officials maintained the minister would join duty tomorrow.

Mala, maintaining that her sister had joined duty, claimed she was in Amritsar today attending functions organised by party workers. “Party workers are celebrating her re-induction in the Cabinet,” she added. Sources said the Punjab BJP was adamant that Chawla not be allocated the Health portfolio. In fact, an exercise conducted earlier by the party had revealed widespread dissatisfaction in the party rank and file on the way Chawla had been managing the Health portfolio. The minister is said to have used her goodwill with the RSS to make a comeback into the ministry but it was not ready to take a stand on the portfolio allotted to her.

Party leaders had also briefed the high command on the feud between former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Jagdish Sahni and Chawla, which they claimed had harmed the party and was likely to escalate in case the latter was not divested of her portfolio.

Moreover, the state BJP wanted to go in for some “corrective” action as far as the Health Department was concerned. The party workers were extremely sore that the minister had not “accommodated” them on the issue of postings and transfers. 

Chandigarh, May 16
The failure of the BJP to come out with a clear statement on the changes effected in its ministerial team by dropping three MLAs is confusing and demoralising for its workers and may weaken the party further in Punjab.

Even as the BJP rank and file had started buying the theory that the former ministers, Manoranjan Kalia and Swarna Ram, had been dropped from the Cabinet because they had been named in an ongoing CBI investigation, the party has changed track and is claiming that the reshuffle was in the offing.

Party sources said BJP general secretary and Punjab in charge, Shanta Kumar, had bungled yesterday by stressing that the reshuffle in the BJP ministerial team had nothing to do with the CBI investigations into the graft allegations against former chief parliamentary secretary Raj Khurana. They revealed that even as he said this, he was forced to admit during the press conference that the party had been guided by its principles while taking the recent decisions.

The conflicting stands may also weaken the cause of leaders like Amritsar MP Navjot Sidhu and party general secretary Kamal Sharma, who had emphasised on removing all those tainted by the recent graft episode.

Meanwhile, sources said that it was true that the party had been conducting an exercise to effect changes in its team of ministers since the last few months.

They said those under threat of removal under this exercise included Master Mohan Lal and Swarna Ram and that there was a proposal for change in Laxmi Kanta’s portfolio. The sources said Kalia was never under threat in this exercise.

The confusion, therefore, gives strength to Kalia group’s contention that their leader had been allegedly victimised and that those who were inimical to him succeeded in getting him ousted from the Cabinet in league with the high command. They point out that the high command leaked the decision to oust Kalia even before Shanta Kumar reached Punjab to “consult” the state unit on the issue. 

Jalandhar, May 16
In his endeavour to prove his popularity among the masses to the national leadership even after being ousted from the state Cabinet, former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia returned to his constituency in a rally organised by his aides.

Kalia was brought home from Rama Mandi in an open vehicle amid slogans such as “Kaliaji tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain (Kaliaji march ahead, we are with you)”. He was accompanied by his relative Jimmy Kalia, councillor Ravi Mahendru, BJP circle president Jawahar Sood and media coordinator Rajat Mahendru, among others.

Kalia was removed as Industry Minister after his name came up in a Rs 1.5 crore land scam in Rajpura.

Once tipped as the state’s most powerful BJP leader and a claimant to the post of Deputy CM, among those who accompanied him today were a few councillors and party workers. Though hundreds of people participated the rally in taxis and cars bearing the ex-minister’s stickers, no city bigwig was seen at the rally.

None from the local BJP cadres, including the city Mayor, was seen at the rally. President of the district unit of BJP Subhash Chander Sood was also absent.

Kalia explained his absence thus: “Since it is not a BJP rally, only workers who wanted to meet me are here.”

The power balance within the local BJP is set to shift with KD Bhandari gaining more importance after his induction as CPS yesterday. Bhandari is considered a humble man. Kalia was seen a bit arrogant. Kalia today was a picture of humility as he greeted all with hands folded. He thanked the residents for the reception and called for their support. “I am innocent but I need to abide by the orders of the party high command”, he announced. 

Chandigarh, May 16
The young Turks articulating their displeasure over the appointments in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has not gone down well with party president Capt Amarinder Singh and the party in charge and CWC member Gulchain Singh Charak. The two have reiterated a stern warning to them, describung their resentment aired through the media as an act of indiscipline.

Nevertheless, certain MLAs, including Sukhpal Singh Khaira, are in Delhi to make their point. He has found support in Surinderpal Singh Sibia, Sangrur MLA who like Khaira was divested of the post of district president. Grapevine has it that there are a few more like them but they have chosen to keep mum for the time being.

Kharar MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu has disassociated himself from any “show of resentment”. He in a statement today, he welcomed the PCC list and said: “As a loyal soldier of the party, I am happy with whatever responsibility and duty is given by the party.” Some senior party leaders observed about the young Turks: “ It is (their posturing) more about playing to the media rather than getting the party leadership to redress their grievance”. Sources close to Capt Amarinder Singh said Khaira’s letter had been released to the media, but had yet to reach the captain.

The party leadership has reacted strongly to Sibia’s allegations against Arvind Khanna, general secretary attached to the PCC president. Party insiders have hit back, saying that Sibia, who has alleged that some tainted leaders have been included in the list, is himself facing allegations of having vacated the party office in Sangrur for personal gains. The party, sources revealed, had issued Sibia a show-cause notice sent by the PCC president for this act. The party has started investigations into the charge that Sibia had facilitated the defeat of the party candidate for the post of the Sangrur Municipal Committee president by abstaining from voting. He is the ex-officio member of the committee.

Signals from the party high command are loud and clear that it will stand by the PCC president. In the past, Congress “rebels” have banked on support from the high command to checkmate the PCC president. Given the fact that the party is going to the elections within nine months, the leadership seems to have made it abundantly clear that it stood firmly by the PCC president.

It is not a mere coincidence that the PCC chief and the party in charge Charak has issued a warning to the rebels the same day and in almost the same tone. 

Tussle Within

* Amarinder, Charak issue fresh warning to dissenters

* Certain MLAs, including Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in Delhi to make their point

* Kharar MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu dissociates himself from show of resentment

* Party leadership has begun probe into the role of Sibia who allegedly helped defeat the party candidate for the post of Sangrur MC president

Amritsar, May 16
To enhance the grandeur of the Ramgarhia Bungas (towers) in the vicinity of the Golden Temple, the district administration has decided to demolish an overhead water tank, located in between these twin towers.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-project director (Galliara) Kahn Singh Pannu said that this proposal had been mooted to provide a better view to the temple. “A new modern water supply technology will be introduced to replace this overhead tank. Since, work on the ducts is already on for re-routing the sewerage and water supply lines, we will consult experts to provide us with an alternate modern water supply system. Nevertheless, if there is a need for an overhead tank, we will make sure that it is constructed at a relatively low height at a secluded site and does not spoil the ambience of the Golden Temple,” he said.

Millions of devotees visiting the shrine are irked at the sight of the water tank constructed in 1988

Jalandhar, May 16
The Jalandhar police was today put on the tenterhooks by six Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) teachers, who climbed atop a water tank near the busy Guru Nanak Mission Chowk.

They were accompanied by over 200 colleagues, who assembled at the nearby road and raised slogans against the decision of the Education Department to re-conduct eight of the 11 exams of the third semester of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT).

It took top officials of the city police more than two hours to pacify the teachers. One of the protesters perched himself dangerously on the more than 100-meter high tank.

The agitators questioned the government claim that the question papers had been leaked. “The real intention of the authorities is to deny us permanent jobs by delaying our course,” alleged Kulwinder Singh, vice-president of EGS Teachers Union.

The protesters climbed down on the assurance of ADC (Development) Sarojini Gautam Sharda that she would arrange a meeting with the Director General, School Education, Jarnail Singh, president of the union said. 

Patiala, May 16
Students studying in local universities, colleges and schools will soon be surveyed by the district administration and those above 18 years of age will be issued voter ID cards.

Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu discussed this at a meeting held here today with all administrative and police officials urging them to start preparing for the upcoming state Assembly polls scheduled in 2012.

Sidhu directed the DC, Patiala, to form special teams for completion of the remaining work pertaining to elections. In the meeting, Sidhu urged the DC to open a helpline for the voters of the district so that their problems pertaining to the voters’ list or voter ID card could be sorted out. “A special campaign should be initiated from June 1 to 30 to identify all voters who are yet to be issued a voter ID cards and their cards should be made at priority,” Sidhu told the officials.

Patiala DC Dipinder Singh briefed Sidhu regarding the completion of photo voters list saying that it was 99.99 per cent complete. “The rest will also be completed soon and a helpline 0175-2350779 has already been started,” he added. He said Patiala had already sanctioned 1,374 polling booths and a request for another seven booths had been shot to the EC.

Patiala, May 16
Punjabi University, Patiala, has decided to postpone the implementation of semester system for BA students keeping in mind the large number of students seeking admission in humanities.

Dean, Academics, SS Tiwana said this decision was taken in a meeting that was attended by around 200 college principals. He said the strength of students that take admission in BA each year was around 40,000 as compared to BCom and BSc students which was around 10,000. Therefore, it was difficult to manage semester system for them.

“Principals proposed that we should first start it for BCom and BSc and once it is successful, then for BA,” he added. 

Patiala, May 16
Punjabi University, Patiala, has decided to postpone the implementation of semester system for BA students keeping in mind the large number of students seeking admission in humanities. 

Dean, Academics, SS Tiwana said this decision was taken in a meeting that was attended by around 200 college principals. He said the strength of students that take admission in BA each year was around 40,000 as compared to BCom and BSc students which was around 10,000. Therefore, it was difficult to manage semester system for them. 

“Principals proposed that we should first start it for BCom and BSc and once it is successful, then for BA,” he added. 

Chandigarh, May 16
The much-hyped Vigilance Commission report in the Medical Officers’ selection case is still not part of the judicial record. A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court did not take on record the report prepared some five months back.

The development is significant, as the report virtually indicts several Punjab Public Service Commission members. As a bunch of petitions filed in public interest by Punjab’s former Director-General of Police KPS Gill and other petitioners came up for hearing this morning, his counsel asked the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice AK Mittal to take the report on record.

He claimed the report was prepared and placed before the High Court in February after a Bench gave its go-ahead to the vigilance inquiry. He said the matter had come to a virtual halt as the report had not been on record. The matter was placed before the Bench headed by Justice Goel as Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is on leave due to health reasons. The Bench headed by Chief Justice Gogoi is hearing the matter on a regular basis.

Chandigarh, May 16
The search for greener pastures across the seas has left 29 Indian students high and dry, as they paid full fee for studying in a university in Netherlands, only to find their visa pleas turned down by the foreign government. Faced with the issue of jurisdiction, the Punjab and Haryana HC has now asked the Union of India to intervene in the matter and help the students retrieve their money by following an appropriate legal manner.

The call for intervention by Justice Ranjit Singh came during the hearing of a petition filed by Avtar Singh and other students against the Union of India and other respondents.

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted, “The petitioners are students, who had sought visa to study abroad for higher education. They, along with 19 other students, had completed necessary formalities and made full payment of the tuition fee to the European University. The fee was paid and transferred in full to the university concerned in the Netherlands through the assistance of FE Group, Netherlands.”

“The petitioners are seeking mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction, directing the respondents for immediate intervention for assistance to 29 students, including the petitioners, for refund of tuition fee from the Government of Netherlands and even against the decision for non-grant of visa by the Government of Netherlands.”

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted, “The writ court perhaps may not have jurisdiction to issue any effective direction to the Government of Netherlands. However, since the citizens of this country have been ruined or put to loss, it will be appropriate for the Union of India to help the petitioners in retrieving their money in an appropriate legal manner. With the above observations, the writ petition is disposed of.” 

Bathinda, May 16
Two Army personnel posted at the cantonment here were arrested by a team of the Bathinda police’s narcotic cell last night for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of heroin.

Lalit Kumar (Lance Naik, 56 APO) and Rattan Lal (a tailor at one of the Army regiments) were held while they were allegedly trying to sell some narcotics. A kg of heroin worth Rs 10 crore in the international market was also seized from the duo’s possession. Detailing about the seizure, Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said Lalit Kumar went to his native place Bhiwani in Haryana by taking leave from April 18 to May 1 where the heroin was allegedly delivered to him by some unknown persons. Lalit Kumar was supposed to deliver the same to someone in Bathinda.

Preliminary investigations, as per the SSP, revealed that Lalit was under a debt of Rs 3.5 lakh and that the unknown person who delivered the contraband to him at Bhiwani had promised to him that he (Lalit) would get enough money as commission for transporting and delivering the consignment.

Lalit, who reached the local cantonment on the night of May 1, kept the consignment at his official quarters for several days. In the meantime, he managed to involve Rattan into the illegal business by offering him handsome returns for help in disposing of the consignment.

Gill disclosed that both Lalit and Rattan were arrested after the police authorities received a tip-off in connection with their activities. He added that both the accused were arrested from a point located at the back side of cantonment police station.

“Efforts are on to nab that person who had delivered the contraband to Lalit in Bhiwani and the person who was supposed to take the heroin from Lalit in Bathinda,” the SSP added.

A case in this connection has been registered under the NDPS Act. 

Ropar, May 16
The Ropar police has arrested eight people in two different cases and recovered six illegal weapons from their custody.

Addressing mediapersons here today, SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the police had booked cases against two people on January 24 at Nurpur Bedi and registered cases against them under Sections 307, 382, 363, 342, 365, 506, 504, 120 B, 148, 149 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act.

However, two accused had been on the run and the court had declared them proclaimed offenders. The police arrested them recently and recovered 32 bore revolver, two 32 bore pistols and one 9 mm pistol. The accused were identified as Pradeep Sharma, alias Mota, a resident of the Burail area in Chandigarh, and Ranjit Singh, a resident of Samana, Patiala.

The accused revealed that they had hidden weapons used in crime at different places under the Nurpur Bedi and Chamkaur Sahib police stations. The arrested accused also revealed that they had been dealing in the sale of illegal weapons procured from other states and used to sell them in Punjab.

Taking action on the information provided, the police arrested three people to whom illegal weapons were supplied. The police then arrested Amardeep Singh, alias Jimmy, from sector 45 Chandigarh. He was arrested while driving his Mercedes car. An illegal 32 bore pistol was recovered from him. Similarly, Balvir Singh, alias Veera, from sector 52 D, Chandigarh, was arrested near Makauri village and Manpreet Singh, alias Mana, a resident of Rattanheri village in Khanna was arrested near Doomchheri village in Morinda.

The police recovered 32 bore pistol and later two live cartridges. All the accused were presented before court that sent them to police remand. Meanwhile, police also arrested three people from Katli road and recovered illegal weapons from them.

The police booked case against Amarjit Singh, alias Amra, from Malhotra Colony, Ropar, Gurmukh Singh from Narindra Colony, Ropar, Davinder Kumar, alias Rinku, from Pojewal district Nawanshahr, Rohit Sharma, alias Badshah, from Mil Nagar, Ropar, and Ishar Singh, a student of Ryat College, Railmajra, under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC. While Ishar and Amarjit fled away, taking advantage of darkness, the police has recovered a 315 bore pistol, swords and other sharp-edged weapons from possession of the accused.