Hansi Butana Canal Row
Sekhon should ask Badal to act: Capt
Nawanshahr, July 15
 Continuing the war of words over the Hansi Butana canal issue, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today asked Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon to advise Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to dare and take “direct” action to stop the construction of the toe wall by Haryana.

Jalandhar, July 15
Inclement weather played spoilsport with the Shiromani Akali Dal plans to garner mileage from three inauguration functions held in the city today. While Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal gave the functions a miss, his absence, especially in the run up to the assembly polls, gave BJP leaders ample chance to hog limelight.

Notably, Sukhbir was slated to dedicate the newly constructed BMC Chowk flyover as well as the new NRI Sabha building to the people. Besides, he was to flag off four trucks of gymnasium equipment and sports kits for rural youth. In Sukhbir's absence, Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud (BJP) did the honours. He was accompanied by former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Bhagat Chunni Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari and Mayor Rakesh Rathour.

Until yesterday, it appeared that the inauguration and the flagging-off ceremonies would be full-fledged SAD shows, as all the venues were dotted with the hoardings of Sukhbir and SAD youth wing chief Bikramjit Majithia.

But, it was altogether a different scene today with BJP workers outnumbering the Akalis at every venue.

And disappointment was writ large on the faces of the SAD leaders and workers. On the other hand, BJP leaders and workers were a happy lot; they were at the centrestage, much to the discomfiture of the local Akali rank and file.

Also, it was interesting to watch the BJP leaders jostle for space at the inauguration ceremonies. At a foundation stone laying event, Sud and the Deputy Speaker were literally pushed to the wall.

At a press conference later, Sud said a grant of Rs 700 crore for urban development would be released shortly. The amount has been a bone of contention between the coalition partners.

About any change in the membership of the two-member Sukhbir-Kalia coordination committee, Sud said he had now replaced Kalia.

Regarding replacement of the chairmen of the five boards headed by the BJP, he said these posts would be filled soon. About an inquiry against him by the party high command related to a complaint by a senior forest officer, he said no explanation had been sought from him so far.

Sud said the government was setting up 6,500 gymnasiums at a cost of Rs 15 crore in far-flung villages of the state. Besides, 18,000 sports kits worth Rs 15 crore were also being distributed among the rural youth.

Meanwhile, NRI Affairs Minister Capt Balbir Singh Bath said that the government would soon announce the formation of the NRI Commission, with two experts on NRI affairs on its board. 

Amritsar, July 15
The standoff between transporters over ferrying of imported goods from Attari check post finally came to an end today following the intervention of Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal.

According to the terms of agreement, traders would now be free to hire transporters of their choice for carrying goods imported from Pakistan.

Agarwal claimed that the three sides that were at loggerheads — traders, Amritsar transporters and the Attari truckers — reached an agreement after a two-hour meeting.

“It has finally been decided to give a free hand to the business community to choose transporters of their choice for ferrying material such as dry fruits from Attari check post to other parts of the country…. The decision would be implemented strictly,” the DC said.

But as far as the transportation of gypsum and rock salt was concerned, Agarwal said, the decision could not be taken due to the continuous fluctuation in the rates of the two items.

“Representatives of the two transport unions will hold a meeting with the district transport officer and decide the rate for transportation of the two items from Attari check post,” he said.

BK Bajaj, president of Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce, hailed the decision saying now onwards there would be no monopoly of the truck unions at the dry port and every trader would be free to engage a vehicle they considered suitable.

Notably, trade between the two neighboring nations was hit due to a tussle between the Attari Truck Operators Union and Amritsar Transporters Union over lifting of imported material from Attari post. 

Malerkotla, July 15
In a bizarre situation, Congress MLA Razia Sultana today proposed the name of veteran SAD leader Mohammad Sardar Dara for the post of president of Municipal Council Malerkotla during a special meeting convened for the election of president. Another Congress leader and municipal councillor Mohammad Ishaq Saka seconded his name.

After this, 18 members out of a total of 32, including MLA Razia Sultana, raised their hands in support of Dara. As many as 14 Akali councillors did not participate in the elections. Then, convener-cum-Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Bhupinder Mohan Singh declared Dara elected for the post of president.

Malerkotla SDM Bhupinder Mohan Singh told The Tribune that this special meeting was called on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to elect the president. He said that according to the orders of the HC, it was mandatory to organise the meeting within a month of the receipt of the orders.

The SDM said that some councillors tried to obstruct the poll process. Duty Magistrate Kanwar Preet Puri reportedly alerted the police force when some councillors reportedly came to blows inside the meeting hall. Tight security arrangements were made under the supervision of Malerkotla DSP Amrik Singh Minhas. When the situation was brought under control, the elections were held.

On July 8, the elections were postponed due to some medical problem of convener-cum-SDM Bhupinder Mohan Singh. MLA Razia Sultana had claimed that two Akali councillors - Beant Kinger and Sajida Rafique - had joined the Congress and they had a majority of 17 votes, including the vote of Razia Sultana, in the 31-member House.

But yesterday, the Akali Dal managed to get a Congress councillor to join it. This resulted in a 16-16 tie. At the start of the poll process today, neither the Congress nor the SAD proposed the name of any candidate. But suddenly, the Congress MLA announced Dara’s name.

After the election, Razia clarified that Dara had not joined the Congress. She said that she proposed the name of the SAD leader as the development work in the city was being hit due to the tussle of councillors. Dara too stated that he had no plans of joining the Congress.

Chandigarh, July 15
With the Congress announcing to go it alone in the next assembly elections, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has begun to re-draw its election strategy. Besides getting more aggressive in the run-up to the elections, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance has announced a series of reforms and administrative measures (such as the Right to Service Act from August 15) which it hopes will bolster its victory chances.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s statement that he is open to a poll pact with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party is clearly being seen as a change of strategy by the ruling alliance.

Owing to the delay in installing Harish Rai Dhanda as Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, the proposed re-shuffling of assembly segments between the SAD and the BJP may be put on hold. Dhanda was elected MLA from Ludhian-West. With the delimitation of the assembly constituencies, it has now become a predominantly Hindu constituency.The BJP has been asking for this segment for long. Once Dhanda takes over as the PPSC chief, the seat is almost certain to be given to the BJP.

Former state president Rajinder Bhandari is likely to contest from here. The BJP may concede some other seat to the SAD in return, possibly Garshankar.

Not just these two seats, the alliance is learnt to be open to shuffling more seats too. “It is going to be a do or die battle for the alliance. So any ego clash is ruled out”, a senior SAD leader said. With Badal publicly admitting that he is open to an alliance with the BSP, the ruling alliance seems to be prepared to adopt any course, until recently considered unthinkable, to improve its victory prospects.

It also shows the ruling alliance is ready to share power with a third party. Under the circumstances, PPCC president Amarinder Singh’s remark that Badal’s feelers to Mayawati betrayed his nervousness does not seem exaggerated.

With nearly all 117 assembly segments having been affected directly or indirectly by the delimitation exercise, all political parties have started working on a fresh strategy for the next elections.

Bathinda, July 15
Minister for Transport, Technical Education and Industrial Training Surjit Kumar Jaiyani today said that 2,500 drivers and conductors would be recruited in the PRTC and Punjab Roadways.

He said 750 drivers and conductors would be recruited in the PRTC and the remaining in Punjab Roadways on a contract basis. The drivers would be paid Rs 10,000 per month and the conductors Rs 9,000. He said the drivers and conductors with three years of service and a clean record would be made regular employees.

He was here for the inauguration of a job festival at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI). The Additional Director, Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Daljit Kaur Sidhu, was present at the function. The minister evaded a reply on whether the main bus stand in Bathinda would be shifted to the Bibiwala road, despite the people’s opposition.

Jaiyani said Fazilka would be carved out as a district during the SAD-BJP regime and the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had already given their nod to it.

Principal of the ITI, Balbir Singh, said during the job festival, 900 of the 1300 pass-outs had been short-listed for placement by various companies.

Moga, July 15
Punjab DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill seems unmoved by allegations that he is preparing the ground for contesting the assembly elections from Moga, his hometown.

President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Capt Amarinder Singh and Manpreet Badal, president of the People’s Party of Punjab, have questioned the motive behind the frequent visits of the DGP to Moga. They suspect that he may be preparing to contest the elections from his hometown on the SAD ticket.

Despite the Opposition demanding that he be removed as the police chief for “misusing power to gain political mileage,” Gill visited Moga this morning and attended several public functions.

He and his supporters and district heads of a few government departments visited the Sai Dham and launched a plantation drive there. He was welcomed by the managing committee of the religious dham.

Gill stressed on the need to plant trees to preserve environment. He instructed SSP Sneh Deep Sharma to look into the grievances of the people.

Apart from launching the plantation drive, the DGP attended public contact programmes organised by his supporters.

Sources allege Gill has been assured of the party ticket from Moga by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Meanwhile, resentment is brewing within the SAD against the DGP’s political designs. The local leadership of the SAD has begun a campaign demanding that the ticket be allotted to a young leader and not the DGP who, they say, belongs to a family of Congress men. Gill’s father, the late Nachattar Singh Gill, was a Congress MLA from Moga.

Meanwhile, many an eyebrow has been raised on the DGP’s meeting with the state RSS chief recently.

Anandpur Sahib, July 15
Low-lying villages of Anandpur Sahib were flooded at around 6 pm today. The Swan rivulet, originating in Himachal Pradesh, swelled due to heavy rain in hilly areas. The Swan joins the Sutlej which passes through Anandpur Sahib.

Water entered into the fields and homes at Burj, Lodhipur, Mataur, Nikkuwal, Ballowal Haripur, Mehendli Kalan, Gajpur villages. Burj village was disconnected from other villages as water on all sides had turned it into an island.

After the Irrigation Department did not erect a bundh, Lodhipur villagers had erected a temporary bundh at the cost of Rs 1.5 lakh from their own pocket. But this bundh was washed away by the gushing water

The rivulet carried around 53,000 cusecs of water today. The administration had received intimation about flooding and sarpanchs of the low-lying villages had been informed by the afternoon to remain alert.

In addition, the rising level of water in the Bhakra Dam has become a cause for concern for the people living along the Sutlej. The level was 1,609.57 ft today, which is 70 ft more than the same date last year.

Patiala, July 15
Even after the completion of a month today, the protest by the PRTC Contractual Employees Union (Azaad) has not borne fruit. The PRTC management and Punjab Government continue to be adamant about not regularising the services of contractual employees.

Though the employees are continuing with the strike and taking out rallies everyday, there has been no response from the authorities.

They said that the PRTC management was considering the re-appointment of the suspended contractual workers again on contractual basis.

On the re-appointment of the suspended workers, Managing Director of PRTC Manvesh Sidhu said the management had not promised anything, but it might consider their request sympathetically.

Meanwhile, state president of the union Jasmer Singh, who has been on hunger strike since June 15, is still admitted in Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, where his condition is said to be stable. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 15
Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM and father of Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, who died yesterday, after a brief illness at the age of 88, was today cremated at the Sector 25 cremation ground. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

GS Brar, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Viswajit Khanna, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Dignitaries from all walks of life, senior serving and retired civil and police officers, including Chief Secretary SC Agrawal, attended the cremation. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 15
Bringing out the hollowness of the speeches made by politicians and others on the sacrifices made by freedom fighters, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has minced no words to say precious little is done to translate the words into reality.

Acting on a petition filed by “freedom fighter” Jarnail Singh against the State of Punjab and others for “swatantrata sainik samman” pension, Justice K Kannan asserted: “The freedom that we have earned, the Independence Day and the Republic Day that we celebrate, shall also be the days of reminder of the extraordinary sufferings undergone by the freedom fighters. These are not meant to be mere pontification...”

In his petition, Jarnail Singh had asserted in spite of recommendations from the state government for pension, the Centre had not taken any decision. Jarnail Singh had said he was imprisoned in Lahore Central Jail between 1942 and 1943 during the Quit India movement.

Directing the Union of India to consider forthwith the petitioner’s representation, Justice Kannan added the recommendation from the state was forwarded on March 6, 1995. “It is a pity that the Union of India is allowing the letter of recommendation to gather dust. A claim for pension, more particularly from a person claiming to be a freedom fighter, shall be attended to with all alacrity that the situation demands,” Justice Kannan directed. 

Jalandhar, July 15
Stung by criticism from various quarters for delaying the filing of a chargesheet against the accused in the high profile Gurkirat Singh Sekhon murder case, the police submitted a 154-page challan in the trial court here today.

The chargesheet was filed in the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) AS Barda. The accused have been charged under Sections 302 and 34, IPC.

The accused, Prince Makkar, and one of the co-accused have also been booked under Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act, sources said.

Hotelier Gurkirat’s murder had aroused public anger as one of the accused, Ram Simran Singh Makkar, alias Prince Makkar, is an Akali councillor and a nephew of SAD legislator from Adampur Sarbajit Singh Makkar. Gikky was allegedly shot dead on the intervening night of April 21-22 by Makkar and his three friends Sunny Sachdeva, Prince Narula and Jasdeep Jassu.

Satinder Singh, ADCP (Headquarters), said the police was yet to get the ballistic report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. The case of the prosecution, as of now, was based on eyewitnesses accounts.

He said the report was expected by tomorrow. The viscera report had established that the deceased was not under the influence of any intoxicant, he said

Council Sanjeev Bansal said the court had summoned the accused tomorrow to give them the copy of the challan. The next hearing would be held on July 22.

Bansal said the post-mortem report attached to the chargesheet showed that Gurkirat had died due to a gunshot injury. The video recording of the post-mortem had also been attached with the chargesheet.

Anandpur Sahib, July 15
The Excise Department has seized liquor from Anandpur Sahib, where its sale has been banned due to the sanctity of the place.

On a tip-off, personnel of the department, along with ASI Gurmukh Singh and the area municipal councillor Ram Pyari, raided the house of Darshan Lal in ward no. 3, Badi Sarkar Mohalla.

The team seized 75 bottles of different brands and some pouches. Cash amounting to Rs 950 was also seized which was handed over to the MC councillor Ram Pyari.

While Darshan Lal had fled away from the scene, Ram Pyari asserted that she would produce Darshan Lal before excise officials on Monday.