Amritsar, August 31
Occasions like observing the anniversaries of departed souls are generally held to merely gain political mileage and public attention. No thought is given to preserving the sanctity of the occasion. One such example was the commemoration of the death anniversary of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh at a park in Ranjit Avenue. Ironically, the centre of attraction, the bust of late Beant Singh, was found to be littered with dirt and birds-dropping. No one had bothered to clean it up. Even if it was to keep the sanctity of the departed soul who was instrumental in fighting terrorism, while ensuring a peaceful life for future generations. He was killed in a blast on August 31, 1995, by the militants.

Reportedly, the programme was initiated by District Congress president, Jugal Kishore. He, alongwith other prominent leaders of the Congress, had left for Chandigarh a day earlier to commemorate the occasion there. Little did he realise that such a derogatory treatment would be meted out to the leader back home.

Nevertheless, in the Ranjit Avenue function prominent local leaders were conspicuous by their absence. Om Prakash Gabbar, a former Congress senior deputy mayor, presided over the function. As soon as he was about to garland the bust, he noticed dirt and filth over it. Then, arrangements were made to clean it up. The caretaker of the park (a gardener) volunteered to wash it with water. After that, Gabbar, alongwith other Congress workers, successfully garlanded the bust. Later, some admirers pointed out that the ceremony of bathing the statue with milk was given a miss. After sometime, two packets of milk (of half kg each) were arranged for the purpose.

When the leaders present on the occasion were questioned for the whole episode, they stated that the Improvement Trust had been duly intimated to wash the statue, as per precedent but nobody bothered to do so.

However, key local Congress leaders condemned this lapse and showed ignorance about the programme. Congress MLA OP Soni and former Congress Mayor Sunil Datti preferred to commemorate the occasion separately. Former Speaker Darbari Lal could not make it to the occasion due to health reasons.

Meanwhile, as soon as the issue was brought to their notice, Youth Congress activists were deputed in the evening to wash the bust.

Amritsar, August 31
After facing the passengers’ wrath for not giving on-the-spot tickets to them even as the majority of seats of the Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto remained vacant, the railway authorities have started selling the Duronto tickets at the general ticket selling windows.

“The step has been taken to avoid any harassment to the passengers travelling from Amritsar to Chandigarh.

“The tickets will now be sold at all general ticket selling windows. The passengers have to buy tickets for super express train and then they have to pay the balance capital charges to the ticket checker in the train itself,” said Kuldeep Singh Teji, Station Superintendent.

It is evident to mention here that the passengers raised slogans against the railway authorities and came on the track in front of the Duronto after they were refused tickets after the scheduled timings at the advance booking counter a couple of days ago.

However, later the authorities had allowed them to board the train after buying general tickets, but not before the delay in the departure for at least one hour.

Notably, earlier the passengers would get the tickets with an imprint of Ambala, but now the railway authorities have fed Sirhind to Morinda-Mohali routes in the booking computers to facilitate the passengers who buy tickets on the spot.

The step has shown a visible impact on the number of passengers boarding the train as it has gone up from 240 to 328.

On an average about 250 to 300 passengers travel from the holy city to Chandigarh daily.

However, sources in the Railways pointed out that this number was not sufficient for the running of this train, which has the capacity of 1,400 passengers, including 1,287 chairs in non-AC coaches and 145 seats in two AC coaches.

The train plies five days a week, except on Friday and Sunday.

A senior railway official said the Railway Ministry was deliberating on changing the name of the train so that two more stoppages, including Jalandhar and Ludhiana, could be included in the running schedule to make it more economically viable.

At present the train stops at Sirhind for a few minutes and that too because of changing of the engine.

Amritsar, August 31
The vendors at the railway station here have approached the senior railway officials for allowing them for some more time to purchase modular structures like Marlboro vans for selling precooked food items at the platforms.

Even though senior railway officials had categorically stated railway catering contractors and vendors should switch over to pre-cooked food and snacks, which should be stored in hot cases. The vendors said that it was impossible for them to purchase Marlboro vans as the last dates have been advanced by about four months. Earlier, the last date had been fixed as December 31.

One of the vendors Neeraj Kumar, who has been selling kulchas for the past one decade, said that earlier they had received a communiqué from senior officials who had fixed December 31 as the last date for the switchover. It has been reduced to just two months. He said, “We have already approached the Divisional Commercial Manager for giving us some more time to purchase the modular van.”

Another railway vendor, Rakesh, said that they would abide by the instructions of the railway authorities. He said: “The passengers are not happy with the move as they would miss the freshly cooked pakoras, pooris and other snacks at the railway platforms.”

Balwinder Singh, a railway passenger, said that he would always miss freshly fried pakoras and other snacks. “Pre-cooked food will do but the railway authorities would have to keep a close watch on the hygiene of packed food”, he added. The Station Superintendent, Kuldeep Singh Teji, said that, the vendors have approached senior officials and demanded more time to shift to Marlboro vans. However, we have not received any communication in this regard. He said they hoped that some relaxation would be given to vendors. If there is no communication from the higher authorities, they would not allow the vendors to use the gas cylinders for cooking food items at the railway platform from September 1.

As per the directions of the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway, vendors would not be able to use cooking mediums like LPG cylinders, cooking stoves or coal furnaces at railway platforms after the cut-off date. The vendors will have to sell food packets, which will be kept hot in hot cases, while for hot beverages, vending machines would have to be installed.

Amritsar, August 31
Two unidentified youths snatched a gold chain from a woman just opposite the Lawrence Road police chowki at the posh Lawrence Road area here today.

Lata, the victim and a resident of the Mall Road area, had come there for shopping when the incident took place.

According to information, one of the miscreant snatched the gold chain, while another was standing across the road with a Pulsar motorcycle without number plate with engine on.

After snatching the chain, the two miscreants fled away.

An eyewitness said the policemen were standing just close to incident spot, did nothing to stop the culprits who fled towards the BBK DAV College side. The police authorities said a case was being registered after recording the statement of the victim.

Amritsar, August 31
Dejected because his proposal of love was rejected by a girl, Ashwani Pande, a resident of Police Lines quarters today tried to commit suicide by cutting his veins in front of the girl. The victim has lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines police station in this connection.

In her statement, she alleged that the boy, a student of a private college here, had been stalking her for the past many days on his motorcycle. She said that she had flatly refused his proposal. She said today when she was returning to her house from Akash Avenue on her moped, the boy along with another unidentified person stopped her near the Nirankari Colony.

She said the accused held her arm and started teasing her and threatened her by saying that if she did not accept his proposal, he would commit suicide. She said, subsequently, he took out a blade from his pocket and tried to cut the veins of his wrist.

She immediately raised an alarm. However, the accused, sensing trouble fled the scene. Dilbagh Singh, chowki in charge, Faizpura, under the Civil Lines police station said the police have registered a case under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of the girl), 341, 506, 309 and 511 of Indian Penal Code in this connection.

He said the police have arrested Ashwani, while his accomplice was still at large. He was presented in the court after medical examination in which the doctors revealed that the injuries were not grievous. The court has sent him on judicial remand, he said.

Amritsar, August 31
The decision on making the registration of pets, particularly dogs, for the owners in the holy city mandatory, which could not be implemented for the last over six decades, is now being re-initiated by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC).

In a glaring example of negligence, it has been learnt that the AMC has not registered a single dog till date, despite the fact that the registration of dogs was made mandatory by the Central Government in 1950s. However, it has also caused a loss of lakhs to the AMC in the form of fees accruing from it.

Officials of the AMC said the bylaws of registration of pets were not adopted by the corporations in Punjab and the move had been initiated following a circular sent a week ago and the bylaws would be imposed after getting nod from the next House meeting.

As per the norms, the owner of the pet would be charged a registration fee of Rs 250 per year. The owner would have to furnish the details of the pet in terms of its age and breed on a prescribed proforma to obtain a token. This token, valid for one year, bearing the owner’s name and address, would have to be worn by the pet for its identification. It would be mandatory for the owner to get the medical checkup of the pet get done from a registered veterinary officer.

The officials said the defaulters would be penalised for not complying with the stipulated norms. The exercise would also help the AMC to detect the growing population of stray dogs.

Amritsar, August 31
Quashing a penalty of Rs 51,394, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the Punjab State Power Corporation to refund the money deposited by a customer as it saw no grounds to rely upon the inspection report, on the basis of which the fine was imposed.

Anil Sharma, a resident of Majitha road, informed the Forum that the power corporation had sent him an electricity bill on April 12, 2010, adding Rs 51,394 under the heading “sundry charges”. Later, he took up the matter with the corporation and he was astonished to find that the power corporation claimed to have inspected his house on October 27, 2009. The corporation had found construction work in progress at Sharma’s house, stated an affidavit submitted to the Consumer Forum by it. It was reasoned by the corporation that construction is a commercial activity to which temporary tariff is applicable. The corporation submitted that the consumer had set up three different machines used for construction purposes at his house. However, the customer denied to have done any new construction in the time period during which the corporation claimed to have inspected his home.

Sharma’s lawyer Deepinder Singh said, “Even the Power Corporation could not produce any documents to prove that an inspection was conducted.” The judgment records that the corporation could not furnish documents to establish that Sharma had refused to sign the checking report, he added. In case of a consumer’s refusal to sign the inspection report due to any reason, the inspecting authority has an obligation to mention the same in the report.

Pronouncing the judgment, JS Bhatia and ML Joshi, president and member of the consumer forum, respectively, observed, “A perusal of the checking report indicates that it does not include the signatures of either the complainant or his representative.

“Under these circumstances, the checking report in its present shape is against the rules and regulations of the opposite party (power corporation) and it, therefore, cannot be relied upon,” stated the Forum. The report has also not been authenticated by any respectable person of the locality to prove its authenticity, it observed while quashing the penalty.

Amritsar, August 31
Government Girls Senior School (GGSS), Katra Karam Singh, team has won the U-19 and U-17 categories in the PSEB girls’ yoga championship. Competitions were held in the categories of U-14, 17 and 19.

Six schools competed in the U-19 category. DAV International and Shri Ram Ashram Public School bagged the second and third positions, respectively.

In the under 17 category, ten schools took part and DAV International and Shrin Ram Ashram Public School won the second and third positions, respectively.

Bhavan’s SL Public School won in the under-14 category. DAV Public School, Lawrence Road and GGSS, Kathu Nangal, were adjudged as winners of the second and third positions, respectively.

In the state championship, which concluded recently, DAV Public School, Lawrence road, GGSS, Kathu Nangal, GGSS Mall road, Government Middle School Mohali, Shri Ram Ashram Public School, SSSS Modern High School, Prabhakar Senior Secondary School, GGSS School Chawinda Devi and Police DAV Public School took part.

Amritsar, August 31
Bhai Gurdev Singh, Hazoori Ragi at the Darbar Sahib today exhorted the students to work hard, follow the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib and keep away from drugs. Bhai Gurdev was addressing the students of Khalsa College during Ardas Diwas. He also regaled the audience with the soulful rendition of holy verses for an hour. It was followed by Gurmat Vichar by Singh Sahib Bhai Jagtar Singh Ji, Granthi Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib.

In his address he elaborated on the significance of prayer. Ardas was performed by Bhai Kulwinder Singh, Ardasia, Shri Darbar Sahib to seek blessings for the growth and progress of the college and its students.

College principal Dr Daljit Singh said a large number of students from other states of the country had also taken admission to Khalsa College. He also highlighted the performance of the students in academics, sports and cultural activities during the previous session and expressed the hope that the new academic session would bring better results.

Amritsar, August 31
The All-India Vimukat Jatis (denotified tribes) Sewak Sangh (AIVJSS) has urged the government to grant the Scheduled Tribe status to its 193 tribes.

To mark Mukti Divas (liberation day) of Vimukat Jatis programmes were held at Guru Nanak Bhawan and Majitha Road here today.

The AIVJSS national adviser, Baldev Raj, said a memorandum was dispatched to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram for their demands today.

Denotified tribes celebrate August 31 every year as Mukti Divas as according to them the inhuman Criminal Tribes Act was repealed on this day in 1952 after nearly 81 years of existence.

He said about 15 crore people belonging to these tribes were residing in the country, including 25 lakh in Punjab.

Amritsar, August 31
Artisans coming to the holy city all the way from Rajasthan and Bihar have become an integral part of the Ganesh Utsav celebrations as they are busy making beautiful idols of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh.

In true spirit of the festival residents of the holy city are gearing up to celebrate the festival with fervour. Not only temples and various religious organisations but residents are busy buying the idols for their homes. Shopkeepers could be seen making brisk business booking these idols for the eve of the festival. The demand for these idols has increased up to 60 to 70 per cent during the last couple of days. The artisans hope that they would be able to sell all the idols by tomorrow.

Gopi, 43, an artist from Jaipur in Rajasthan, said he was carrying forward his family’s 30-year-old tradition. He said he never went to school but since his childhood he learnt the art of making these idols from his parents. “I along with my family members have been in the city for past two weeks but sales picked only since last Sunday. There has been a 60 per cent increase in the sale of idols,” he said.

Durga Parshad, 65, an artisan hailing from Bihar, said idols made of POP and decorated in beautiful colours cost between Rs 300 and 1,500 depending upon the size and the material used. He rued that the profit was marginal as people bargain in the cost of the idols because of the rising inflation.

He said small idols of Lord Ganesha that cost between Rs 200 and 500 were selling like hot cakes and earning them good money. The size of the idols ranges between one to six feet.

Amit Mehra, a resident of Bank Colony, Majitha Road, said he had booked an idol of Lord Ganesha for the first time and everyone in the family was excited about the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi tomorrow.