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Three lakh students yet to get scholarship money
Sloganeering at Sukhbir’s rally |
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Sehajdhari Row
Nawanshahr legislator JS Kariha dead
Sukhbir announces Rs 25 lakh for hockey players
It’s smooth sailing for Bhaur in Nawanshahr
Pakhoke depending on one-to-one contact
Amarinder’s allegations on fuel expenses baseless: Makkar
SSP meets agitating SGPC member Panjoli
JEs to boycott Engineers Day celebrations
Mansa MC fails to recover Rs 1.75 cr house
tax
Baby boy found abandoned
Closure of liquor shops in wake of SGPC poll
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Three lakh students yet to get scholarship money
Chandigarh, September 14 Ironically, failing to release a penny for the pre-matric scholarship scheme for more than 2.50 lakh students belonging to the minority community for the last financial year, the government is now asking students to submit applications for the grant of this scholarship for this year. Students in government and private schools are awarded a scholarship of Rs 950 per month for day scholars and Rs 1,450 per month for boarders under this scheme. The state received Rs 25 crore as central share for implementation of the scheme in January this year but the Finance department is yet to release the money to the Welfare Department. Other scholarship schemes are also not being properly implemented because the state is not releasing money for the same, despite having received the funds from the Centre. These includes the post-matric scholarship scheme for minority students for which the Centre has given Rs 14.83 crore. Only Rs 6.87 crore has been released by the state so far. In case of the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme for minority community students, against Rs 7.12 crore sent by the Centre, only Rs 5.53 crore has been released by the state. Under the post-matric scholarship scheme, eligible students are given admission and tuition fee with a ceiling of up to Rs 10,000 for admission to vocational courses. The students are also eligible for a monthly maintenance ranging from Rs 235 per month to Rs 510 per month. In case of merit-cum-means scholarship, students are given course fee of up to Rs 20,000 per annum and a maintenance allowance of Rs 1,000 per month. Against Rs 73 crore sent by the Centre for the post-matric scholarship scheme for SC students, the state has released Rs 67 crore. The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has been constantly reminding the state to disburse the funds and submit a utilisation certificate. The ministry has also asked Punjab to upload the list of students who have been awarded scholarships in the previous year on its website so that the same can be linked with the ministry’s website. It has warned that failure to upload the list of beneficiaries of the previous year might result in non-consideration of proposals for release of funds for the current year.
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Sloganeering at Sukhbir’s rally
Gidderbaha
(Muktsar), September 14 Badal was here to address a series of rallies for his party candidates for the SGPC elections. At least 90 unemployed linemen were taken into custody when they raised slogans against the Badal government and disrupted the Chief Minister’s rally. Provoked, activists of the SAD thrashed
them. Badal said the Congress leadership was instigating these youth to disrupt SAD rallies. The district president of the unemployed linemen, Jaskaran
Purie, warned that they would continue to disrupt the CM’s public meetings tils they were absorbed in service. He claimed that during a meeting with Badal on August 22, officers of Powercom had assured them that the merit list of 5,000 unemployed linemen would be issued within a fortnight and they would be absorbed in service. However, nothing had been done. Meanwhile, Badal told mediapersons that Manpreet Singh Badal had committed a political blunder by parting ways with the SAD and floating the People’s Party of Punjab. He refused to comment on the decision of his younger brother Gurdas Badal to contest the assembly poll from the Lambi constituency. The chief minister accused the Congress of interfering with the election process and religious matters of the Sikhs, raising frivolous issues to derail the
elections. Zira: Enraged over denial of audience with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh
Badal, who was here to address a rally, members of the Unemployed Teachers’ Union and the Anganwadi Workers’ Union, today raised slogans against the government. Sukhbir addressed a public gathering at the grain market in support of SAD candidates from Zira and Talwandi
Bhai. He cautioned the people against the designs of the Congress. — OC
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Sehajdhari Row
New Delhi, September 14 The Sehajdhari Sikh Federation’s petition was listed for hearing today by a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and Nijjar. The federation has challenged the September 6 verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, suspending the HC’s September 1 order that had effectively granted the Sehjdharis the right to vote in the SGPC election. Shortly after the petition came up for hearing, Justice Nijjar said he would not like to be part of the Bench hearing the case. Apparently, he recused himself from the case as he is a Sehajdhari Sikh. Upon this, an order was passed suggesting that the case be allotted to another Bench at the same time granting liberty to the federation to plead for an urgent hearing of the case. In its special leave petition, the federation said the Full Bench of the HC could not have suspended the operation of the September 1 order merely on an application filed by the Central Government seeking its recall and without examining the “effect of suspension.” The Sehjdhari Sikhs also questioned the legal sustainability of the HC order which had denied them their “statutory right” to vote. The HC had passed the September 1 order on being informed by the Centre’s senior counsel Harbhagwan Singh that the government was withdrawing its October 8, 2003, notification that had taken away the voting rights of Sehjdhari Sikhs. Simultaneously, the HC had disposed of the three petitions filed in 2003 challenging the notification. However, the Centre filed an application later, contending it had not authorised Harbhagwan to make such a statement in the court. Thus, the Centre sought the recall of the High Court order.
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World War-II hero dies Ludhiana, September 14 Lt. Col. Dhillon fought in World War II in the British Indian Army. Lt. Col Dhillon was an NCO when he was taken a POW in 1943 and remained confided to POW Camp XII in Limburg near Frankfurt in Germany. He was rescued by Americans in December 1944 and taken to Paris from where he was brought to London and sent back to India. In the camp, he was responsible for the welfare of the POWs. He along with some Canadian, British and Australian soldiers managed to dig a tunnel while at the Odine POW camp near Naples in Italy. When the Germans arrested Marshal Missolini, Italian soldiers were disheartened. In the resultant laxity, Lt. Col. Dhillon and others managed to stage a dramatic escape. But he was caught soon along with others and brought back to Germany. Lt. Col Dhillon, who rose from being a Havildar during the war, was instrumental in successfully persuading the British Government to erect a war memorial for all those who had perished in the world wars in the early 2000s in London. He was invited to attend the Victory Parade in August, 1995. As part of marking 50 years of the war, he attended Liberation Day at Bethune in France, 29 km north of Arras, where two memorials have been erected for Indian soldiers who died in the two wars. He also visited the Menin Gate Memorial in Belgium, also in the memory of the Indian soldiers. At both the places, local inhabitants took his hand and kissed it, calling him their saviour. They thanked him for fighting for them. To his surprise during the Victory Parade in London, there was no mention of the Indian forces. This forced him to write to Queen Elizabeth. He also met the then Prime Minister John Major.
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Nawanshahr legislator JS Kariha dead
Nawanshahr, September 14 Born on March 2, 1948, Jathedar Kariha inherited the political legacy of his father Hardev Singh Kariha. When his father died in a road accident in March 1977, the young Kariha was fielded by the SAD and he became an MLA, defeating Congress stalwart Dilbagh Singh. He was again elected to the state assembly in 2000 and in 2007. Jathedar Kariha was a gentleman politician and even his political rivals had nothing to say against him. A large number of people, including representatives of political, social,educational, religious and trade organisations visited the Kariha residence to mourn the MLAs death. All private educational institutions in the area were closed as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Jathedar Kariha will be cremated at in his village on Friday.Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Cabinet colleagues will attend the last rites.
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Sukhbir announces Rs 25 lakh for hockey players
Malerkotla, September 14 With the announcement, the Deputy CM may have violated the SGPC election code of conduct. He was here to address an election rally in favour of SGPC candidate Jaipal Singh Mandian. Sukhbir said the Centre and Hockey India were playing with the sentiments of the players by announcing a mere Rs 25,000 for the victorious players. “Considering the fact that hockey is our national game, the reward money is a pittance,” he said, adding that the Punjab Government had always encouraged sports like kabbadi and hockey. Alleging interference by ADGP Mohammad Musfta in the Malerkotla constituency, Sukhbir said the officer was “terrifying” voters. He sought a detailed report within a week from the DGP regarding his activities in the constituency. Earlier, SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and area incharge Mohammad Izhar Alam (retired DGP), addressing the crowd, alleged that Mustafa was interfering in Malerkotla to favour his wife Razia Sultana, a Congress MLA
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Sarna dares Badals to a live debate on SGPC poll eve
Amritsar, September 14 Addressing mediapersons here today, Sarna said, “The father-son duo is running away from the Sikh issues. Let them come face to face with me in a debate. I will prove who is the Congress agent? They are boasting of their government’s achievements in the SGPC poll rallies while remaining tightlipped on whether they have any plan to curb apostasy and promote Sikhism.” He said if the SGPC elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, the Badals will surely get defeated. “The Badals have never campaigned so intensively in any SGPC election which shows how tough fight they are facing. They cannot win the elections this time without resorting to undemocratic ways.” He claimed that the Panthic Morcha has received a good response and they are in a strong position in 80 to 90 seats. He lashed out at the SAD for raking up political issues in the elections, alleging that the religious issues don’t figure in the ruling party’s agenda. Sarna alleged that “patits” (apostates) are running the poll campaign of the SAD and in some places the RSS and BJP men are also heading their campaign. He stated that if the SAD is serious about not allowing “patits” to caste their vote in the SGPC elections then they should place advertisements in all the newspapers, cautioning them that stern action would be taken against any “patit” found casting vote in the elections. The DSGMC chief urged the Centre to keep a close watch on Punjab and deploy Central forces to ensure free and fair SGPC elections.
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Gabria skips CM’s Ludhiana poll rally
Ludhiana, September 14 Not only the Jails Minister, but also city Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura was absent at the rally. Gabria and Giaspura are known opponents of Youth Akali Dal district president Simarjit Singh
Bains, younger brother of Balwinder Singh Bains. Since the rally was organised in support of the latter, the two preferred to stay away. Talking to The Tribune, Gabria said he did not attend the rally as he did not want to be insulted. "What if I was not offered a seat on the stage. I was not even invited to the rally by the candidate,” he said. However, Badal defended Gabria saying the latter may have been busy canvassing for some other Akali candidate. “Sukhbir too was not with me today. That does not mean, he doesnt want to support
Bains,” he quipped. He went on to say that all Akali workers opposing party candidates would be dealt with strongly. "We are taking serious note of such indiscipline,” he said, without naming
anybody. Bains, addressing the rally, hinted that several party leaders were opposing him clandestinely which might prove costly for the party.
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It’s smooth sailing for Bhaur in Nawanshahr
At present, four candidates from Balachaur and three from Nawanshahr constituency are in the fray. Both the SAD (B) nominees - Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur (Nawanshahr) and district party chief, Mohinder Singh Hussainpur (Balachaur), are seeking their third consecutive entry to the committee. An effective orator and shrewd politician, Bhaur has an in-depth knowledge of the Panthic issues, which is reflected in his convincing speeches that win the hearts of the old and young alike, going by the applause. A staunch loyalist of former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Bhaur starts his campaign early in the morning. “My priority as a committee member or its general secretary has always been to accelerate dharam prachar and education of the youth on modern lines in the present era. The methods of yore won’t work with today’s youth. In this context, we are now using the Internet and other mediums,” he said. Live telecast of gurbani from Sri Harmandar Sahib, setting up of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, setting up of a 'dharam prachar kendra' in the USA and computerisation of the functioning of the SGPC have been done during his term. Bhaur is pitted against Panthic Morcha candidate - 37-year-old Charanjit Singh Sujjon and the SAD (Amritsar) nominee Davinder Singh Khankhana. Sujjon is contesting for the first time. Though no personal mud-slinging has been witnessed so far, the Panthic Morcha candidate and Prabhjot Singh, who has been campaigning for Sujjon, harps on the alleged corruption in the committee and the resentment among the Sikhs for the failure of SGPC to check the growing menace of mushrooming of deras in the state. He is not nervous of being pitted against a stalwart and says that he is fighting for Panthic issues and the proper management of the gurdwaras and not against any individual.
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Pakhoke depending on one-to-one contact
He is leaving no stone unturned for ensuring his victory. He unsuccessfully contested assembly election from this seat in 2002. He lost in a triangular fight to Harmit Singh Sandhu, the party rebel and the sitting legislator now. Outwardly, the fight is on for the committee but insiders claim that he will be staking his claim for the assembly seat if he is victorious in these elections. Like others, he, too, is depending on one-to-one contact to see him through and addresses meetings going from village to village. “I have covered all the villages and am now concentrating on the city voters. However, my supporters are still canvassing for me in the countryside,” he reveals. He touches a raw nerve in the electorate by recalling the gruesome mass killings of the Sikhs in the ‘84 riots. “How can Sikhs vote for a party that has wrecked untold misery on the community? Why do people vote for them when it is the Badal government which has given free power and canal water to them,” he questions. Similarly, to lure the sizeable SC voters in this belt, he says why will the Dalits vote in favour of the Congress when the Akalis have started numerous schemes like the shagun scheme for the girl child and destitute women, he points out. He says his priorities are to open more schools, colleges, hospitals, and dharamshalas and create more infrastructure in the border areas. Pakhoke is pitted against Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (58), the Panthic Morcha candidate who is a greenhorn. If elected, he wants to do reforms in the Sikh shrines. Meanwhile, Manjit Singh, Chairman, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), a SAD candidate, has already been elected unopposed from Bhikhiwind. Interestingly, unlike other parts of the state, the Congress leaders are actively supporting the Panthic Morcha candidates, especially in Naushehra Pannuan, Patti and
Valtoha.
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Amarinder’s allegations on fuel expenses baseless: Makkar
Ludhiana, September 14 “Capt Amarinder Singh, Paramjit Singh
Sarna, Ravi Inder Singh and his opposition parties are making these baseless statements,” said
Makkar. Makkar said he has been allotted a Toyota Camry and two Maruti Gypsies (as escort vehicles). “Besides, it is for three vehicles and not one. I spent at least Rs 3,000 worth of petrol everyday, which is used in Camry alone. Whenever I travel in the country, I use my official car and I stand on my words that I did not misuse the SGPC funds for the purpose,” said
Makkar, who even claimed that he is not even having the SGPC help staff at his house in
Ludhiana. Makkar said, “He (Capt)should restrain himself from making such misleading statements or face the wrath of the Sikh community.”
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Hansi Butana: Women join indefinite fast
Patiala, September 14 As the chain hunger strike by the agitating farmers, led by the leaders of the BKU Ekta (Dakaunda), entered eighth day, the women from several flood-prone villages, reached Dharmheri village to extend their support to the protesters. Speaking to The Tribune, Simarjit Kaur from Dharmheri village said, "Every year we have to suffer monetary loss on account of damage to the crops because of flash floods. Considering the devastation caused by the last year’s floods, even now the life of inhabitants of the villages on the Punjab-Haryana border near Haripur village is under threat." Another woman from Sassi Brahmana village, Rekha Rani said it was really unfortunate that despite coming to the rescue of the affected villagers, the political parties are indulging in the blame game and are trying to get political mileage from this crucial issue. "We demand that the construction work of the concrete wall should be stopped immediately and the government of Punjab and Haryana should resolve the matter amicably", she said. Another villager, Nirmala Devi said the best way to sort out the matter is through mutual understanding, for which the Union Government should step in and find a middle path to end the fight between Punjab and Haryana over the issue of Hansi-Butana canal, as well as the under-construction wall. Meanwhile, in protest against the reported statements issued by SAD (Badal) general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, wherein he had stated that villagers are agitating unnecessarily, the protestors led by BKU Ekta (Dakaunda) district president Dr Darshan Pal, blocked the Patiala-Kaithal road for one hour.
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Bhakra dam level rises despite spillage
Chandigarh, September 14 The BBMB authorities have decided to keep a safety margin of five feet to keep a safeguard against heavy rains towards the end of the monsoon season. Accordingly, the dam authorities are maintaining a level at around 1,680 feet. They have decided to play safe despite views of the experts that they are being over cautious and that the dam should be allowed to fill up till 1,685 feet as has happened in previous years. They disclosed that inflows into the Bhakra dam right now is averaging at around 40,000 cusecs. Around 36,000 cusecs is being discharged from the dam presently with about 4,000 cusecs being discharged through the spillway gates and the remaining through the powerhouse.
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SSP meets agitating SGPC member Panjoli
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 14 SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra met Panjoli and assured him of “concrete action” on his complaint. The matter seems to have been sorted out. Earlier, a DSP and an inspector-level officer tried to convince Panjoli to lift the dharna but in vain. At a press conference at the Fatehgarh Sahib police station on Monday, Panjoli had accused the SSP of deliberately not adding “attempt to murder” charges against his son’s attackers. Panjoli alleged a group of youths had broken the windows of his son’s car and attacked him with swords. Panjoli wanted that a case should be registered under Section 307 of the IPC against the assailants. Khatra had earlier said that he had forwarded the complaint to the district attorney and would act as per the rules. Panjoli’s elder son Lovepreet Singh, a student of SGPC-run Mata Gujari Collegehere was attacked a few days back. Relatives of the youths booked for allegedly attacking Lovepreet had raised slogans in favour of the police.They held Panjoli’s son responsible for the incident, accusing him of allegedly removing the turban of one of the youths.
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JEs to boycott Engineers Day celebrations
Patiala, September 14 "Perturbed over the discriminatory attitude of the management towards the Junior Engineers, we have decided to launch a 24-hour chain hunger strike in front of PSPCL headquarters at Patiala on September 15,” added Swaran. Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister, Punjab, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, PWD Minister, Punjab, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Hira Singh Gabria are scheduled to attend the Engineers Day programme at Ludhiana. General secretary of the council Davinder Singh said in the second phase of their agitation, a zone-wise batch, comprising seven members from each zone, would sit on 24-hour chain fast from September 15 to 22 to highlight step-motherly treatment being meted out to the JEs by the state government.
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Mansa MC fails to recover Rs 1.75 cr house
tax
Mansa, September 14 While the Mansa DC owes house tax of Rs 20 lakh and the SSP owes Rs 9 lakh as house tax to the MC. Besides the DC and the SSP, the information reveals that DTO, ADC, district welfare office, DEO (secondary), panchayat samiti, zila parishad, civil hospital and many other government departments that are in the list of defaulters. The total amount to be recovered from the government buildings is Rs 69,55,012, which includes Rs 5,02,664 as rate of interest. The house tax on private buildings is Rs 1.7 crore. Maximum amount of Rs 2,69,825 is to be paid by the Mansa police, besides other government departments in the district. President of Mansa MC Atamjit Kala rued that despite writing umpteen times to the police and civil administration, nothing has been done to pay the house tax.
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Baby boy found abandoned
Bathinda, September 14
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Closure of liquor shops in wake of SGPC poll
Chandigarh, September 14 Appearing for a retail licencee before the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Jaswant Singh, Haryana’s Additional Advocate-General Vikram Jain contended that in view of the compulsory pulling down of shutters, the wine contractors were well within their rights to claim compensation by way of remission in the licence fee, proportionate to the period of closure. Going into the background of the matter, Jain asserted the District Magistrates, on the directions from the Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, ordered the closure of liquor shops for three days from September 16. Jain contended the order of closure was not in conformity with the provisions of Punjab Excise Act, 1914, which called for a prior notice to the
licencee.
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Activists of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) thrashed unemployed linemen who tried to disrupt an election rally of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here
today.
Nawanshahr, September 14
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh for the Indian hockey team that returned home from China after winning the Asian Champions Trophy.
With the announcement, the Deputy CM may have violated the SGPC election code of conduct. He was here to address an election rally in favour of SGPC candidate Jaipal Singh
Mandian.
Amritsar, September 14
The rumble and tumble of politics is second nature to Jathedar Sukhdev Singh
Bhaur, who is the secretary-general of the SGPC for the past nine years.
Nawanshahr, September 14
Tarn Taran, September 14