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Poll on mind, Deputy CM inaugurates five projects
Gobindpura on the boil again
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2 months on, govt yet to fulfil promise made to martyr Lt Navdeep’s kin
Capt: VC may have been coerced into surrendering varsity land
DGP Kaushik promises free and fair assembly poll
Khosla designated Sr Additional AG
5 killed in Patiala mishap
Distilleries in Punjab to adopt zero
liquid discharge technology
‘Humiliated’ by Mayor, BJP councillor quits
‘Marriage shops’ come under the HC scanner
Two held for ‘kidnapping’ minor girl
Gang of robbers busted in Ferozepur
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Poll on mind, Deputy CM inaugurates five projects
But projects whose foundation stones were laid last year are yet to be completed
Ludhiana, October 11 He inaugurated the state-of-the-art fully digitalised Sub Registrar Offices at Transport Nagar, Gill Road and Humbran. He also opened a sports stadium in Sector 38-39 of the city, built at a cost of Rs 5 crore as well as the Partap Chowk flyover, even as projects whose foundation stones he had laid last year are yet to be completed. He also laid the foundation stone of a bridge on the Sutlej at Mattewara which is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 70 crore. This bridge will shorten the distance between Ludhiana and Nawanshahr by 30 km. Sukhbir said the “anti-development and anti-people” face of the Congress had been exposed with Capt Amarinder Singh blocking the release of central funds for various development works.The Partap Chowk flyover, that was thrown open to the public today, saw a delay of more than a month. Interestingly, it has been inaugurated in parts. Its ramp was inaugurated by minister Hira Singh Gabria on September 26 and the entire project by Sukhbir Badal today. Addressing a gathering at Mattewara, the Deputy CM said three years ago, the government had initiated revenue reforms to bring in transparency.
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Gobindpura on the boil again
Bathinda, October 11 According to information, the policemen allegedly barged into the houses of the villagers who were protesting against the “forcible” acquisition of land. Even women and children were beaten up with sticks, it is alleged. Sukhdev Singh Kokri, BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) leader, claimed that BKU activists Joginder Singh, Gurlal Singh and Wadhawa Singh suffered serious injuries during the police action. Three women, Jaswinder Kaur, Sukhdev Kaur and Amarjeet Kaur, were also among those injured. He said several farmers proceeding towards Gobindpura from the Sangrur district were rounded up by the police at Breta. Mukhtiar Singh, a villager, said the police was deployed in strength in the area to prevent the protesters from reaching the construction site. Mounted policemen also allegedly charged at the protesters and water cannons were used to chase them away. He alleged that the policemen smashed household goods of the residents in a bid to create scare in the village. PS Grewal, DIG (Bathinda range), who was present in the village, claimed a group of protesting farmers indulged in unprovoked pelting of stones on policemen who were deployed there. He said the protesters “kicked a woman constable on her stomach following which she fainted”. A mounted policeman also received injuries in the skirmish. The police exercised constraint, but was compelled to swing into action when the protestors indulged in brick-batting, he said. A couple of “miscreants” had been taken into custody, he said. Grewal said leaders of various farmers’ unions from outside Gobindpura were instigating trouble in the village. A majority of the villagers were satisfied with the compensation they had received in lieu of the land acquisition and only a handful of them had not accepted the cheques. Meanwhile, in a major sop to the residents of the village, the Punjab Government today initiated a special drive to recruit youth of the area in the police. A selection committee headed by Grewal camped in the village throughout the day conducting fitness test of the candidates. Grewal said 50 boys and eight girls appeared before the selection committee for the recruitment of constables. He said the recruitment drive had specially been initiated for the wards of those who had been uprooted from the village due to acquisition of land for the thermal plant.
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2 months on, govt yet to fulfil promise made to martyr Lt Navdeep’s kin
Gurdaspur, October 11 Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Defence Services Minister Balbir Singh Bath had made a slew of announcements during the ‘bhog’ ceremony of the late Lieutenant held here on August 29. The martyr’s kin, as announced by the ministers, were to get either a plot or Rs 5 lakh in cash along with a job to a member of the family -- either to his brother Sandeep Singh or sister Navjot Kaur. However, the Army has shown discipline in giving its former soldier his due. An officer from Lt Navdeep’s Hyderabad-based unit 15th Maratha Light Infantry has already collected relevant documents required for various benefits from his house. Apart from financial remuneration to his family, Lt Navdeep would be conferred upon a gallantry award posthumously. But from the government side, no one has knocked the martyr’s door after the bhog ceremony. And leave alone the plot or the jobs, the family was yet to receive even the ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh, announced the same day by the government. Col Harvinder Pal Singh, Director, Sainik Welfare, said the (state) government would act only after it received the ‘battle casualty report’ from his unit. Meanwhile, the family members were yet to come out of the shock. Sifting through a wad of letters received from various high ranking Army and civil officers, Navdeep’s father Honorary Lieutenant Joginder Singh recalled the confidence his son exuded a day before he laid down his life. “Navdeep spoke to me over the phone. The signal was weak but his voice was strong. He never knew that he would not live to see another day. Indeed, destiny follows no predictable pattern. My son was destined for bigger things in life had death not stepped in,” he said. Navjot Kaur, undergoing post-graduation in English at the Guru Nanak Dev University, summed it aptly: “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man, rather an Army officer, who lives life fully is prepared to lay down his life anytime. And that is what my brother did. Life without Navdeep is a big challenge. But I know that life's challenges are not supposed to paralyse you, they are supposed to help you, discover who you are.” The ultimate tribute to the soldier came from none other than the father himself: “Any one who might have looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier like Navdeep dying in a battlefield will always think hard about starting a war.”
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Joyride turns fatal as 3 kids burnt to death
Amritsar, October 11 The deceased have been identified as Gursharan Singh, Ramandeep Singh, both residents of Buchchal village, and Gurpreet Singh of Kohatwind village. Those injured were Sukhraj Singh, Harman Singh, Raman Kumar, Lal Singh and Karan Singh. According to information, the children had assembled at a marriage party in Kohatwind village. One of the kids managed to get the keys of the autorickshaw owned by his uncle. Thereafter, he drove away with six others for a joyride back towards Mehta village. As soon as they passed through the Nangal-Kohatwind road on their way back, the dense smoke emanating from the burnt paddy residue apparently intercepted their vision and they lost control over the vehicle. It ran into the nearby roadside fields and turned turtle over the portion of the field where the stubble was put on fire. The three kids who were sitting on the backseat could not manage to come out of the vehicle and were burnt alive. Mehta police station in-charge Rachhpal Singh said action was yet to be taken in the case. “We have not yet registered a case but definitely it calls for attention as despite deputy commissioner’s strict orders, the farmers do not refrain from burning paddy stubble. On the other hand, the autorickshaw was being driven by an underage kid. We are scrutinising the legal aspects and the case will be registered accordingly,” he said.
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Capt dares Badal to public debate on ads
Amritsar, October 11 Addressing a press conference here, Amarinder said the main issue was that of the Badals owning the PTC and giving undue broadcast and advertisement advantages to the channels. Referring to the “false and malicious propaganda” by the Badal family against him after he exposed the massive advertisement scandal, he said: “The Badals can’t mislead the public by trying to draw parallels with the advertisements given to a particular news channel.” The former CM said while his government gave advertisements to Punjab Today, it did not block any channel from airing its programmes. Nor did it give preferential treatment to a particular channel. “It was our duty, decision and discretion to give advertisements to different media organisations based on our assessment as to how much we would be benefited in return, but we did not own any of these channels or gave preferential treatment to any one at the cost of others.” The PPCC president noted that the Badals became owners of the channels after coming to power and gave the channels undue advantage by blocking other channels competing with the PTC and also issuing government advertisements to their own channels while ignoring the others. Amarinder Singh said he would do away with the “media monopoly” and bring in transparency in the functioning of the media. On the Right to Service Act, the former CM said there was nothing new in it except that the officials had been made accountable for any lapses. “Why only the officers, why not the ministers, who are the heads of departments, made accountable,” he asked. Amarinder favoured revision of the MSP for wheat and said he had written to the PM on the matter. Among those present at the conference were Chaudhary Jagjit, Sardul Singh, OP Soni, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and Laali Majithia. Capt promises to restore Maharishi Valmiki Chair The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh promised to restore Maharishi Valmiki Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala, set up during his tenure as CM and abolished by the SAD-BJP government. Addressing a function at Ram Tirath Temple to mark Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, he said if voted to power, the Congress government would release sufficient grants to the university for the Chair. Condemning the government’s "anti-Valmiki” stance, he said the ruling coalition had never cared about the Dalits and the downtrodden. Prominent among those present on the occasion were former minister Sardul Singh, Rana Gurjit, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, OP Soni and Om Parkash
Gabbar.
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Capt: VC may have been coerced into surrendering varsity land Chandigarh, October 11 Amarinder Singh said he suspected the hand of Bikram Majithia, brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, in the matter. In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said once the Congress came into power, an appeal would be made in the Supreme Court to ensure the land was restored to the university. He pointed out, the so-called owners had failed to establish their ownership of the land in the sessions court. “But thanks to the VC, they were offered the land on a platter,” he added. Going into the background of the case, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president said the Basti Nau Campus of university was in possession of 200 acres of prime land worth over Rs 200 crore. Land sharks, apparently patronised by Majithia, laid claim to the land. “They lost the case in the lower and sessions court as they could not prove their ownership.When the claimants appealed in the High Court, the VC submitted an affidavit saying the university had no right over the land and was prepared to surrender the same.” Amarinder Singh said Brar’s predecessor SP Singh had resisted pressure to withdraw the university claim over the land. “Brar should have taken the approval of the Syndicate on the matter,” the PPCC chief added.
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DGP Kaushik promises free and fair assembly poll
Patiala, October 11 “We have a tough job ahead and I am hopeful that we will perform our duty with transparency and check the distribution of weapons and drugs”, he said to a query. During his short visit to the Sadar police station, which is covered by the Saanjh scheme, the DGP said 300 Saanjh centres would be inaugurated by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal on October 17. These centres would ensure access to records in lieu of a minimum fee. The DGP refused to comment on the issue of IG (Lokpal) Sham Lal Gakhar not vacating his official accommodation in the city, despite being posted to Chandigarh. On the issue of promotion of police officers, Kaushik said he would follow the prescribed rules and there would be no out-of-turn promotions. Kaushik held a closed-door meeting with senior police officers of the range. As many as 40 gazetted officers attended the meeting at the Police Lines. “The DGP asked us to ensure that the coming assembly elections are held as peacefully as the recent SGPC poll”, a senior officer said.
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Khosla designated Sr Additional AG
Chandigarh, October 11 Accompanied by Khosla, Aggarwal reached the Advocate-General office this morning and took over the charge. Aggarwal is among the few Advocates-General to hold the post in both Haryana and Punjab. Soon after assuming the charge, Aggarwal said maintaining the dignity of the office and working hard to offer legal advice to the state was on the top of his agenda. Talking to the media, Aggarwal said for a counsel representing the state government or a private individual, the priority always was to provide best services. “I will try to do my best". In reply to a query on non-compliance of high court order by a section of government officials, resulting in directions for their personal appearance, Aggarwal said such officials would be advised appropriately. "I can understand there may be some individual government officials who may not be doing their duties as efficiently as they should. Always in such a case, the AG advises them and guides them. But, I feel the number of such officials is too less,” he added.
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5 killed in Patiala mishap
Patiala, October 11 A pall of gloom descended on the sub-divisions of Patiala following the news of their death. The deceased were on their way to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. The police said the victims had been identified as Amrik Singh (32), owner of Guru Nanak Combines, Nabha, his cousin, Narinder Jit Singh, Ravinder Singh Golu, Gurtej Singh, a Samana resident, and Satnam Singh, a Rajpura resident. According to an eyewitness and a nearby villager, Rajwinder Singh, the vehicle failed to negotiate a turn and fell into a ditch, resulting in their deaths. “There have been many accidents in the past also at this killer stretch, but the administration has failed to do anything in this regard,” Rajwinder said. Villagers said the bodies were badly mutilated and the police faced great difficulty in taking out the bodies from the vehicle. “There is no reflector nor a side railing on the bridge. Due to this, the speeding cars fail to curb their pace and turn alongside the road,” they said. The family members of the deceased said the scheduled visit by the victims was planned two days ago, but due to some delay they left early in the morning. Meanwhile, the police has ruled out any foul play. It said the bodies had been handed over to the family members after the post-mortem. Though local officials visited the spot, villagers were up in arms against the district administration and the PWD officials for not doing anything to save precious lives on the stretch.
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Distilleries in Punjab to adopt zero
liquid discharge technology
Patiala, October 11 According to information available with The Tribune, all the 12 distilleries of the state have assured the PPCB that they will set up zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology in their distilleries to ensure that no effluent is discharged into any drain or water channel. Confirming this, PPCB chairman KS Pannu said out of the 12 distilleries, four had already started to use the ZLD technology, whereas setting up of the technology in the rest of the distilleries was under process. The ZLD system provides numerous economic and environmental advantages as no effluent or discharge is left over. “Since the water is reclaimed, no effluent is discharged from the distillery unit. Through the ZLD technology, either the effluents/waste is reused or is eliminated through the scientific process to prevent any sort of pollution,” Pannu said. However, following reports that a few of the distilleries, manufacturing alcohol, are violating the environmental laws by discharging their effluents and waste into drains and water channels, PPCB officials had conducted surprise checking of the distilleries in July this year. During the inspection, some of the distilleries were found to be emitting black smoke, whereas in some distilleries, water was found to be stagnated in the plantation area. Subsequently, the board had told the erring distilleries that in case they continued to defy the prescribed pollution norms, strict action would be initiated against them under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act - 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act - 1981. “Because of our strict posture towards the violation of the pollution norms, the distilleries readily agreed to adopt the ZLD technology,” Pannu said. Senior environmental engineers of the PPCB said if the effluents of the distillery were discharged into a water channel, it was bound to pollute the underground water, thereby making it unfit for human consumption. Inquiries made by The Tribune revealed that the problem of water-borne diseases like gastroenteritis, cholera and Hepatitis-A were common in the villages from where some of the distilleries were operational.
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‘Humiliated’ by Mayor, BJP councillor quits
Patiala, October 11 The reason cited by Gera for taking such an extreme step is that she was being humiliated and harassed by Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli because she was exposing the alleged corruption prevalent in the municipal corporation. She said despite bringing the matter to the notice of Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma, nothing had been done. In her resignation sent to Sharma, copies of which have been sent to BJP’s national president Nitin Gadkari, senior party leaders and the media, Gera mentioned: “If the BJP is unable to maintain the integrity and respect of a woman councillor, I find no meaning in remaining with the party”. When contacted, Kohli said since the matter pertained to the BJP, he would not comment on it. “Being a disciplined member of the SAD (Badal), I will not speak anything in public,” he said, while adding that it was beyond his dignity to comment on frivolous allegations. However, despite repeated attempts, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma was not available for his comments.
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Chief Secretary inspects paddy procurement in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 11 This was stated by SC Aggarwal, Chief Secretary, while talking to mediapersons during his visit to the Khamano grain market yesterday. He said the Act would not only curb the menace of corruption but also would restore the dignity of the people and repose their faith in the transparency of the administration and make the administration accountable to the public as well. He had come here to take stock of the ongoing procurement of paddy and the implementation of the Right to Service Act. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan and officials of various departments. He said with the implementation of the Act, there would be least scope for corruption in the government offices. Answering a query about the procurement of paddy, he said the procurement process was going on smoothly. He appreciated the efforts of the district administration in the implementation of the Act as well as in the procurement process. The Deputy Commissioner told the Chief Secretary that the Right to Service Act had been implemented in the district and the officials had been directed to redress the grievances of the people as well as to get their work done within a stipulated period, otherwise they would be held responsible for the delay and suitable action under the Civil Services Act would be initiated against them. He said till today, 69,383 MT of paddy had been procured in the district by various agencies.
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‘Marriage shops’ come under the HC scanner
Chandigarh, October 11 The development is significant as “marriage shops” have over the years mushroomed in this part of the region to facilitate runaway couples in seeking the stamp of approval and protection from the courts, by giving them easy access to marriage certificates. Taking up the issue, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “This court in earlier cases had issued notice to the States of Punjab and Haryana, as well as UT Chandigarh, to ascertain the effect of marriage being performed in routine at some places, which are being termed as mandir or gurdwara, whereas apparently they are running a business”. He added: “How have they been authorised to issue marriage certificates and what will be the effect of such a certificate may also have to be seen”. Issuing notice of motion to the two states and the UT, Justice Ranjit Singh asked them to “assist the court in this regard”. He has also made it clear that runaway couples moving the High Court for protection may have to part ways with money for seeking security cover. Acting on their petitions, Justice Ranjit Singh has been giving the police authorities the liberty to ask the petitioners to reimburse the cost of the protection. In one such case of inter-caste marriage filed by Kiran Bala, alias Kiran Ahmad, and another petitioner against the Chandigarh administration and other respondents, Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: “The petitioners are seeking protection for their life and liberty as they have married against the wishes of their parents. The couple is present in the court. “The petition is disposed of with a direction to the SSP to look into the complaint and in case he finds there is any threat to their life and liberty, he will take appropriate action on the complaint. “The SSP will be at liberty to ask the petitioners to reimburse the cost of protection in case it is required to be provided to the petitioners”.
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Two held for ‘kidnapping’ minor girl
Patiala, October 11 The police said accused Amar, Rahul and Rama, residents of Dhakka Colony, Patiala, had allegedly tried to kidnap the girl. “When the girl did not return from school on Monday, her parents started searching for her and later found the three accused carrying something in a bag,” it said. “On being suspicious, they chased the three accused, who left the bag on the road and fled the spot. Later, the girl was found inside the bag,” said Rajesh Chibber, SHO, Kotwali. Not ruling out rape, the girl has been sent for a medical examination. “The medical report is awaited which will ascertain if the girl has been raped,” the SHO said. An FIR under Sections 363 (3) and 366 of the IPC has been registered against the accused and further investigations are on.
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Gang of robbers busted in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, October 11 Surjit Singh, SSP Ferozepur, said the arrested persons have been identified as Gurjit Singh, Inderjit Sharma, Gurbachan Singh, Jaswinder Singh and Satish Kumar who were apprehended by a police team following secret information from an abandoned government quarters near the Government College Ground in Zira.
— OC
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Ludhiana, October 11
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Aiming big
