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Nod to package for Goindwal industry
Railway Minister flags off Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi
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Rift within BJP worries SAD
Follow interdisciplinary model of education,
says Prof Yash Pal
Teachers seek immediate release of arrears
Top admn posts vacant
in Fatehgarh Sahib
Now, Badal to open Khalsa Heritage Centre on Nov 25
Sports equipment out, Badal’s hoardings in
Pak denies visa to 409 pilgrims
Ramdev all praise for Deputy CM
Khalra case: SC upholds life sentence to six policemen
Next hearing fixed for Nov 11
One gets jail in cheque bounce case
Egg loot on Mukerian highway!
One killed in road accident in Lalru
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Nod to package for Goindwal industry
Chandigarh, November 4 An official spokesperson said the Cabinet also approved the draft of the Punjab State Commission for Minorities Act, 2011, for setting up a commission The Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to slashing the VAT on aviation turbine fuel being used by commercial airlines from the International Airport, Amritsar, from 20 per cent to 5per cent. It gave its nod to “Mohali hi-tech cluster” to develop a common facility centre under the Cluster Development Programme of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India. The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to Punjab State Power Corporation for an additional guarantee of Rs 500 crore for raising working capital loans this fiscal. It enhanced the scholarship amount to five cadets from Punjab pursuing training at the National Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, from Rs 15,000 to Rs 33,000 per annum. It gave its assent to the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation to convert its state capital contribution, government loans and interest thereon amounting to Rs 107.39 crore into equity to make it financially viable. It decided to further engage the services of health and veterinary pharmacists working as service providers before April 30, 2011, under the pay package offered to them by the then rural medical/veterinary officers in 1,186 subsidiary health centres and 582 civil veterinary hospitals under the control of zila parishads, at a salary of Rs 7,000 per month as a stop-gap arrangement. Likewise, the Cabinet approved Rs 3,000 per month to the sweepers at health subsidiary centres and civil veterinary hospitals. It also approved requisite election staff for the newly created Pathankot and Fazilka districts and the two new tehsils at Dharamkot and Guru Har Sahai. Cabinet decisions... Approval to establishing ‘Mohali Hi-tech Cluster’ for developing a common Scholarship amount enhanced to Rs 33,000 per annum for five cadets from the state pursuing training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun PEPSU Road Transport Corporation allowed to convert its state capital contribution, government loans and interest thereon amounting to Rs 107.39 crore into equity to make it financially viable Nod to requisite election staff for the newly-created Pathankot and Fazilka districts besides the two new sub-divisions at Dharamkot and Guru Har Sahai
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Railway Minister flags off Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi
Ludhiana, November 4 Before flagging off the train on its maiden run at Ludhiana railway station today, the minister, without referring to the "credit war" between the two Congress MPs, said the then Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had credited Manish Tewari’s efforts while announcing the introduction of a new Shatabdi train in her railway budget speech. Muniyappa hastily added that the Sangrur MP had also vigorously taken up the matter with the Railway Minister and PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh, requesting them to run the train via Sangrur and Rohtak. The minister maintained a "perfect balance" between the two MPs present at the function. While he invited Tewari to hold the green flag to give the signal to the train for its departure, he travelled by the same train along with Singla to Sangrur, where a ceremonial reception was accorded during its halt. Earlier, talking to mediapersons, the minister said, the prestigious Rs 1,104 crore Ludhiana-Chandigarh rail link project was progressing well. Out of the 112-km stretch, 45 km of Chandigarh-Morinda section had become operational, 17-km Ludhiana-Sahnewal railway line would be completed and will be commissioned shortly while 17.36-km new Morinda-Khamano line was also nearing completion. The new railway line between Nangaldam-Talwara and Nangaldam-Churaru-Tukral-Amb-Andaura, he added, had been completed and commissioned while survey for the new lines between Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri and Chandigarh-Baddi had been completed. Similarly, work for new railway lines between Ghanoli-Dehradun and Anandpur Sahib-Garh-shankar as well as doubling work on existing railway lines between Jakhal-Mansa, Mansa-Bathinda, Jalandhar-Pathankot-Jammu Tawi and Ambala Cantt-Dappar phase I are under progress.
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Why the govt hurry
Chandigarh, November 4 Available information suggests his application for the coveted post is accompanied by 20 recommendations. This has raised many an eyebrow. The recommendations are believed to have been made by academicians and some prominent persons. The general perception is that Dhanda “obliged” to those for catapulting him to the Chairman’s post may find it hard to maintain a neutral stance, if appointed again. The Punjab Government had in July appointed Dhanda with “a pre-conceived mind”. His name was considered and recommended for appointment in a day. Virtually passing strictures on the Punjab Government, a Full Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice Permod Kohli and Justice K Kannan had minced no words saying: “The records pertaining to the decision-making process have been produced. In so far as they are relevant to the choice of the Chairman, they contain no more than a single sheet of the bio-data of the fourth respondent (Dhanda). “Only the name of the respondent was considered and recommended for appointment in a day…. The appointment was made with a pre-conceived mind and in a determined manner to appoint the respondent as Chairman of the commission”. Acting on a petition filed by Panchkula-based advocate Salil Sabhlok through counsel DS Patwalia, the Bench had ruled: “Since the decision-making process is not transparent, objective and no effort has been made to choose the best possible talent to discharge the Constitutional functions, the appointment of the respondent (Dhanda) is liable to be set aside.” Dhanda has applied for the post as two committees constituted by CM Parkash Singh Badal to select the Chairman and four members in October has invited applications from eminent persons of integrity and administrative experience. The committees have been constituted in sync with the the HC recommendations. His application for the coveted post is accompanied by 20 recommendations. This has raised many an eyebrow Recommendations have been made by academicians, prominent persons The State of Punjab, on the one hand, has challenged before the Supreme Court the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Full Bench in Dhanda’s appointment case and on the other is implementing the directions issued by the High Court’s Full Bench by constituting committees for the Chairman’s appointment. The action of constituting the committees, even as the matter is pending before the apex court, reflects the government’s eagerness to appoint PPSC Chairman before its tenure comes to an end.
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Won’t react to Capt’s outbursts: Sukhbir
Jalandhar, November 4 “Amarinder has apparently lost his mental balance. Showing disrespect to elders is against our culture,” said Sukhbir while interacting with mediapersons. He suggested that instead of the “Punjab Bachao” rally, Amarinder should hold a “Desh Bachao, Punjab Bachao” rally as the UPA Government was mired in corruption. On the Kabaddi World Cup, he said the SAD-BJP government had spent just Rs 6-7 crore to promote the sport worldwide. “It was Amarinder who wasted Rs 9 crore on the Indo-Pak Games in Patiala in 2004”, he maintained. He accused Amarinder of handing over the entire liquor business to Ponty Chadha when in power. “If the excise revenue was Rs 70 crore per annum during his rule, it has increased to Rs 1,700 crore now,” he added. Withdraw hike in petrol price: CM Mehalkalan (Barnala): Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike in the price of petrol by Rs 1.82 a litre. Badal, who was here for a Sangat Darshan, accused the Centre of trying to benefit private oil companies at the cost of the common man. — TNS
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Rift within BJP worries SAD
Chandigarh, November 4 In the first four years of the SAD-BJP tenure, the BJP remained an active partner in the affairs of the state. But after some BJP ministers were dropped and portfolios of others changed, the BJP has been struggling to regain its position in the alliance. Even though the Local Government Department is headed by BJP’s leader in the Vidhan Sabha Tikshan Sud, important announcements, such as the Urban Development Package (UDP), have been made by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, albeit in the presence of Sud. The SAD has had its way in several recent decisions. For example when the SAD government recently made appointments in the office of the Advocate-General, the BJP was not consulted. The BJP, that has a pre-dominantly urban vote bank, had demanded money for development in cities. Initially, a sum of Rs 800 crore was promised, but the then Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia persuaded the government to raise the money to Rs 1,100 crore. But finally Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced only Rs 317 crore and there was no objection from any quarter in the BJP. The image of the BJP has taken a dip in the past one year with officials of departments headed by BJP leaders making allegations of corruption. After BJP’s Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana was arrested for graft, other officers have made serious charges against some sitting ministers. Some issues pertaining to corruption against Sud are also pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Three new Municipal Corporations were announced for Pathankot, Phagwara and Moga to woo the urban voters. But the formation of all three corporations has been stayed by the High Court. BJP president Nitin Gadkari who is visiting Punjab will reportedly be surrounded by men who owe allegiance to a Delhi-based BJP leader. Even though he will be holding meetings with the state executive, core committee, office-bearers and important leaders, the SAD leadership is sceptical on whether he will be apprised of the actual state of affairs. Saffron trouble The BJP image has suffered a setback after some of its ministers were dropped on corruption charges Its urban vote bank has been dented with only Rs 317 cr announced for urban areas instead of the expected Rs 1,100 cr The formation of 3 new municipal corporations for Pathankot, Phagwara and Moga to woo urban voters has been stayed by the HC
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Follow interdisciplinary model of education,
says Prof Yash Pal
Banur, November 4 The conference was inaugurated by renowned scientist Padma Shri Prof Yash Pal on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said our education system should follow interdisciplinary model of education to compete with world-class technology. He talked about the fundamentals of research in the field of science and technology and its implementation in the development of society. Every student can play a vital role in the development of society by choosing some goals in his life, he said. Former Vice-Chancellor of Gautam Budha University, Prof RS Nirjar highlighted the role of our age-old value system in the overall development of society. Former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Swaran Singh Boparai recounted his experiences as administrator and suggested the managements of educational institutions to ensure that quality education should reach to each and every underprivileged children of this country. Welcoming the guests, Er Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, Chairman, SUS Group of Institutions, said every possible help would be provided to all the institutions to organise such conferences in future also. In project exhibition, DAV Public School, Patiala, got 1st position in satellite communication, St John School got 2nd and Our Lady of Fatima Convent School got 3rd position. In science quiz, Sherry Tyagi and Shivam Dhir of St John School got 1st position and DAV School, Patiala, got 2nd position. In government school categories, Govt. Senior Secondary School, Bakarpur, got 1st position in project exhibition and Davinder Kaur of Govt. Senior Secondary School, Kurali, got 1st position in essay writing.
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Teachers seek immediate release of arrears
Patiala, November 4 Prof Jaipal said the demand of giving full pension benefits to the teaching staff after 20 years of service has not been accepted by the Punjab Government so far. "The government has announced that full pension benefits would be given to the teachers after 25 years of service as against the earlier condition of 33 years of service. But our association demands that after the completion of 20 years of service, the teachers must be given full pension benefits", he added.
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Top admn posts vacant
in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 4 Besides, the post of SDM Khamano is also lying vacant while many other officers such as the DDPO and the secretary, zila parishad, have the charge of other district as well. The dearth of top administrative officials has been causing inconvenience
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hub of sikh legacy
Chandigarh, November 4 Earlier, the PM was to inaugurate the KHC. The Minister said that people from all the religions across the globe would participate in these functions with enthusiasm. Dr Upinderjit also gave approval in principle for inviting country’s legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar or Asha Bhonsle, for the occasion. It was also suggested to invite other eminent folk and Punjabi singers like Jaspinder Narula and Sukhwinder Bitti, along with their troupes, for a joint performance on the occasion. The meeting also approved the setting up of 14 committees like the organising committee, the event management committee, the reception committee, the transport, board and lodging, press and publicity, site, security, sanitation and other committees to ensure hassle-free commemoration of the event.
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4 youths back from Sharjah
Amritsar, November 4 It was an emotional reunion. Rashpinder’s grand-father had come from Moga to take him home. He said he would not allow him to go abroad ever again. Charanjit Kumar’s mother was there with relatives and friends from Nawanshahr. Sukhpal Singh’s father said his family would visit the Golden Temple to thank the Almighty. Rakesh Kumar’s father, who had came from Maqsoodan (Jalandhar), said he had sent his eldest son Joginder Pal to Doha about seven months back. Dubai-based hotelier SP Singh Oberoi, who made arrangements for the return of the four youths, said he was happy to see the youths reunited with their dear ones.
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Sports equipment out, Badal’s hoardings in
Bathinda, November 4 The sports kits were found dumped in the open this morning at a spot emanating much stench. Sports Department officials said they had been directed to keep the huge hoardings inside the stadium in ‘‘safe custody”. Employees at the stadium, who pleaded anonymity, admitted that the sports material lying outside could suffer damage. “There is also the possibility of the sports kits being stolen,” said an employee. He pointed out that sports material, furniture of the District Sports Officer (DSO) and the recently purchased gym equipment had been shifted outside a few days ago on the orders of senior functionaries. “This was done to make space for the practising sessions of dancers and performers at the Kabaddi World Cup’s opening ceremony,” the employee said. Sportspersons allege that the newly built sports stadium is touted as a multipurpose stadium “but actually there is neither any facility for sportspersons, nor any coach for boxers, judokas and kabaddi players.” When contacted, District Sports Officer (DSO) Karam Singh Sidhu said the problem would be sorted out soon.
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Ludhiana kabaddi player seeks alms
Ludhiana, November 4 Keepa, who was last seen seeking donations at a football tournament at Mehma Singh Wala and Kila Raipur earlier this year, laments the day he got hooked to kabbadi. In February 2008, Keepa slipped while stopping a raider from the opposite team and ruptured his spinal cord. Though the organisers had shifted him to a multi-speciality hospital in Ludhiana, nobody bothered to inquire about his fate after the doctors declared that a huge amount of money would be needed for his surgery and post-operative treatment. The family was shocked when doctors told them that he would not be able to move either of his limbs if the surgery was not conducted immediately. It was not possible for the family to arrange Rs 6 lakh required for the surgery. Hailing from Dhatta village in Ludhiana district, Keepa’s family is looking for the Deputy CM’s help to bail him out of the crisis situation. “Our son’s plight was used as a poll issue by politicians who visited the family during the last Lok Sabha elections and he was promised financial help for undertaking treatment. But these politicians never turned up after the polls,” said Charan Singh, a village elder, while sympathising with Keepa. “Can anyone judge the pain of a player, who used to receive thousands as prize for his outstanding performance amid clamour and clapping, now forced to seek donations for his treatment on the grounds of disability?” asked
Keepa.
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Pak denies visa to 409 pilgrims
Amritsar, November 4 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar dubbed denial of visa to the pilgrims by the Pak High Commission as unfortunate while stating that it had hurt the religious sentiments of the community. He said the Pak High Commission did not assign any reason behind its move.
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Khalra case: SC upholds life sentence to six policemen
New Delhi, November 4 A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan provided as many as 24 reasons for confirming the life term despite the fact that the body of Khalra could not be recovered. In the 58-page verdict, the Bench pointed out that eyewitnesses had confirmed that Khalra had been abducted and detained. “Tolerance of police atrocities, as in this case, would amount to acceptance of systematic subversion and erosion of the rule of the law ,” the SC ruled while accepting the contention of Additional Solicitor-General Mohan Jain that any relief to the accused would shake the faith of the common man in the law enforcing machinery. Endorsing the October 16, 2007, verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhancing to life imprisonment the seven-year term awarded to Prithipal, Satnam, Surinderpal and Jasbir, the SC Bench said the HC could not have remained “a silent spectator where stinking facts warrant interference in order to serve the interest of justice.” The SC noted that Khalra had informed a large number of people that he was facing a threat to his life. Further, Khalra was able to generate public pressure against the police authorities which angered the police. The Punjab Police did not pursue the complaint filed by the victim’s wife Paramjit Kaur. It also did not cooperate with the CBI which subsequently investigated the case. “The police officials of Punjab united in an unholy alliance as their colleagues were involved and the case was sure to tarnish the image of Punjab Police,” the apex court noted. The accused policemen attempted to prevent the testimony of the witnesses by threatening, harassing and implicating them in false criminal cases, it observed. “We do not find any reason to interfere with the well-reasoned judgment and order of the HC. The facts of the case do not warrant review of the findings recorded by the courts below. The appeals lack merit and are accordingly dismissed.”
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Harpreet Murder Case
Patiala, November 4 Talking to The Tribune, Kler said, "In order to ensure that no one can influence the witness, I can not disclose the name of the witnesses to whom I intend to put questions. I have submitted my application before the court and the next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for November 11." During today's court proceedings, the main accused Bibi Jagir Kaur and co-accused Sanjeev Kumar, Paramjit Singh Raipur, Harminder Singh and Satya were present, whereas Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Nishan Singh had got exemption from personal hearing.
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One gets jail in cheque bounce case
Patiala, November 4 The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class sent Surinder Singh to two years’ imprisonment after his cheque issued to Galley Financers and Property Consultants Private Limited bounced. The accused had taken a loan from the complainant in October 2006. He could neither repay the amount nor got the cheque issued by him passed from his account.
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Egg loot on Mukerian highway!
Mukerian, November 4 "Worse still, a few persons claiming to be police personnel took away several crates," he alleged. The looters seem to have lost no time selling the booty in the town. "We could not sell eggs in the town as shopkeepers said they had got a surplus supply," Sahni said.
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One killed in road accident in Lalru
Lalru, November 4 Two persons were seriously injured, who were admitted to PGI, Chandigarh, where one succumbed to his injuries. The deceased has been identified as Bhupinder singh, a resident of Sardarpura Colony, Lalru.— OC
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Vijayinder Singla for taking credit for the introduction of a Shatabdi train from Ludhiana to New Delhi via Sangrur and Rohtak, Union Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa sought to settle the issue by crediting both the MPs.
The Punjab Government is all set to inaugurate the world class Khalsa Heritage Centre
(KHC) to showcase the rich legacy of Sikh ideology and religion on November 25. The memorial would be dedicated to the nation by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal, it was announced here today. A decision to this effect has been taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Punjab Finance Minister and Chairperson of Sri Anandpur Sahib Foundation Dr Upinderjit
Kaur.
After the opening ceremony of the second Kabaddi World Cup, costly sports equipment worth lakhs was removed from the stadium and dumped in the open to make space for the 11 life-size hoardings as well as banners carrying pictures of the Chief Minister and the Deputy CM.
The Supreme Court today upheld the life sentence awarded to six Punjab policemen for abducting and murdering human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in September 1995 for exposing police misdeeds. The convicted policemen are DSP Jaspal Singh, ASI Amarjit Singh, Head Constable Prithipal Singh, Jhabal SHO Satnam Singh and SIs Surinderpal Singh and Jasbir Singh.
