|
|
|
|
|
Don't campaign for Akalis, Capt to Kejriwal
Hawala money: Police, CM give clean chit to Sukhpal Khaira
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Advani’s yatra greeted with black flags at several places
SAD MPs plan to meet PM, says Sukhbir
12 pc pregnant women diabetics in state
Cong MLA Jain in a spot
Amarinder scuttled PM’s visit, alleges CM
PSPCL engineers to resort to work-to-rule
Issue white paper on black money: Advani
Convict flees, but cops too busy with yatra
Get ready for chilly days: Met Dept
Patiala Dy Mayor quits
Punjab unaided colleges irked over govt policies
Dr JS Dhaliwal, president, Punjab Unaided Technical Institutions Association, in Chandigarh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
VAT on fuel: Cabinet likely to take up matter on Nov 18
Pathankot Improvement Trust caught on the wrong foot
Punjab to issue licences to 5,651 wood-based units
Doctors end strike
Addl Secy dies in mishap
Minor girl gangraped in Moga village
|
Don't campaign for Akalis, Capt to Kejriwal
Mohali, November 13 Referring to the recently held Hisar elections, where the civil society held an aggressive anti-Congress campaign, the PPCC chief claimed that the campaign rather helped the HJC and the INLD. "If Kejriwal wants to come to Punjab, he should be aware of the Akali government from where four BJP ministers were removed for facing corruption charges," the former CM said while addressing a rally as part of the Punjab Bachao Yatra at the Dasehra Ground here. "I am warning the Akali leadership to stop harassing Congress workers. If the police is not performing its duty, we have to take the law and order in our own hands and reply in the same fashion," he said, while trying to strike a chord with party workers as ticket aspirants had ensured a heavy turnout and could be seen jostling to sit near the former CM. Capt Amarinder also questioned BJP leader LK Advani's moral authority to lead an anti-corruption yatra in Punjab where his party had "crossed all limits of corruption". The Akali leadership had grabbed the sand mines, liquor trade, transport business and the cable operations, he alleged. Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, Punjab Congress in-charge, said if voted to power, the Congress would bring a strong Lokpal. Minister of State for External Affairs Perneet Kaur claimed that the people of the state had already made up their mind to bring the Congress back to power. Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and senior leader and CWC member Jagmeet Singh Brar also spoke on the occasion. Those present included Mohinder Singh Gill, Balbir Sidhu, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, Deepinder Dhillon, Rajbir Singh Padiala and Jagmohan Singh Kang.
|
|
Hawala money: Police, CM give clean chit to Sukhpal Khaira
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too gave a clean chit to Sukhpal Khaira. During his visit to Ludhiana today, he said the intended recipient of Rs 3.64 crore unaccounted cash was one Sukhpal Singh and not Sukhpal Singh Khaira. “I personally intervened in the matter,” claimed Badal. Interestingly, the man behind the entire fiasco, Rajpura SP Manmohan Sharma, kept on reiterating that Khaira's name did figure in the case, but senior policemen have confirmed that it was a case of mistaken identity and Khaira has nothing to do with the hawala money. The police also clarified that though the money seized was meant to be handed over to former Indian Youth Congress treasurer Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, the latter too was not involved in the case. Notably, Sukhpal is former Congress Minister Gurchet Singh Bhullar's son and is a contender for the post of the Punjab Youth Congress president. Meanwhile, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh said the unfortunate episode had proved that Punjab police made a futile attempt to implicate a senior Congress leader in a false case. He said, "The Akali government stands exposed on the issue. I have been maintaining for a long time that the Punjab Police has been working on the dictates of the ruling party. Since Khaira has been one of the most vocal Congress leaders against the corrupt Akali regime, he was being targeted by the SAD-BJP government". Khaira said because of an "irresponsible" police officer, his image had been dented in India and abroad. "It is good that the senior police officials have officially accepted that I have nothing to do with the case. However, action should be initiated against the erring officer”. “I will not spare those responsible behind the concocted story of my involvement in the case," he said, adding that the entire episode was good enough for the people to realise that how the police force was trying to suppress the voice of the Congress at the behest of the Akali regime.
|
||
|
Advani’s yatra greeted with black flags at several places
Doomwali (Bathinda), November 13 Advani entered Punjab in the noon at Doomwali in Bathinda district after completing his Haryana tour. Advani’s cavalcade was to proceed towards Hanuman Chowk in Bathinda after passing through the bus stand. However, he was piloted to Hanuman Chowk through a longer route. At least 30 activists of the SAD (A) raising slogans against Advani were whisked away by the police. Mann had earlier announced that his party activists would disturb Advani’s rallies, maintaining that the leader was responsible for Operation Bluestar. At Advani’s wayside rally in Barnala , a youth raised slogans and protested against Advani’s autobiography in which he has included a chapter “The trauma and triumph of Punjab” pertaining to Operation Bluestar. The youth was whisked away by the police Earlier, 45 activists of the SAD (Delhi) led by their Punjab unit chief Jaswinder Singh Baliawal carrying black flags were rounded up near Doomwali. They wanted to submit a memorandum to the DC against Advani’s rath yatra in the state. Baliawal said the memorandum had been mailed to Advani. Elaborate security arrangements were made throughout the route and the police was deployed in strength. A posse of officers led by a DIG piloted the cavalcade. The reception at the state’s border with Haryana Doomwali virtually turned out to be a SAD show with BJP activists in thin attendance. Advani was received by MP Harsimrat Kaur, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder, BJP general secretary JP Nadda, Industries Minister Tikshan Sud and state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma. SAD activists outnumbered those of the BJP throughout the 45 km route. At his first public address at Doomwali, Advani said the SAD was a natural ally of the BJP and showered praise in the CM. Addressing rallies at Pathrala and Bathinda, Advani said the Congress-led UPA Government had failed to come up to the expectations of the common people. He said 2010 was a year of scams and the people should make 2012 a year of accountability (during the elections).
Traffic jams keep cops on their toes
Raikot/Mullanpur, November 13 They were led by Jathedar Surjit Singh Khalsa, president, SAD (Amritsar). The jathedar said Advani was spreading hatred among the masses through his yatra. He said the leader had already done much harm to the nation through his earlier yatra and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Addressing gatherings, Advani alleged that the UPA Government had failed to protect the rights of farmers, traders and employees. Ridiculing PM Manmohan Singh, he said the latter could not take a single decision without AICC chief Sonia Gandhi’s nod.The police remained on its toes, managing traffic jams.
|
||
|
SAD MPs plan to meet PM, says Sukhbir
Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a Kabaddi World Cup match here, Sukhbir reiterated the charge that former CM Capt Amarinder Singh and his son Raninder Singh Tikku had more than Rs 400 crore in Swiss Banks. The Deputy Chief Minister said the people of the country had every right to know about those leaders who had siphoned off the tax payers’ money and stashed it abroad. He said the Union Government had received information from banks in Switzerland about the persons from India having accounts there, who had also been issued notices by the Income Tax Department. Continuing his scathing attack on the PPCC chief, Sukhbir said Capt Amarinder was answerable to the people of the state for denying them development for five long years. The Deputy CM said the SAD-BJP combine would seek mandate on the plank of development. It would expose the role of UPA ministers in artificially raising the prices of essential commodities to benefit some private players in the industry, he said. About the formation of a third front in the state, Sukhbir said, “If you add a zero to zero, it will remain a zero. The third front is nothing but a coterie of disgruntled leaders”. Prominent amongst those present included Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu, MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, DC S. Karuna Raju and other civil and police officials of the district.
|
||
|
12 pc pregnant women diabetics in state
It was revealed recently by Dr Geeti Puri Arora, a city-based diabetologist who is leading a project ‘gestational diabetes in Punjab’. The two-year long project, which started in January this year, is being supported and funded by World Diabetes Foundation and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. Talking to the Tribune, Arora said, “Earlier 2-3 per cent pregnant women used to suffer from diabetes. But this year we observed that about 12 per cent pregnant women of the state are diabetic”. The main components of the ongoing project are screening of pregnant women for gestational diabetes, training of healthcare professionals with respect to gestational diabetes and creating awareness among general population. She said majority of the women were not bothered about importance of diabetes test during pregnancy. She said, “Through this project we are helping the Punjab government to spread awareness among women”. Pregnant women were screened for diabetes free of cost in different hospitals of the state. These included Rajindra Medical College, Patiala; Government Medical College, Amritsar; Government Medical College, Faridkot; Sri Rama Charitable Hospital, Dholewal Ludhiana; Chawla Nursing Home Basti Jodhewal, Ludhiana; Deep Hospital, Ludhiana and primary health centres and civil hospitals of health department in districts of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and
Faridkot.
|
||
Cong MLA Jain in a spot
Moga, November 13 President of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), also an MP and member of the Congress Working Committee, Dr G Sanjeeva Reddy, at a rally here yesterday publicly backed the claim of local lawyer Vijay Dhir to the party ticket from this constituency. Dhir is the president of the district unit of INTUC and has the backing of a powerful lobby of labour unions in the area. Earlier, he wanted to contest the assembly election from the nearby Dharamkot constituency, but has now begun lobbying for his nomination from Moga, much to the unease of the sitting party legislator. Former minister Dr Malti Thapar, who was elected to the assembly in the 1992 elections from here, has also publicly announced her support for Dhir. Dr Thapar has pulled out from Moga expressing her desire to contest from the Dharamkot constituency where she has been holding “nukkar” sabhas in the rural areas for the past few months. Interestingly, when Dhir publicly announced his wish to contest from Moga, Jain stood up from the dais and walked out, without addressing the gathering.
|
||
|
Amarinder scuttled PM’s visit, alleges CM
Amritsar, November 13 He was in the city today for laying foundation stone of the Golden Temple entrance plaza and inauguration of new Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre coming up at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital complex here. Slamming the PPCC president and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for creating hurdles in the development of Punjab, Badal said he had personally invited the Prime Minister to inaugurate the Virasat-e-Khalsa Centre at Anandpur Sahib. “Amarinder Singh dissuaded the PM not to participate in the function and even went on to the extent of complaining against him (Badal) to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. These unethical actions of Amarinder speak about his frustration due to non-performance of the Congress government in Punjab during his last regime.” Asked to comment on the possibility of their electoral alliance with the BSP, Badal said the SAD was ready to join hands with any like-minded party to oust the Congress in the forthcoming assembly polls. Replying to a query on the SAD’s agenda for the forthcoming assembly elections, Badal categorically said the SAD-BJP alliance would contest solely on the poll plank of development, peace and communal harmony.
|
|
PSPCL engineers to resort to work-to-rule
This engineers’ protest may plunge some parts of the state into darkness in case of a technical snag in any of the thermal plants after dusk. President of the PSEB Engineers' Association HS Bedi said: "Since the recommendations by the committee constituted by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for revision of the generation incentive (GI) have been ignored by the management, our association has been compelled to take the harsh decision of resorting to work-to-rule from Monday. “The Power Corporation has won several awards for its performance. But at the meeting of the Board of Directors on November 11, the corporation decided on a meagre increase of 15-20 per cent GI, which is a cruel joke on the thermal engineers. We appeal to the CM to intervene in the matter." The strike by the engineers would mean that they would not handle/operate any equipment for which they have not been specifically trained. Furthermore, no equipment, including generators, would be operated beyond the rated capacity. Senior functionaries of the corporation, say that the engineers play the most important role in the day-to-day functioning of thermal plants. "If there is a major breakdown during the night hours, it will not be possible to handle the situation without the assistance of engineers. So, the management should find a way out to deal with the issue", said an officer attached with the office of the Director, Generation. Talks between representatives of the PSEB Joint Forum and the PSPCL management failed this afternoon. "Since the management has failed to issue orders regarding the demands of the employees, we will start protest demonstrations from November 15 and hold rallies in all parts of the state", said Karamchand Bhardwaj, secretary, PSEB Joint Forum. Director Generation, PSPCL, GS Chhabra refused to comment on the matter, saying the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors were yet to come.
|
|
|
Issue white paper on black money: Advani
Ludhiana, November 13 Addressing a public rally at Daresi Grounds, after his rath yatra entered the city more than an hour behind schedule, he said the focus of the Opposition parties in the coming winter session of Parliament would be on black money. “The government will do well to issue a white paper before the session and make public the list containing the names of 700 Indians who have stashed black money in Swiss banks,” he said. The BJP leader was accompanied by CM Parkash Singh Badal, party vice-president Shanta Kumar, general secretary Anant Kumar, Minister for Local Bodies and Industry Tikshan Sud state president of the BJP Ashwani Sharma Lashing out at the Centre for its “naked patronage of corruption”, Advani said the blatant attempts by the government to defend corrupt persons, including ministers, had brought a bad name to the country. In his speech, which lasted about 30 minutes, Advani claimed that US-based agency Global Financial Integration Institute had assessed that some Rs 250 lakh crore was lying with overseas banks. “It is most unfortunate that the Congres-led UPA Government has chosen not to act over such a vital issue.” Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal welcomed Advani. He pledged his party’s support to the anti-corruption movement.
Convict flees, but cops too busy with yatra
Jalandhar, November 13 Kapurthala DSP Kulwant Singh Heer said efforts would be made to nab Ghuba after BJP leader LK Advani’s visit tomorrow.
IMeanwhile, warders Hans Raj and Nishan Singh have been suspended for negligence. — TNS.
|
|
|
Get ready for chilly days: Met Dept
Jalandhar, November 13 “After December 15, we expect to see icy cold conditions coupled with a thick blanket of fog,” the officials said. The maximum temperature would hover between 20 degrees Celcius and 23 degrees Celsius and the minimum between 3 degrees Celcius and 5 degrees Celsius, they said. On if there would be more snowfall in the hills, they said: “As of now, there is no western disturbances on the upper surface of Jammu and Kashmir and the northern region.” The department said there was no possibility of rain in the region yet.
|
|
|
Patiala Dy Mayor quits
Sonia has sent her resignation to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, state BJP president Ashwani Sharma, Municipal Commissioner GS Sidhu and senior BJP leaders. A copy of the resignation released to the media on Sunday evening reads that Anil Bajaj was not only acting in a "dictatorial" manner but was deliberately creating unnecessary hurdles in the development works in ward number 34, represented by Sonia. Sonia alleged that Kohli and Bajaj were hand in glove and were committing financial irregularities. "Before the General House meeting as well as the meeting of the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC), both Kohli and Bajaj never consulted me on any of the issues related to the civic body", she alleged adding that because of the autocratic self-styled approach of the Mayor and Senior Deputy Mayor, the people of Patiala, particularly ward number 34 were suffering a lot. In second week of October this year, BJP Councillor from Ward Number 7 Sarita Gera had also resigned from the primary membership of the BJP alleging that she was being humiliated and harassed by Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli just because she was exposing the alleged corruption prevalent in the MC. Another BJP councillor from ward number 25, Navneet Kaur had also put in her papers earlier. Despite repeated attempts, Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli was not available for comments. However, speaking to TNS, Senior Deputy Mayor Anil Bajaj said he had not received any resignation so far. "It is not possible to comment on the matter until I get the copy of the resignation. But, still I can assure that everything in MC was being done as per the rules in a transparent manner", he said.
|
|
|
Punjab unaided colleges irked over govt policies
Chandigarh, November 13 Dr JS Dhaliwal, president, Punjab Unaided Technical Institutions Association (PUTIA), said the non-supportive policies of the government and regulatory bodies, including the All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) and Punjab Technical University (PTU), have brought the colleges on the verge of closure. ”Over 15 institutes in the state are already contemplating to seek permission from the authorities concerned to shut the institutes”, Dhaliwal said. The association has been demanding that the government should exempt these institutes from Change of Land Use (CLU), External Development Charges (EDC), Property Tax, Commercial Transport Charges, stamp duty etc. Dhaliwal said an estimated investment of Rs 6,000 crore have been made on these 400 unaided colleges, including 100 engineering institutes, across the state. However, setting up a clear example of misplaced priorities, all the unaided colleges are at the receiving end. The PUTIA members claimed that the non-existence of IT industries in the state has also affected the colleges as the students are now travelling to cities like Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad for studies due to the presence of big players in the IT sector there which offer fat pay packages to the students. “With an aim to protect the sinking technical institutes the state government needs to attract more of the IT and Manufacturing based industries that can employ the students studying in these institutes”, Dhaliwal said. According to sources, there are over 35,000 seats in engineering colleges of Punjab, out of which around 40 per cent seats are still lying vacant. Satnam Singh Sandhu, one of the members of the PUTIA, said, “The private technical institutions need to be given due representation in the policy-making process”.
|
|
|
VAT on fuel: Cabinet likely to take up matter on Nov 18
Chandigarh, November 13 Sources in the government say the the issue will be taken up in the state Cabinet meeting scheduled for November 18. Though the government has yet to decide on how much VAT is to be slashed, sources in the state excise department said that it could be brought on a par with the the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh ( 24 per cent) from the present rate of 27.5 per cent. Petrol prices in the state are the second highest in the country after Karnataka.This is mainly because of the high rate of taxes levied on fuels by the state. Punjab charges VAT at the rate of 27.5 per cent on petrol (plus a surcharge of 10 per cent on VAT), octroi at the rate of 10 per cent and a cess of Re 1 per litre. This means that 32. 75 per cent of total cost of petrol (per litre) actually goes as tax to the government. This year, VAT collection from petrol is expected to contribute over Rs 2,100 crore to the state’s kitty. Being a major source of revenue for the state government, it has so far remained unwilling to slash its taxes on fuel. Though the state government had recently announced a cut in VAT rate on aviation turbine fuel (from 20 per cent to 5 per cent), it was only meant to bring relief to international airlines getting refuelling done at the international airport in Amritsar. “Because of low taxes on fuel in neighbouring states of Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, fuel in these states is cheaper by Rs 7- 8 per litre than in Punjab. As a result, most consumers living in areas bordering these states, get their fuel supply from neighbouring states, causing huge losses to 850 retail outlets located in the border areas of Punjab. In order to help these retail outlets run their business and to bring relief to the common man, the government should actually withdraw the surcharge on VAT, cess and octroi,” said JP Khanna, president of the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association.
|
|
|
Pathankot Improvement Trust caught on the wrong foot
Pathankot, November 13 The activist claimed that the money spent by the Trust on the installation of founder president of Bhartiya Jan Sangh, Syama Parsad Mookerjee’s statue at Madhopur and on the subsequent function held to unveil it in March, 2010, was not spent in a ‘transparent manner’. He said it had no jurisdiction to spend money on an event held outside the city’s municipal limits. According to contents of an RTI filed by Kailash Kumar, considered to be close to former Pathankot MLA Ashok Sharma, it is being claimed that Rs 1.26 crore was spent on construction of the statue, its installation and on laying of a concrete road leading to the venue of the statue, 3 km off the Pathankot-Jammu highway. Apprehending that they would fall short of funds, the Trust with the permission of the state government asked the Mandi Gobindgarh Municipal Council (MC) to send some funds, which, the latter obliged by giving Rs 80 lakh allegedly on the recommendations of the then Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia. Moreover, the function was observed as a ‘state level’ function so that the state government could also chip in with the requisite funds. The contents of the RTI reveal that an amount of Rs 1.26 core was spent on the statue and it’s subsequent unveiling. Out of this amount, Rs 29.86 lakh was spent on the construction of the statue, Rs 14.55 lakh on a parking lot, Rs 26 lakh on beautification of the area adjoining the statue while Rs 5 lakh was spent on fixing of lights. However, chairman of the Trust, Anil Vasudeva claimed that under Section 69A of the Punjab Town and Improvement Trust Act, 1992, the Trust can construct anything outside the municipal limits of the town. “Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a national hero. We have done nothing wrong and I also have a permission to expand the premises around where the statue has been installed which I will do in near future,” said Vasudeva. He said the entire amount was spent with the permission of a committee headed by the then Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Vasudeva said former MLA Ashok Sharma was playing a political game. “Why was Sharma quiet for the past three years when work on the statue had started and why was the matter being flared up now when the elections are round the corner?” he asked.
|
|
|
Punjab to issue licences to 5,651 wood-based units
Chandigarh, November 13 Presiding over a high-level departmental meeting, Forest and Wild Life Preservation Minister Arunesh Shakir said the WBIs, comprising 5,290 sawmills, 139 veneer mills, 203 plywood factories and 19 other units would be issued licences on the basis of one-time payment. He said 360 WBIs established after October 30, 2002 were closed down as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
|
|
Patiala, November 13 Dr Ashish informed that Anjali Bhawra explained our demands to Chief Minister and Navjot Singh Sidhu also supported it. “The Chief Minister have assured us that our demands are genuine and will be fulfilled by the government as early as possible and asked us to end our agitation,” he added. He said in view of the CM’s assurance we have ended our strike and have resumed work in the hospital.— TNS
|
|
Addl Secy dies in mishap
He was on his way to Jalandhar from Beas. The mishap occurred at about 10.30 am when Prabhakar’s driver Baldev Singh, a resident of Kurali village near Lambran, reportedly lost control of the steering wheel of Chevrolet Optra (PB-08BD-0585) and hit a Santro car, a motorcycle, a cycle and an Innova (PB-02BE-9933) before colliding with a private bus. Three persons, including a woman, were injured. The SP (Detective), Gurmit Singh, said Prabhakar died on the spot. The driver had a miraculous escape. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC against him who is said to have fled. Prabhakar is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.
|
|
|
Minor girl gangraped in Moga village
Moga, November 13 The police, after going through the medical report of the victim, registered a criminal case against the four youths yesterday. Those booked include Gurlal Singh, son of Mukhtiar Singh, Harsimran Singh Mann and Gurjit Singh Chinda. The victim told the police that the youths forcibly took her in a car in a sanitary shop and raped her one by one. When her condition deteriorated, she was taken to a private clinic after which she was dropped on the outskirts of the village. She later narrated the tragic tale to her mother. Her father brought the girl to the district hospital and reported the incident to the police.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Doomwali (Bathinda), November 13
Irked over the state government and perceived step-motherly treatment as part of the state government’s policies towards the unaided technical institutions of Punjab, over 400 un-aided colleges of Punjab are going to hold a conference at Mohali on November 18
Patiala, November 13
Ferozepur, November 13
Ludhiana, November 13
Patiala, November 13
Patiala, November 13
Jalandhar, November 13