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ECIL engineers check voting machines
CM to skip President’s function
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Ramoowalia is a spent force, says Amarinder
SGPC House: SAD keeps cards close to its chest on co-option
Garg: If ignored by SAD, may contest on PPP ticket
Manpreet’s son flies from US to lend
a helping hand
In Badal’s village, water tanks supply poll slogans
Jassi: Will contest only from Bathinda
Caste census aimed at identifying BPL households: Union Secy
Badal condemns assault on Pawar
Takht chief warns leaders visiting dera
No official help for blind hippo so far
Slaughterhouse raided
HC fines Excise officials for withholding imported goods
Court sets terms of appointment for extension educator’s post
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ECIL engineers check voting machines
Ferozepur, November 24 Raju said the entire process would take five days. The process was being recorded and the representatives of various political parties had been asked to oversee the same to their satisfaction. The DC also said the general manager, District Industries Centre, had been made the overall incharge for the maintenance and provisioning of EVMs. He had also been instructed to ensure that no EVM developed any technical fault and all its parts, including control unit, ballot unit, battery etc were properly functional, he added. Raju said all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the assembly elections were being made. Firearms licence holders had been told to deposit their weapons to the nearest police station by December 4, he said, adding that elaborate security apparatus would be put in place to avoid any untoward
incident during polling.
At least 880 electronic voting machines are being checked thoroughly to ensure that the machines do not break down or incur any fault during the poll process — S Karuna Raju, DC
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CM to skip President’s function
Patiala, November 24 Officials attached with the Chief Minister said Badal would be attending separate programmes at Sahnewal (Ludhiana) and Gurdaspur on that day. Badal’s media adviser Harcharan Bains said, “The Chief Minister will not be able to attend the ceremony as he has other engagements. As per protocol, if the President is visiting the state capital, the Chief Minister is supposed to receive him and be with him during the stay. But if the President is visiting some other city, the Chief Minister can depute his envoy. Therefore, BJP’s Leader in the House Tikshan Sud has been deputed to be with the President.” Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema also confirmed that the Chief minister would not be coming to Patiala on Sunday. Meanwhile, after the final rehearsal for the ceremony to be held under the aegis of the Headquarters 1 Armoured Division, General Officer Commanding (Black Elephant Division) Major General Ravindar Pratap Sahi, while addressing mediapersons, stated that the Punjab Chief Minister had been extended the invite and he was expected to be at the ceremony. Besides tanks, Bofor guns would be positioned at artificially created dunes during the ceremony. The presentation of “The Standards” by the Supreme Commander of the armed forces is an apt recognition of the service rendered by the regiments to the nation.
The Protocol
As per the protocol, if the President is visiting the state capital, the Chief Minister is supposed to receive him and be with him during the stay. But if the President is visiting some other city, the Chief Minister can depute his envoy. Therefore, BJP’s Leader in the House Tikshan Sud has been deputed to be with the President — Harcharan
Bains, Media adviser to CM
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Ramoowalia is a spent force, says Amarinder
This explained Badal’s submission to every term and condition set by Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, otherwise a spent force, for merging his party with the SAD, he said. Capt Amarinder Singh ridiculed Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s claim that with Ramoowalia joining the SAD, the party would rule Punjab for another 50 years.“However, if it really boosts the sagging morale of the demoralised Badals, who are running away from their respective constituencies, then their plight is really pitiable”, he remarked. The claim that the SAD would rule for another 50 years was hopllow as Badal was finding it difficult to identify a safe seat for himself and his son, He remarked. “It is natural for a man who has spent 70 years in politics and remained Chief Minister four times and is yet unable to identify a safe seat for himself to walk an extra mile to welcome to the party fold a man like Ramoowalia, a spent force in today’s politics”, the PCC presidentobserved.“Ramoowalia’s value is the same as that of an outdated cheque”, he claimed. The former Chief Minister pointed out that Ramoowalia and his Lok Bhalai Party was a non-entity from day one as it had polled 1.17 per cent votes in the 2002 elections and a mere .36 per cent in the 2007 elections.
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SGPC House: SAD keeps cards close to its chest on co-option
SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema said, “We have not yet decided any names for co-option and a meeting to finalise these names would be conducted a day or two prior to December 5 when the House is to be constituted.” Cheema denied any comment when asked whether the party would stick to the old guard or there will be new faces. He, however, hinted that senior SAD leaders like Kirpal Singh Badungar and Raghujit Singh Virk would be retained. Badungar held the top SGPC post between 2001 and 2003 and was nominated twice in the past (1996 and 2004). It would be third nomination in a row for Virk as well after 1996 and 2004. He held the post of senior vice-president in the last House. Meanwhile, the Amritsar administration has started the preparations for the first meeting of the new SGPC House. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said the venue of the meeting will be decided in consultation with the Sikh Gurdwara Election Commission. The SGPC, however, hinted at the possibility of the same being conducted at Bhai Gurdas Hall, which is on the way to the Golden Temple. The SGPC House has a total of 191 members, of which 170 are elected members. There are 15 nominated members, out of which five are from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh while the remaining 10 come from the rest of the country. Apart from these, the jathedars of all five Takhts and the head granthi of Harmandar Sahib, Amritsar, are also the members of the House.
about co-option
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Shifting Loyalties
“I may even seek the support of People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh Badal and contest on the PPP ticket, if forced to do so”, he said in an interview today. At a rally in Gobindpura a few days ago, Manpreet Badal had indicated that either Chiranji Lal Garg or his son Rajan would contest on the PPP ticket from Bathinda. Garg said he had felt betrayed by the party when during the last elections he was denied the party ticket from Bathinda, “despite his 40-year-long association with Parkash Singh Badal and loyalty to the SAD.” He said he had been dumped even though in October 2006 Badal had announced at the Katar Singh Wala village gurdwara that he would be fielded from Bathinda. “The same night, speaking at a Ramlila in Bathinda, Badal had appealed to the people to make me victorious, saying that he would make me the Finance Minister. However, in December 2006 Sarup Chand Singla was allotted the party ticket and everybody knows the reasons for the same,” he claimed. Garg said he had been ignored by the party during the past five years. “I am unable to understand why I have been ignored by the party leadership. I have been called the Chief Minister’s Hanuman, such has been my loyalty to him.” Garg said he was the only Hindu leader in the SAD who had remained with the party during the Emergency and the militancy era in Punjab. He had received several threats but had remained steadfast in his loyalty to the SAD, he added.
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Manpreet’s son flies from US to lend
a helping hand
Moving door to door, Arjun urges the people to distinguish between “wrong and right”. He visited Seikh, Samagh, Khunankhurd, Gilzewala and Maniawala villages in the Gidderbaha constituency today. Accompanied by his father’s loyalists, the young Arjun holds four or five meetings in every village. Restrained in his use of words for the opposition, he talks of development in Europe, comparing it with that in Punjab. “The main reason for Punjab’s tardy developed in the past 50 years is because its political leadership is not working according to the wishes of the people. In developed countries, nearly 50 per cent of the budget is spent on education and health,” he tells voters in Khunankhurd village. “Without eliminating corruption and without basic amenities like education, food and health, our state will continue to lag behind others for another 50 years,” he warns. “Having been associated with my father for the past 16 years, I leave it to you to judge him,” he says, while making a special appeal to the youth to be aware of “what is happening around you because tomorrow belongs to you.” Arjun, who leaves for the US next week, promises to return to Gidderbaha next month for his winter break along with sister Riya and cousin Aazam. Asked if he was grooming his son for electoral politics, Manpreet Badal said: “I don’t want my son in politics at this stage.I want him to understand the people’s problems, complete his education and return home to serve his people.”
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Basmati growers block highway
Fazilka, November 24 The farmers sat on a dharna outside gate no. 2 of the local grain market, blocking the traffic on both sides of the Abohar and Ferozepur roads. Members of the Arhtiya Association, Fazilka, led by its president Daya Krishan Sachdeva, also joined the farmers. Notably, rice millers and exporters are the bulk purchasers of this variety of paddy. Iqbal Singh Gill and Jaspreet Singh, both residents of Pakka Chisti village, alleged that the farmers were being exploited by private traders as the latter had made a lobby and had been offering a lower price to them. The fine quality of basmati 1121 variety was being purchased at about Rs 1,300 per quintal, they said. Other farmers also alleged that the private traders had been fixing the price of paddy on a daily basis. “Due to traders’ lobby, the auction system is practically not possible. Thus the farmers are forced to sell their paddy at the rates fixed by the traders,” alleged Sachdeva. The basmati paddy was sold at Rs 2,300 per quintal last year, he added. Gurnam Singh of Kabulshah Khubban village said the government should come to their rescue as it was on government’s persuasion that farmers shifted to this variety of paddy which required less water. “I will not cultivate 1121 variety of basmati in future. The income by cultivating this paddy is about 50 per cent as compared to the parmal variety,” he said. Meanwhile, Tejwant Singh Tita, who is the president of Rice Millers Association, Fazilka, said the millers were making cautious purchases after assessing the economical viability of the produce.
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In Badal’s village, water tanks supply poll slogans
Badal (Muktsar), November 24 It is another matter that the electricity bills of these water tanks have not been paid for the past many months. According to the information provided by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, the outstanding bill of the two water supply tanks in Badal village is Rs 4.27 lakh (connection No MS-14/0007) and Rs 4.20 lakh (connection No BS-57/89) and that of the water tank in Lambi area about Rs 64 lakh. Parmod Kumar, XEN, Public Health and Sanitation Department, said the electricity bill would be paid soon as the amount had already been released by the head office in Patiala.
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Jassi: Will contest only from Bathinda
Bathinda, November 24 Jassi said instead of contesting from any other constituency, he would rather support the party candidate chosen by the high command, pointing out that he had been allotted the party ticket four times. On his affiliation with party president Capt Amarinder Singh, Jassi said he was neither with the Amarinder Singh or the Rajinder Kaur Bhattal camp. He said he would remain loyal to party president Sonia Gandhi.
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Ahead of poll, Bhatti turns ‘entrepreneur’
Mohali, November 24 Timing the ceremony ahead of the Vidhan Sabha elections in Punjab, Bhatti along with his troupe presented a brief skit to depict the whole affair of politicians repeatedly laying foundation stones of projects that never take off, reflecting legendary cartoonist RK Laxman’s illustration on the issue. Soon after the skit, Bhatti along with Anooj Kapoor, Business Head, SAB TV, laid the foundation stone of the factory. “When the industry is in a shambles, at least the business of providing foundation stones would turn our fortunes”, remarked Bhatti while spoofing at the poll gimmicks of the politicians. Addressing the gathering, he said the works of RK Laxman had always influenced him and today’s skit was also a reflection of the entire system.
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Caste census aimed at identifying BPL households: Union Secy
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 24 He visited Fatehpur Arian village to take stock of the SECC work and interacted with the villagers. He enquired about the ongoing Central Government schemes and the data being collected by enumerators. The villagers demanded more public-oriented schemes. He said the government would take into account seven dimensions of deprivation based on the indicators that were being collected through the SECC, while chalking out Five-Year plans. He also inspected the development works being carried out under MGNREGA and other Central government schemes. Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan informed the Secretary that in Fatehgarh Sahib, 1,142 enumerator blocks were set up and out these the work has been completed in 1,131 blocks and the remaining would be completed within days. He disclosed that in the current year, 25,597 job cards were given under MGNREGA and Rs 4.81 crore was distributed to them. Mandip Singh Sandhu, Financial Commissioner, Rural Development, Punjab, Seema Jain, Director, Census, KS Pannu, Joint Director, IRD, were also present on the occasion.
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Badal condemns assault on Pawar
Chandigarh, November 24 In a statement here, Badal said though issues like inflation and price rise were hurting everyone, the methods to protest against such issues must be peaceful and democratic. “We cannot support an act of violence, no matter how grave the provocation is,” said Badal. The Chief Minister, however, said the people were becoming increasingly desperate in the face of unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities, but that did not justify the acts of violence to lodge a protest.
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Takht chief warns leaders visiting dera
Amritsar, November 24 Meanwhile, even as Sikh organisations have been seeking action against PPP chief Manpreet Badal for visiting Dera Sacha Sauda recently, a peep into the past reveals that the Akal Takht has never acted against any Sikh politician visiting the dera, although it is a violation of its edict dated May 20, 2007, which directs the Sikhs to socially boycott the dera. Among the leaders who had visited the dera in the past include PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, Gurcharan Singh Galib (Ludhiana), Sher Singh Ghubhaiya (Ferozepur), Raninder Singh (Bathinda), Jagmeet Singh Brar (Ferozepur), and Sukhvinder Singh Danny (Faridkot). Of these, Ghubaiya is the SAD MP from Ferozepur while the remaining leaders belong to the Congress. The SAD also faced the allegation of ensuring covert support of the dera before fielding Harsimrat Kaur from the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. Earlier, senior vice-president of SAD Gurdev Badal had said, “It is neither wrong to visit Dera Sacha Sauda nor an aberration to seek votes from this sect which has a large following”.
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No official help for blind hippo so far
Following a report in The Tribune, Patiala Deputy Commissioner asked the SDM Patiala to submit a detailed report on the ill hippo being showcased in circus. Following the orders, the SDM today visited the circus premises and asked the functionaries to get all their animals checked from a government veterinary doctor and submit the report on Friday. Raja, the 32-year-old hippopotamus, is being forced to perform at the circus despite ill-health and numerous notices issued by the NGOs and the Animal Welfare Board of India, advising against it. A few days ago, The Tribune had highlighted the plight of the hippo. Patiala SDM Anil Garg said he would ask the Wildlife Department to inspect all animals and also check their ownership certificates. “No violation will be allowed”, he said. Declared medically unfit by a government veterinary doctor here, Dr Gurmeet Singh, the hippo has been advised regular monitoring and treatment. Patiala DFO (Wildlife) had sent a letter to Patiala DC Vikas Garg to take action to rescue the animal. Earlier, the Animal Welfare Board of India had issued a show-cause notice to the circus authorities for failing to reply to earlier notice when the hippo was showcased despite suffering from “corneal opacity and its vision being very less”. Patiala DFO (Wildlife) Ashwani Kumar has already visited the circus and warned them to take proper care of their animals and ensure that the hippo is not showcased. Honorary Wildlife Warden Patiala, Ravee Singh Ahluwalia today met police officers and the Patiala Deputy Commissioner to ensure safe custody of the animal. "The circus should also prove the ownership record of all animals they have as the condition of the animals is pathetic", he added.
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Slaughterhouse raided
Dera Bassi, November 24 During the raids, two cows were found dead near the premises of the slaughterhouse. Villagers present on the occasion said slaughterhouses situated near here have been discharging effluents and untreated water in the nearby areas, causing pollution. Manager of MK Overseas, Colonel Sahota denied the charges of discharging the effluents and untreated water in the open and slaughtering of the cows. He said all norms of the pollution control were being adopted by the plant.
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HC fines Excise officials for withholding imported goods
Chandigarh, November 24 Taking up a petition filed by Champion Photostat Industrial Corporation through counsel Saurabh Kapoor, the Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice GS Sandhawalia has imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 each on the two commissioners. The Bench held that the two, Ludhiana Assistant Commissioner Lakshya Kumar and Amritsar Commissioner, Customs, Ranjit Singh, had caused harassment to the petitioner company. The petitioner had alleged that the Customs Department kept the goods imported by it in its custody for more than four months on the ground that the petitioner was not competent to get the device imported as he was not qualified. It was argued that as per a public notice issued by the Commissioner, Excise and Customs, no person who is plus-two pass will be competent to get goods imported. The High Court asserted: “The stand of the respondents that educational qualification of secondary school certificate (SSC) i.e. 10+2 is mandatory even for an importer, who wishes to submit bill of entry by himself, is wholly illegal and untenable”.
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Court sets terms of appointment for extension educator’s post
Chandigarh, November 24 The development is significant as 90 posts were advertised vide notification dated July 26. Taking up the petition filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents by Mohamd Nazir and other petitioners working as Multipurpose Health Workers (Male), the Bench of Justice Permod Kohli and Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa asserted: “Under the rules in vogue at the time of advertisement, the essential qualifications for the post of Block Extension Educator was he should be a graduate from a recognised university or institution; and should possess a diploma in journalism from a recognised university or institution”. The Bench said: “Admittedly, the petitioners do not possess the diploma in journalism from a recognised university, which is one of the essential qualification prescribed under Rules. “This petition has been filed seeking to challenge the rules to the extent the additional qualification of diploma in journalism has been introduced in 2007 Rules. It is contended that prior to the amendments in 2007 Rules, this qualification was not prescribed and the petitioners were eligible for consideration against the post. “The other contention is that the introduction of the diploma in journalism has no relation with the post of Block Extension Educator”.
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Chandigarh, November
24
Amritsar, November 24
Bathinda, November 24
Gidderbaha, November 24
Patiala, November 24