|
|
|
|
|
Kapurthala DC told to serve notice on Bibi Jagir Kaur
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cong panel fails to reach consensus on 12 seats
Intense tussle within SAD for Batala seat
Safe drinking water
a key demand
Cong looking to open account here
Gidderbaha, Muktsar
EC: Record ex-DGP’s movements
Former DGP and SAD candidate from Moga PS Gill being greeted by a fruit vendor during campaigning. A Trinune photograph
A Tribune series on government performance: education
Tech colleges in merit crisis too
Raising the bar for teachers, curriculum the way to go
Disrespect to ‘Birs’ in Italy
Capt: Badal ‘interfering’ in EC working
Akalis face uphill task in Patiala district
Staff shortage hits working of language dept
College teachers meet CEO over election duties
Three months on, promoted headmasters await salaries
Include more veggies in export list: Farmers
Defence veterans to support party meeting their demands
Members of the All India Defence Brotherhood and the Indian Ex-servicemen's Movement address a press conference in Chandigarh on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
poll snippets
Complete probe into Henry’s nationality within 4 weeks: HC
|
SAD MLA Bhatti joins PPP
Sirhind, January 3 In 2007 election, Chandumajra was defeated by former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in the Lehra constituency. He has now shifted to Sirhind(Fatehgarh Sahib). Senior SAD leader Gurvinder Singh, president of the local Municipal Committee, some councillors, Zila Parishad and block samiti members joined the PPP along with Bhatti at a massive rally in the heart of the city. “Sukhbir Badal is a misfit in the political arena. He can do business better. Parkash Singh Badal should have handed over the political mantle to Manpreet Singh instead of Sukhbir ”, said Bhatti addressing the rally. Bhagwant Singh Mann said all were aware of the fact that Punjab was a sick state. “Manpreet is a political doctor, who has the right medicine to cure Punjab,” said Mann, adding that earlier Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh had administered spurious medicines and made the state a chronic patient. “ The time has come to consign political doctors such as Badal and Capt Amarinder to the dustbin of history”, he said. Manpeet said the PPP support base was increasing by the day. “The Congress and SAD leaders who thought that they would finish me by luring my supporters away will soon realize their folly”, he said. He said he would declare ‘education emergency’ and make drastic changes in the state’s education system if voted to power.
|
|
Kapurthala DC told to serve notice on Bibi Jagir Kaur
Chandigarh, January 3 “We have issued a notice to the school headmistress as well as Bibi Jagir Kaur asking them to explain why government premises were misused and an announcement of a grant was made, said Paramjit Singh, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner. The action followed in the wake of a complaint made by sitting MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira who enclosed the video footage of the function in which Yuvraj was clearly heard announcing a grant and making a political speech. He was speaking at a function organised by Krishan Kumar Kakkar Cricket Club on the school premises. Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu has asked the state government not to allow ADGP Mohd Mustafa and former Principal Secretary DS Guru’s wife to go on leave. Guru, whose wife is a Medical Officer in a government hospital in Chandigarh, is contesting from Bhadaur assembly segment on the SAD ticket. Mohd Mustafa’s wife, Razia Sultana, is a probable Congress candidate for Malerkotla seat. More transfers The Election Commission has transferred three IAS and five PCS officers. Alaknanda Dayal has been posted Special Secretary, Finance, with additional charge of Director, Small Savings and Director, Treasury and Accounts. Other postings are: Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs; Ramesh Kumar Ganta, Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice; Amarjit Paul, Special Secretary, Local Government; Daljit Singh, SDM, Dera Baba Nanak; Pardeep Kumar, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar; Vimal Kumar Setia, DTO, Amritsar and Mandeep Kaur, Joint Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
|
|
|
Cong panel fails to reach consensus on 12 seats
Chandigarh, January 3 The sources said the candidature of PCC chief Amarinder Singh’s son Raninder Singh had been cleared for the Patiala Rural seat. Randeep Singh had been allotted the Amloh seat, leaving former minister Jasjit Randhawa without a seat. The candidature of Vikram Bajwa, son-in-law of CLP Leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, had been cleared for the Sahnewal seat. Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Jagmeet Singh Brar’s brother Ripjit will fight from Muktsar, leaving Sunny Brar, son of former CM Harcharan Singh Brar, without a seat. Sources said the candidature of former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh is in doubt with the Youth Congress (YC) recommending his nephew Vikramjit from Kartarpur. Other names recommended by the YC include Kuljit Singh Nagra for Fatehgarh Sahib, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha (Payal reserved), Raja Wiring (Gidderbaha), Bhupinder Gora (Maur), Dinesh Bassi Amritsar Central, Shailender Singh Majithia and Dhanjit Singh Dhanni Faridkot. Source said there was opposition to the candidature of Bassi from Amritsar leaders OP Soni and Jugal Kishore. The candidature of Shailender Majitha is also being opposed. Congressmen said Patiala MP Preneet Kaur had been successful in getting the ticket for her supporters Hardyal Kamboj and Deepinder Dhillon from Rajpura and Dera Bassi, respectively. The party was thinking of fielding former minister Tej Prakash Singh from Khanna though his son Gurkirat Singh had applied for the ticket. Harminder Jassi’s candidature had been cleared for the Bathinda seat. The high command, the sources said, would meet again tomorrow and release the list late evening, a day prior to the start of nominations.
|
|
|
Intense tussle within SAD for Batala seat
Batala, January 3 Qadian MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal is said to be pressurising SAD chief Sukhbir Badal to allot him the Batala seat. Sitting BJP legislator Jagdeesh Sahni has said that the BJP will not support the candidature of Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and may provide tacit support to Lodhinangal. Post-delimitation, a majority of villages in Lodhinangal’s Qadian seat have been shifted to the adjoining seats of Batala and Fatehgarh Churian. Hence, the MLA has lost interest in retaining the seat. Political pundits are perplexed over Sekhwan’s decision to contest from Batala instead of Qadian as post-delimitation, 136 villages have been shifted from his erstwhile Kahnuwan seat to
Qadian.
|
|
Safe drinking water
a key demand
Three political stalwarts, Gian Zail Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and Harcharan Singh Brar, came from the old Faridkot district consisting Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot. Yet the area is struggling for quality drinking water. With the groundwater containing high fluoride content and the water supplied by the Sirhind Feeder Canal known for heavy toxicity, safe drinking water is the primary demand of Faridkot voters.
Projects: Sitting Congress MLA Avtar Brar has been elected from here thrice. A former minister, he has ensured upgradation of schools and installation of new power grids. Seeking voters’ mandate for a fourth term, he says: “The ruling coalition has completely ignored Faridkot as I am from the Opposition.” His political rival, former SAD MLA Kushaldeep Dhillon has joined the Congress and both Dhillon and Brar are vying for the party ticket. The Akalis are banking on Deep Malhotra, a liquor baron, who is a greenhorn. VOX POPULI: Congress and SAD manifestos are but a jingle to most voters who have no strong affiliation with any party. Clean water is the most important demand of about 1,71,000 voters of this constituency. LOOKING BACK: Out of a total of 1,70,111 registered voters in 2007, Avtar Singh Brar got 65,152 votes, defeating his close rival Kushaldeep Dhillon with a margin of just 2,933 votes. Kushaldeep Dhillon was elected MLA in 2002 on the SAD ticket and lost to Avtar Singh Brar in 2007. Faridkot has had an MLA representing the Opposition in the past one decade. — TNS
|
||
|
Cong looking to open account here
Nihalsinghwala (reserve), by and large a rural assembly constituency, is one of the most backward areas in Punjab neglected by successive governments for decades. The constituency comprises 65 villages with the townships of Nihalsinghwala and Badhni Kalan falling into six kanungo circles.
This constituency is represented by Independent MLA Ajit Singh Shant who defeated Jarnail Singh of the Shiromani Akali Dal in 2007. This time he is looking forward to getting the Congress ticket. Col Babu Singh, former district president, is also in the ticket race. The Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded Rajwinder Kaur, daughter-in-law of former MLA Zora Singh. The Sanjha Morcha is yet to announce its candidate. Former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala has a considerable following in some villages of this constituency because of its proximity to Barnala district. This will work in favour of the CPI because the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) is part of the Sanjha Morcha. Projects: Nihalsinghwala is known as the cotton belt of Punjab. The underground water table is fast declining in this area due to which it has been declared a “black zone” by the Central Water Commission. The local MLA has failed to do anything to save the receding underground water. The Shiromani Akali Dal government has opened a government college at Patto Hira Singh village, which was a long-pending demand of the people. VOX POPULI: The rural populace is demanding that their land be saved from becoming barren and looking forward to politicians bringing in canals/water channels for irrigation to halt the declining underground water table. The other demands are judicial courts and infrastructure for housing local administrative officers. There are 180 polling booths in the constituency, out of which 70 are sensitive and 35 hyper-sensitive. No effort has ever been made by previous governments to establish industry in this constituency to create job avenues for the youth. LOOKING BACK: Nihalsinghwala has been an Shiromani Akali Dal stronghold with the CPI also having its pockets of influence. The Congress has never won this seat after Emergency. Gurdev Singh of the SAD won this seat in 1977, Saghar Singh of the CPI in 1980, Zora of the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1985, Ajaib Singh Raonta of the CPI in 1992 and 1997 , Zora Singh of the SAD in 2002 and Ajit Singh Shant in the 2007 elections. — TNS
|
||
|
Gidderbaha, Muktsar
Bathinda, January 3 The SAD has so far announced three lists but has not named candidates for these segments that fall in Muktsar, the home district of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. There is speculation that Badal may also contest from Gidderbaha besides Lambi. Anticipating dissidence within the Congress after it announces its candidates for the two constituencies, the SAD has not as yet finalised its candidates for a couple of seats in Muktsar and Mansa districts. Meanwhile, members of the Badal clan, who were earlier spitting venom against each other, now appear mellowed and are refraining from hurling personal allegations. Jagmeet Singh Brar is said to be a strong contender for the ticket from Muktsar, because of the ill-health of sitting Congress MLA Sunny Brar. But the Brar family is unwilling to part with the seat it has held for so many years. Raghubir Singh, a confidant of PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, is a strong contender for the Gidderbaha seat. Punjab People’s Party chief Manpreet Singh Badal is all set to seek re-election from here.
|
||
|
EC: Record ex-DGP’s movements
Moga, January 2 Purusharth said the former DGP’s public movements would be recorded to keep a check on him and his supporters so that he could not misuse his influence in the ensuing elections. “We have taken this action to ensure free and fair poll,” he said. Sources said there had been complaints that a few officials and employees of various government departments were helping Gill in his campaigning during morning and evening hours.
|
||
|
A Tribune series on government performance: education
For years, Punjab had been desperately lacking in basic education infrastructure — schools without teachers and classrooms, or in many areas no schools at all. The SAD-BJP government promised it will correct that, and, fortunately for the state, also managed to achieve a lot in that direction.
In its rush to put in place the huge number of teachers and school upgrades required, the government, however, slipped on ensuring quality. Even more critically, it failed to get all children. The result is that education continues to elude a significant percentage of children of school-going age. The ruling alliance claims it spent Rs 3,168 crore on school education since it came to power, but a Committee on Education Policy 2025 set up by it noted in its report that schools as well as technical education institutes of the government were churning out students of extremely poor academic standard. The level of teaching and methods used also were similarly criticised. As per the latest Education Development Index (EDI), the state has come up from the 14th to third position nationally. Yet, the average student enrolment and retention figures are worrisome. Census data reveals that out of the 44 lakh children (6 to 14 years of age), only around 38 lakh were in school; a high of 6 lakh children are still not getting education. The state government increased the outlay for the sector by 52 per cent — an increase of 109 per cent in the allocation of funds for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) this financial year, more funds for the midday meal scheme, improving school infrastructure and filling vacancies of teacher. Teacher recruitments led to a respectable teacher-student ratio of 1:35 in
government primary schools, but random tests of students have revealed that the quality of education in those is far from acceptable. The reason is outdated teaching curriculum and techniques, besides poor quality of educators inducted. The teacher-student ratio in the 2,508 private primary schools is simply disastrous — 1:108. Even as the government hired new teachers en masse, it remained under fire from a large number seeking regularisation of jobs or increase in
pay scales. In the run-up to the elections, the issue has turned particularly intense. Regular teachers are demanding higher scales, volunteers want
regularisation of employment. ETT (elementary teachers training) and computer teachers hired by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department (PRD) and volunteers with the education department on contract are also demanding regularisation of their jobs. Figures of alarm
In a recently conducted Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test, an abysmally low 2 per cent of the 2,52,083 qualified teachers who took the exam could pass. The teachers had ETT diploma or a bachelor’s degree in education (B.Ed). This is also a reflection of the education the teachers themselves received. Citing data from a preliminary report of a sample study of students (classes 6 to 8) of 321 schools (147 government and 174 private) carried out by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) at the behest of the Punjab Farmers Commission, Dr Pyara Lal
Garg, a former registrar of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and Director of Adult Education, Punjab, said 54 per cent of the students could not write simple words in Punjabi. As many as 78 per cent could not answer simple maths questions based on Class 5 syllabus.
|
||
|
Tech colleges in merit crisis too
Dr SP Singh, Chairman of the Punjab Committee on Education Policy 2025, says that not more than 3 per cent of rural students are able to reach the senior secondary school level in the basic sciences course. As a result, in the 400 engineering colleges affiliated with Punjab Technical University (PTU) and other universities, the presence of students from rural areas is between 3 and 7 per cent.
Dr JS Dhaliwal, Chairman of the Punjab Unaided Technical Institutions Association (PUTIA), says that as the quality of students who do make it to technical colleges is also not up to the mark, they get poor academic grounding there too. In the engineering colleges affiliated with PTU, just 20 per cent of the students were able to clear the maths exam. He also feels there has to be a compulsory teacher training programme. The problem of huge quantity and low quality is especially evident in technical education. On one hand colleges are not getting enough students to fill the total 60,000 seats available in graduate courses, and on the other these colleges are churning out poor quality graduates. Experts point to a dearth of qualified teachers for management and engineering courses. In many cases, low-paid graduates are teaching in the colleges as there is no monitoring by PTU. Dr Dhaliwal says barring some colleges in urban areas, students from most colleges fail to get jobs. As a result, many graduates turn up at the colleges looking for a teaching job. “When such graduates become teachers, one can imagine the quality of future graduates,” said the proprietor of an engineering college near Chandigarh. New government colleges As many as 13 new government degree colleges were opened in Punjab during the past five years. These were under a Central scheme through the UGC for educationally backward districts. Out of the total capital outlay, 33 per cent contribution is by the Centre, and the remaining is to be made by the state. For the current academic year, the state has not fully released the annual recurring fund of Rs1.50 crore required for each college. No new government engineering college has been opened, though a large number have come up in the private sector.
|
||
|
Raising the bar for teachers, curriculum the way to go Noting that the education system is a “wreck”, the Committee on Education Policy 2025 set up by the government has pointed at an urgent need to create a human resource bank of qualified and dedicated teachers who have the aptitude to produce quality students. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has devised a mechanism to make teachers accountable for their performance, but the system has not been implemented properly. SSA officials say a huge effort is being put into running the midday meal scheme at the cost of teaching quality. The “Parho Punjab Project”, initiated by then SSA Director Krishan Kumar, introduced a system of monitoring adherence to a calendar for sports, academic and cultural activities in primary schools. While there are some dedicated teachers following it, most are suspected to be fudging the entries. A unified command chain to monitor schools is required. The principal of a senior secondary school, with additional resources of teachers and infrastructure, could be made in charge of a cluster of primary and high schools. But setting up of parallel authorities should be discouraged. According to Dr Pyara Lal Garg, Director, Adult Education, Punjab, "Just looking at enrolment figures is statistical jugglery. Child should be at the centre of every policy, whether it is appointment of teachers, upgrade of schools, syllabus, or evaluations. And education should be aimed at not just giving information to the child, but all-round personality development and instilling in him the confidence to face the world. Inquisitiveness of a child should also be encouraged." Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan admits the quality of teachers inducted was not up to the mark. He said there was lot of opposition when he introduced the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) in 2011. “Any effort to test the teachers already hired would meet a lot of opposition. But now on, only competent teachers would be selected. Apart from the PSTET, we will introduce a state-level test on the pattern of the National Education Test (NET) for recruiting lecturers in colleges. We are also trying to introduce a more effective school accreditation and accountability
system,” he said.
|
||
|
Disrespect to ‘Birs’ in Italy
Amritsar, January 3 Led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, the five high priests directed the guilty to clean footwear and wash utensils of devotees who partake ‘langar’ at a path they have been told to hold at Vakanza gurdwara in Italy. They were also directed to appear again before the Akal Takht to pay obeisance and offer ‘karah prasad’ of Rs 1,100. Also, the high priests recommended registration of a police complaint against the voluntary organisation supporting civil activist Anna Hazare for showing black flags to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to the Golden Temple. The hearing on another key issue, alleged involvement of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan in provoking anti-Sikh riots, was deferred. It was for the first time that following a request from Italian gurdwaras that 450 holy ‘saroops’ were transported to the foreign nation as ‘tourists’ on April 19. The Birs were sent in special vehicles up to Mumbai from where they were sent to Italy by ship with an SGPC delegation, which included general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, secretary Dalmegh Singh and information officer Dalbir Singh Fauji. The issue raked controversy when upon returning, the delegation submitted a complaint of misbehaviour and non-cooperation by NSDPC officer bearers. The NSDPC members too levelled allegations against the SGPC delegation. Following this, the Jathedar summoned NSDPC head Harwant Singh to appear before the Akal Takht secretariat today to pronounce the verdict. On the black flags shown to the PM, the Jathedar said it was a breach of VVIP security. “The PM was here on a personal visit, not with any political motive. It was not proper on the part of a handful of miscreants who disturbed the peace and sanctity of the Golden Temple. We recommend registration of a police case,” he said. Meanwhile, the high priests also advocated that no one would be allowed to script Sri Guru Granth Sahib without the prior permission from the
SGPC.
|
||
|
Capt: Badal ‘interfering’ in EC working
Chandigarh, January 3 On Badal’s accusations against the commission that it was going beyond its brief, Capt Amarinder asked the Chief Minister to take a look at the Representation of the People Act, 1951. “If the EC is acting on complaints and taking decisions in public interest, why should it disturb Badal,” he asked. Patiala: Ex-deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh today accused the Chief Minister of interfering in the working of the Election Commission. He said that Badal's move to send a communication to the Chief Election Commission against the functioning of the state Chief Electoral Officer was only aimed at demoralising the election officers.
|
||
|
Akalis face uphill task in Patiala district
Patiala, January 3 Though, it has been more than a week since Akali Dal announced its candidates from the four assembly segments, the electioneering by the party's official nominees is yet to take off. It is learnt that senior Akali leadership is busy making efforts to contain the dissidents in the party. "Once senior party leaders will start addressing the election rallies and meetings in Patiala, the election campaign would suddenly gain momentum", said a senior Akali leader. However, in view of the fact that being a stronghold of the Congress, Akali Dal faces an uphill task in Patiala. The present pace at which the election campaign is progressing, indicates that the SAD-BJP is not "much hopeful" about the fate of the Patiala seats. Notably, Akali Dal has announced its four candidates from Patiala constituencies, including Sanaur, Patiala (Rural), Shutrana (SC) and Ghanaur. As per the information, though the Akali candidates have initiated the canvassing in their respective areas but so far, electioneering is limited only to meetings and small programmes at village and colony levels. In Sanaur, SAD nominee Dr TP Sandhu would be facing a strong fight from Congress stalwart and five-time MLA Laal Singh. According to political observers, it would be a real test for Sandhu, who is contesting elections on the Akali ticket for the first time, to put a strong fight against Laal Singh. Likewise, with Akali rebel Satbir Singh Khatra contesting from Patiala (Rural) as an Independent candidate, for Akali candidate Kuldeep Kaur Tohra there would be a triangular contest between Congress, SAD-BJP and Khatra. Khatra is likely to eat into the vote share of Kuldeep, which would obviously go in favour of the Congress nominee. From Ghanaur, Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur, wife of SAD district president Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur is likely to face a stiff poll battle, as Congress sitting MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur's candidature is almost finalised. In Shutrana (SC), Vaninder Kaur Loomba would be facing straight contest with Congress.
|
||
|
Staff shortage hits working of language dept
Patiala, January 3 Notably, it's the duty of these officers to ensure that Punjabi is being used in all offices of the district. They have to carry out multiple tasks, including providing basic training of Punjabi typing and shorthand, providing free teaching of Urdu language, to organise book exhibitions and sell the departmental books and magazines, to keep in touch with educationists and various organisations for promotion of their programmes. An official of the department said, "There are only 14 officers and they have to take the additional charge of other districts also. Due to shortage of staff, it has become difficult to carry out all programmes. Though the department had sent a proposal to the state government to appoint these officers, but no action has been initiated so far." Director of the Language Department Balbir Kaur said that the appointments were delayed due to assembly elections. "We will pursue the matter soon after the model code of conduct is lifted," she said.
|
||
|
College teachers meet CEO over election duties
Patiala, January 3 Dr Hardeep Singh and Prof Jaipal Singh, president and general secretary of the PGCTA, respectively, said that the District Electoral Officers, especially in Patiala and Bathinda, had not followed the guidelines issued by the Election Commission, while assigning the election-related duties. "The ECI has clearly stated that all duties be assigned according to pay scales, seniority and status.
|
||
|
Three months on, promoted headmasters await salaries
Patiala, January 3 Many of the headmasters rued that they were the sole earning member in their families and the delay in releasing salaries was causing financial problems for them. The department, after a process of almost one-year, had promoted around 850 masters on October 5, 2011, but so far, their posts have not been sanctioned. Despite joining new schools and serving in the capacity of headmasters, they have not been able to draw their salaries. One of the headmasters blamed the Education Department for causing unnecessary delay. "While the government promoted masters, they should have taken up the matter with the Finance Department immediately. It hardly takes a few days to complete the process. Three months is a long duration and still there is no sign of the completion of this process in near future due to the forthcoming assembly elections," he added. DEO (Secondary) Parmod Kumar said that the delay was caused due to non-sanctioning of posts. "We have already sent the proposal to the higher authorities and these headmasters will receive their salaries soon after the posts are sanctioned," he added. Meanwhile, an apparent move of pleasing thousands of Education Department employees by increasing their salaries seems to be creating trouble for the government as the department is finding it difficult in allotting budget for the payment of salaries in all schools. An official of the department said that after revising the pay scales, the monthly budget of the senior secondary schools has gone up by Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh and due to which the teachers are facing great difficulty in getting their salaries on time.
|
||
|
Include more veggies in export list: Farmers
Ludhiana, January 3 Pavittar Pal Singh Pangli, president of the Punjab Agriculture University Kisan Club, said that the step would give a boost to the vegetable growers. "There are certain crops which are grown in abundance in Punjab. These include turmeric and banana, cultivated through the tissue culture lab. The transportation charges will also be nominal as Punjab is close to Pakistan. If the farmers get secured marketing, nothing likes that," said Pangli. Devinder Singh, a national award winner vegetable grower from Muskavad village in Samrala, said, "Marketing is the main problem for vegetable growers in the region. In absence of secured market, farmers have to throw their produce on roads in case of a glut." "The export of fresh vegetables is a good step. Apart from regular vegetables, garlic or exotic vegetables like broccoli or coloured capsicum could also be included in the list. Farmers need to join the societies and send their produce directly to Pakistan or Middle East countries for good returns. As far as Pakistan is concerned, transportation charges will be less, so this is the best option", said a vegetable grower.
|
||
|
Defence veterans to support party meeting their demands
Chandigarh, January 3 A public rally would be organised by ex-servicemen at Batala on January 8 to mobilise ex-servicemen in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. Speaking at a press conference here today, members of the All India Defence Brotherhood and the Indian Ex-servicemen's Movement said that over the years political parties had made repeated promises to meet their long-standing demands, but most remained unfulfilled. Brig Harwant Singh (retd), president of the All India Defence Brotherhood, said that post-retirement rehabilitation was a major issue and the quota for ex-servicemen in state government jobs should be filled up as stipulated. Also, there should be guaranteed jobs for wards of soldiers who die on duty, as per their status and qualifications, while the distinction between the war widows and other widows should be done away so that equal benefits could be given in both cases. Veterans said that while requisite law should be passed to protect the properties of serving and retired soldiers, the conveyance deeds for Army Welfare Housing Organisation colonies should be executed on the basis of the purchase price and not the market price, as is being insisted by the government. Brig KS Kahlon said that Rajya Sainik Board and Zila Sainik Boards need to be revitalised and deficiencies should be made up so that welfare policies and projects do not suffer. The government should also ensure that decisions taken in the Rajya Sainik Board meetings should be speedily implemented. Reservation in local bodies, exemption from toll tax, incentives for joining armed forces and compensation to next of kin of soldiers who died in the 1984 riots are among other demands before the state government.
|
||
|
poll snippets
Faridkot: A group of 40 civil society organisations have embarked on a campaign to counter election malpractices and draw the political leaders’ attention to the real issues confronting the people. The group has started holding public meetings across the state. At one such meetings here on Tuesday, Giani Kewal Singh, former jathdear of Takht Damdama Sahib, talked about environment issues. He said the increased toxin levels were pushing Punjab towards death and destruction. Punjab is an agrarian economy but the state’s produce is being rejected by foreign countries because of its high toxic content. —TNS
Police seniority list controversy
Patiala: A senior 1988 batch IPS officer has registered his grievance with the EC, saying the government had ignored seniority and forwarded the names of junior officers to the commission for IG’s posting. While appointing IPS officer Ishwar Chander as Commissioner, Ludhiana, last week, following complaints against his predecessor SS Chauhan, the names of senior officers like Rohit Chaudhary, Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota and Sanjeev Kalra were reportedly held back. DGP Anil Kaushik,refused to comment on the issue. Secretary (Home) Sameer Kumar said: “There are no fixed guidelines and we forward names on the basis of proven track record.” Special Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Usha R Sharma said she had sought a report from the Home Department on the officer’s complaint. — Aman Sood
Mann out with first list
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) released its first list of candidates on Tuesday. Giving out names of 45 candidates, president Simranjit Singh Mann said his party had fielded honest candidates who would offer a principled fight to Congress and SAD opponents. The list does not contain the name of either Simranjit Singh Mann or his son Iman Singh Mann. The other issues that the SAD (A) would raise were the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, punishment for those responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the riverwater dispute. — TNS
Mayawati in state on Jan 21, 22
A BSP worker with the party's publicity material in Jalandhar on Tuesday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh 55% booths in Moga sensitive
Moga: The police has identified more than 55 per cent of the total polling booths being set up in four assembly constituencies of Moga district sensitive and hypersensitive for the ensuing assembly elections scheduled for January 30. A total of 685 booths were being set up in the district, of which 205 have been identified as sensitive and 173 as hypersensitive. In Moga constituency, 77 polling booths, of the total 180, have been identified sensitive and 36 hypersensitive. In Dharamkot, 48 booths (of the total 171) have been declared as sensitive and 45 hypersensitive. In Baghapurana (154 booths) and Nihalsinghwala (reserve, 180 booths) constituencies, the count stands at 10, 57 and 70, 35, respectively. — Kulwinder Sandhu
|
|
Complete probe into Henry’s nationality within 4 weeks: HC
Chandigarh, January 3 The Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover issued the directions on a PIL filed by Jalandhar-based RTI activist Ajay Sehgal. The Bench directed the completion of the on-going inquiry into Ajay Sehgal's complaint dated September 9, 2011, alleging that Avtar Henry - four times MLA and also a cabinet minister from 2002 to 2005 - was not an Indian national. It was alleged that Henry had voluntarily acquired UK citizenship in January 1968, and had obtained a British passport on March 1, 1968. He further alleged Avtar Singh Sanghera, Avtar Henry's real name, mentioned his father's name as Lakhbir Singh, though actually his father's name is Joginder Singh. Notice of motion
Just nearly a fortnight after the Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the notification debarring the Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in the SGPC polls, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion for February 8 on a petition for appointing an administrator for managing the SGPC affairs. A petition placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover says the recently held SGPC elections have become null and void following the Full Bench judgment. As such, an administrator should be appointed to look after the day-to-day affairs of the SGPC. The petition, which was filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Party against the Union of India, says that an administrator should be appointed to manage affairs of the SGPC till the time fresh elections are held. Counsel Sandeep Khunger said: "The elections held on September 18, 2011, were subject to the final outcome of the writ petition and now the Full Bench has allowed the petition and quashed the notification dated October 8, 2003, consequently the elections have become null and void."
|
|
| 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 | |
Local SAD legislator Didar Singh Bhatti today joined the People’s Party of Punjab. He was nominated the party candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib against SAD candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra.
Further tightening noose around former DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill who has been served three notices for poll code violations, the Election Commission has now ordered video recording of his every public movement. District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer B Purusharth today issued the order to track Gill, SAD candidate for
Moga.
Dr SP Singh, Chairman of the Punjab Committee on Education Policy 2025, says that not more than 3 per cent of rural students are able to reach the senior secondary school level in the basic sciences course. As a result, in the 400 engineering colleges affiliated with Punjab Technical University
(PTU) and other universities, the presence of students from rural areas is between 3 and 7 per cent.
Chandigarh, January 3
Jagir Kaur’s son-in-aw, Bhupinder Singh, known as Yuvraj in the constituency, allegedly misused government premises and announced a grant of Rs 21,000 to Government Senior Secondary School, Bholath. He later asked the students to ensure that the SAD returned to power. Usha Sharma, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, said it was a clear violation of the code of conduct. 
Congress sources said the party had dismissed objections to fielding of kin of senior leaders and the names of the wives of Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa and Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee had been cleared.
The chemical and nickel industry in Ludhiana and other towns on the banks of the Sutlej and the Beas have been discharging their waste into these rivers in the absence of treatment plants, says Dr Pritpal Singh, incharge of Baba Farid Centre for Special Children. 
After delimitation, as many as 24 villages have been shifted from Moga to Nihalsinghwala. This has raised the hopes of the Congress that is looking forward to opening its account here after decades.
Jalandhar: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is slated to visit Punjab on January 21 and 22 to campaign in favour of her party's candidates for the assembly polls. She would be addressing four rallies, one each at Kharar, Nawanshahr, Muktsar and Chhapar village (Sangrur), said BSP national general secretary Narinder Kashyap. The party has decided to field candidates for 90 of the total 117 constituencies. — Deepkamal Kaur