|
|
|
|
|
Partial response to bandh call in state
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Heads may roll for goofup in poll rolls
Post-euphoria, sobered Cong looking at 62 seats
Sarabjit’s Case
Clear dues, state govt tells Centre
Kidnapped schoolboy rescued in Abohar
Aphids attack wheat crop in Moga
Soon, community radio station for Punjabi University
Cops chose not to go after offenders
Patwaris to resume stir
State duty-bound to fill teachers’ vacancies: HC
Man moves court against DGP (Jails)
Court seeks details of appointments made by former VC Boparai
Housewife robbed of gold, cash
NRI husband ‘hired’ contract killers to eliminate wife
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Partial response to bandh call in state
Chandigarh, February 28 Transport In Jalandhar, Punjab Roadways buses remained off road. Employees of banks, farm unions and other trade factions also participated in the strike on a large scale. While the Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Inter State Bus Terminal wore a near deserted look for two hours in the afternoon with buses remaining parked in Jalandhar depot-I and II. The passengers in Jalandhar were left dependent on the private bus services. A majority of the passengers were unaware of the strike and faced a tough time when they arrived to a deserted bus stand. “We reached the bus stand only to see that no Punjab Roadways bus was operating. Itwas chaotic outside the bus stand as private bus operators were not allowed to park their buses inside,” said Joginder Singh, a city resident. The Ludhiana industry, which carries out transactions worth crores every day, was left in a lurch due to the strike. Transportation of goods was also halted due to the strike and the industry suffered huge losses as they failed to deliver their orders on time. Banks In Jalandhar, banking, LIC, postal, BSNL, Powercom and other government services were also affected. Since morning, almost all the branches of the banks remained vacant with the employees joining the protests. The bank strike was held on a call given by the All India Bank Employees Association and the National Organisation of Bank Worker’s Union. Many Jalandhar residents were left making rounds of the banks only to return without getting any work done. At the main branch of State Bank of India situated on the Namdev chowk, it was nothing short of a public holiday. “We had come to deposit a cheque in the bank, but after reaching here we got to know that the bank was closed because of the strike. The government should make an effort to inform the masses a day or two before to avoid inconvenience to the local people,” said Kishore Chand, a senior citizen. In Bathinda, customer services remained crippled in nationalised banks and post offices of Bathinda and its adjoining areas as staff of these institutions responded to the nationwide strike call. Post offices In Bathinda, bankers, postal staff, BSNL employees and others also participated in the strike. Services at the post offices in the division were paralysed following thin presence of the staff. The Bathinda City Post Office was closed in the afternoon as the presence of non-executive staff was low, said leaders of the unions. Earlier, the postal staff under the banner of the National Federation of Postal Employee, staged a demonstration in front of the gate of the Bathinda Head Post Office in support of their demands. Assistant superintendent post offices, Bathinda, Major Singh, however, said some postal work, like delivery of letters, booking of articles, were carried out in some post offices. Major Singh claimed out of 34 sub-offices in Bathinda division, postal work was carried out in at least five sub-offices. Sources in the postal department said that only 17 out of 124 clerks reported on duty today while only 18 out of 65 post men were on duty in the Bathinda postal division. Meanwhile, a control room aimed at collecting information from the entire division to convey the same to the Circle Office in Chandigarh, was in operation at the City Post Office here. No customer services related to cash transactions like deposit and withdrawal from bank counters, were carried out in nationalised banks due to the near absence of clerical staff. “Transfer and online transfer of money were, however, carried out,” said sources in a bank, adding that ATMs were also in operation today. Power and BSNL In Ludhiana, day-to-day work in the offices of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) came to a halt as the employees of both the public sector corporations observed a day-long strike. While power supply and telephone service were maintained with the help of supervisory officials and some of the non-striking employees who manned the key installations, cash counters and customer care centres of the PSPCL and the BSNL across the city remained closed. With most of the divisional and sub-divisional offices of the PSPCL being closed, people visiting the offices for different works had to return disappointed. Similarly, the consumers who wanted to deposit their electricity bills were turned back or told to go to the private bill collection centres. PSPCL Chief Engineer of Central Zone KL Sharma, said over 67 per cent employees remained on strike. Power supply and other essential services were maintained with the help of senior officials and a skeletal staff. Work in the insurance and banking sector was paralysed and transactions worth over Rs 600 crore were affected in the banks. In Bathinda, outdoor services of the state-run BSNL were also affected to an extent as considerable number of employees observed the strike. BSNL authorities made alternate arrangements that proved handy as internal operations were not affected due to strike by the non-executive staff. In Patiala, which houses the headquarters of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), employees participated in a rally in large numbers. Raising slogans against the government for introducing the contractual system, Karamchand Bhardwaj, a trade union leader, said bifurcation of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) was a wrong step. "The outsourcing of the works to private companies, refusal to fill the vacant posts and various other ‘anti-employee decisions’ have been taken by the government,” he said, adding that the Power Corporation employees strongly decry the ‘indifferent attitude’ of the state government towards their ‘genuine demands’. Muktsar A large number of activists of 17 farmer and labour unions today jointly lodged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex here, demanding waiver of power bills, debt of farmers and labourers without any condition. The union members said despite assurances, the state government failed to fulfil their demands. “Earlier, we had lifted the protest in December 2011 when the state government agreed to fulfil the demands, but nothing has happened till date,” said Jagdev Singh Bhagsar, Muktsar block president of the Bharti Kissan Union (Ekta). Patiala witnessed strong protests as members of several employees unions and associations in large number observed a complete strike in the district. The employees staged demonstrations and sat on a dharna at the railway track in Rajpura. But fortunately no train was delayed and passengers were not inconvenienced. Amritsar All essential services, including transport and electricity, were least affected in the city. The workers’ associations participated in protest rallies outside their establishments. Activists of the All India Postal GDS Employees Union, Northern Railway Men’s Union, CITU, AITUC, BMS, INTUC, HMS and CTU participated in the strike. Addressing a gathering of the workers, CITU (Punjab) president Mangat Ram Pasla said unemployment and inflation in the country is on the rise and the Union Government has failed in checking these. He said guaranteed labourers’ rights, abolition of contractual system of employment, social security and pension benefits for the unorganised labourers are a few of the demands. (With inputs from Kusum Arora, Manav Mander, Kuldip Bhatia, Umesh Dewan, Sudhanshu Verma, Archit Watts and Manmeet Singh Gill)
|
|
Heads may roll for goofup in poll rolls
Chandigarh, February 28 Talking to The Tribune today, CEO Kusumjit Sidhu said the matter was with the Election Commission of India and the Chief Election Commissioner would decide on the next course of action. “It is a serious lapse. The Block Level Officer took it to be a ‘be-chiraag’ (uninhabited) village as there were no names on the poll rolls. He should have visited the village and not presumed things,” she said, adding that she had ordered an inquiry. The Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner would look into the matter. Koundal, that comes under the Hosharpur constituency, was mistakenly clubbed with the adjoining Bassi Chaura village located in the Chhabewal segment. The village’s 156 voters cast their ballot at the Bassi Chaura polling station for Chhabewal candidates instead of those contesting from Hoshiarpur. Chhabewal is a reserved seat while Hoshiarpur seat is in the general category. The CEO said repolling in these polling stations was not an option as it required at least seven days to issue a notification in this regard. “We will now wait for the results. If the difference of votes between the winner and the loser is up to or less than 156, we will have to reconsider a repoll in both the stations,” she said. Simultaneous counting only: EC Voters of the Chamkaur Sahib constituency will not have to wait longer than the others for the poll results. The Election Commission of India has turned down the proposal of the District Election Office, Ropar, to undertake counting in this constituency only after finishing the counting of votes in Ropar and Anandpur Sahib. The Election Commission has asked the Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that the counting is done simultaneously in all the 117 constituencies of the state. The district administration had set up two counting centres at Government College, Ropar, on the plea that they could undertake counting of only two constituencies at a time. “With the EC turning down the proposal, I have asked the Deputy Commissioner to make the necessary arrangements. I have asked him to use 10 tables for each constituency instead of 14. “This will ensure that the orders of the EC are complied with,” said Kusumjit Sidhu. She would be visiting the district tomorrow to supervise the arrangements. “The counting will start simultaneously at 8 am on March 6,” said the Ropar Deputy Commissioner, GK Singh. PAU allowed to fill vacant posts The Election Commission of India has given its nod to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to issue an advertisement for filling posts in various categories. An official spokesperson said the EC has also given its nod to the recruitment/counselling process by the Subordinate Service Selection Board and implementation/extension of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna for labourers, construction workers and street vendors. The filling of 529 posts in the Department of Agriculture, which were taken out of the purview of the PPSC and the Subordinate Selection Board, through a written test by PAU has also been approved. The appointment of 25 ex-servicemen to various posts in the Punjab State Ex-Servicemen Corporation on a contract basis has also been okayed.
|
|
Post-euphoria, sobered Cong looking at 62 seats
The Punjab Congress, that had earlier claimed that it would win 70 plus seats in the assembly elections, now talks of winning 62 seats. The winning party needs 59 seats to form government. The astute SAD president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, not only took advantage of dissidence in the Congress post-ticket distribution, but even fanned it. With several Congress rebels in the fray this time, he ensured the Congress was at a disadvantage in at least six constituencies. Congress members feel that the Election Commission, which effectively checked the distribution of money and liquor during campaigning, could not do so on the poll eve. Observers feel this could work in favour or against the Congress. There is anxiety in the Congress camp on which way the Dalits have voted. There is a feeling that some Dalit votes could have gone to the SAD- BJP because of the atta -dal scheme. It is claimed that the youth voted in large numbers for the Manpreet Badal-led PPP. In this case, the party may have eaten into the Congress vote bank. Also, there are reports that senior leaders, including Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Lal Singh, Amarjit Samra, Rana Gurjeet and Razia Sultan saw a fierce contest and could be on a weak wicket. But then Congress activists say senior Akali leaders could bite the dust in the Majha region. Despite some apprehensions, the mood in the Amarinder camp is upbeat. This is because besides party candidates, who have been regularly calling on him to be considered for ministership, bureaucrats and police officers have also been meeting him. This is because of the feeling that the Congress has an edge and will be able to form the government even if it falls short of the majic figure of 59. With Amarinder campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, many party candidates have taken the opportunity to lobby in Delhi. Senior Hindu as well as Dalit leaders are eying the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Among the aspirants are Brahm Mohindra, Ashwani Sekhri and Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi from Guruharsahai. Observers say the situation could have been better but Amarinder was not given a free hand in ticket distribution and that the “quota system” replaced winnability in deciding candidates for more that 20 seats. Senior leaders at the Centre ensured the party ticket for their favourites. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s experiment to allot seats to the youth brigade has come in for criticism with trends indicating that most are likely to face defeat. Except for Kuljit Nagra from Fatehgarh Sahib, who is a mid-level leader, the young Congress candidates, except for Satkar Kaur from Ferozepur Rural, are being seen as weak. However what has worked for the Punjab Congress is the Amarinder factor. Rahul redeemed himself and the party by declaring Amarinder as the party’s chief ministerial candidate.
|
|
Sarabjit’s Case
Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik of the Lahore High Court yesterday asked the Interior Ministry to file a reply by March 16, failing which the court would decide the matter on merit. Sarabjit's counsel Awais Sheikh had submitted a petition, seeking that his client be included on the list of foreigners languishing in Pakistan’s jails despite having served their sentences. Sheikh had asked the court to issue directions in this respect to the Foreign Secretary and the jail superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail where Sarabjit is being held. The superintendent had earlier informed the court that though Sarabjit's prison term had expired a year ago, his fate would be decided in the light of directions from the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army and the Presidency. The superintendent said he had written four times to the Inspectorate of Prisons and the Home Department of Punjab, seeking guidance on the issue in the light of these directions. Sarabjit, imprisoned since 1990, was awarded the death sentence under the Army Act for his alleged involvement in four blasts that killed 14 persons. He submitted a mercy petition to the army chief, but it was rejected with the direction that it be forwarded to the President. — PTI
|
|
Violation of Pollution Control Norms
Patiala, February 28 The directions issued in this regard by PSHRC chairperson Justice (retd) Jagdish Bhalla and members, including Justice (retd) Baldev Singh, LR Roojam and Baljinder Singh, reads, "On the consideration of facts mentioned in the news item, the Commission prima facie takes cognisance of the matter and seeks a report from the state government through secretary, PPCB, Patiala, under Section 17(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, positively before the next date of hearing on May 10, 2012." The environmentalists have been stating since long that the so-called drive to protect the environment degradation initiated by the PPCB against the industries/institutions, which are allegedly polluting the environment by flouting the pollution control norms, was nothing but a mere eyewash. Meanwhile, speaking to TNS, RTI activist Jatinder Jain said Arnetu village, situated near the Ghaggar in the Patran subdivision, is an example how pollution could play havoc with human lives. Jain, who has been actively pursuing the matter against the discharge of hazardous waste by industries in the Ghaggar, said, “Because of the discharge of toxic waste in the Ghaggar by the industries, the underground water quality of Arnetu village has deteriorated and presently at least 36 villagers are suffering from physical deformities, like hearing impairment, mental retardation, skin ailments and congenital musculoskeletal disorders.”
|
|
Clear dues, state govt tells Centre
Chandigarh, February 28 “We have now prepared balance sheets of the past six fiscal years to confront the officials,” the official said. He said the Centre had asked the state government a number of times to discard the damaged foodgrain procured for the Central pool. The pending dues include bills on transportation of paddy from the marketplace to rice mills and on the disposing of the damaged foodgrain. The official said the Centre had raised objections on the transportation charges beyond 8 km from the marketplace. “We have told the Centre to put in place a neutral agency to decide on the bills,” said the official adding that the state had been paying from the cash credit limit and paying interest on the same.
|
|
Kidnapped schoolboy rescued in Abohar
Abohar, February 28 The police hired autorickshaws fitted with loudspeakers to make announcements about the missing boy. In the meantime an anonymous caller told Rahul’s parents that the boy was in his custody and demanded ransom for his release. The police traced the mobile phone signals to Jain Nagari. Led by Abohar SP, Virender Singh Brar, DSP Vibhor Kumar Sharma, Balluana DSP Gurpreet Singh and the Station House officers, the police cordoned off the area. Police officials learnt that the caller’s residence was located in the water works complex and that he owned a house on Kandhwala road. His wife refused to give any information and left the house. At midnight, the police spotted Rahul in the water works compound and nabbed Hira Lal Karkara as he tried to flee. The rescued buy looked traumatised. Karkara had reportedly presided over a meeting convened to make today’s bandh a success. A case has been registered.
|
|
Aphids attack wheat crop in Moga
Agriculture scientists claim that the situation can be controlled and the farmers should not resort to excessive use of insecticides. On the advice of dealers, panicky farmers have begun spraying their standing crop with insecticides. Moga Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Ravi Kumar Sabbarwal has constituted a two-member team comprising Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar and Dr Rashpal Singh Khosa to inspect the wheat crop at Raunta, Khai, Patto Hira Singh, Rauke Kalan, Badni Kalan, Buttar and villages in the Nihalsinghwala subdivision. “The attack is not serious. As of now, there is no reason for alarm. However, we suggest the farmers should inspect their crop regularly,” the experts said. They said aphids were soft-bodied, green to blackish-green louse-like insects. These were found in small colonies on the leaves, the leaf sheath and ear-heads. These pests suck the sap from the leaves and maturing grains. They also affected the photosynthesis process. The high population of aphids at the ear-head stage could result in a substantial loss to the yield. “If needed, the farmers should spray only the infected strip to check the spread of aphids,” Dr Brar said.
|
|
Soon, community radio station for Punjabi University
Patiala, February 28 Welcoming the decision, Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh said, "Radio as a medium of mass communication has so far played the best role by generating not only active participation of its varied audiences, but also by enhancing awareness on various fronts. It is evolving as a potential force to bring a positive change at the grassroot level, especially among disadvantaged, underprivileged or marginalised section of the society." Director, CEMCA, Dr Sreedher, explained the plans, policies and objectives of the CRSs to the participants and the procedure to apply for licence by the educational institutions and NGOs. Community radio, he said, has immense impact as a tool for capacity building and community empowerment, especially in developing countries. Such workshops were intended to propagating awareness about the role that CRSs play in the overall development of underprivileged societies, he added. Director, CAMS, Dr Gurmeet Maan said the community radio constituted a direct link between the grassroot level section of the society and the government. It was all-potent to reach a specialised audience having almost the same demographic and psychographic variables. The setting up of the community radio would enable the CAMS students to train themselves on the working of the radio in addition to generating jobs for them.
|
|
Cops chose not to go after offenders
“The police actually managed to hoodwink the Election Commission. It hogged the limelight for the seizures. Once the voting was over, it chose to keep mum over the issue as it did not want to take on the powerful people behind the offence,” said an SSP-level officer, pleading anonymity. A senior officer said questioning the agents could have easily led to those who had placed the liquor order. Meanwhile, conduits for the liquor peddlers have fled after they were released on bail. Several politicians who were booked for illicit liquor trade continue to enjoy political immunity.
Poll Seizures
|
|
|
Patwaris to resume stir
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 28 Amrik Singh Rai, member, All-India Patwar Union, said Talwar assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the Chief Secretary so that action could be taken against the guilty. He said they would start stir from March 1 till action was initiated against guilty
officials. — OC
|
|
State duty-bound to fill teachers’ vacancies: HC
Chandigarh, February 28 At the same time, a Division Bench of the high court has made it clear that the State of Punjab is duty-bound to fill up the vacancies “so long as the same is necessary in the interest of the administration”. The assertion came even as the Division Bench dismissed a petition filed in public interest by an advocate Mehar Singh against the State of Punjab and other respondents. The Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover asserted: “If vacancies exist, it is the duty of the Government to fill up the same so long as the same is necessary in the interest of the administration. “Whether a vacant post is to be filled or not is inextricably connected with the availability of resources on the part of the State and therefore, any decision in this regard has to be primarily of the administration and not of the court”. Going into the background of the controversy, the Bench asserted: “This public interest litigation has been filed directing the respondents to fill the vacant posts of elementary teachers in Chamkaur Sahib block in Ropar district. “According to the petitioner, out of 126 posts of elementary teacher meant for schools in the said block, 42 are vacant and some schools are going without even a single teacher, thereby causing serious loss to the students”. The Bench added: “The petitioner is an advocate by profession. No cogent ground has been given to show as to how the petitioner is interested in the subject matter of the writ petition. “That apart, the public interest litigation before us seeks a direction to fill up the vacant posts of elementary teachers in a particular block, whereas the same is situation in several other parts of the State. “For the aforesaid reasons, we do not consider the present to be a fit case for being entertained. The PIL is accordingly dismissed”.
|
|
Man moves court against DGP (Jails)
Ludhiana, February 28 The complainant, Razau-din Saifi, has claimed that intentionally not disclosing such type of information attracts an offence under various sections of the IPC. The DGP (Jails), Shashi Kant, had recently given statements regarding involvement of 'big fish' in drug trade in the state. Taking cognisance of the petition, Chief Judicial Magistrate Munish Arora entrusted the petition to Judicial Magistrate Amarinder Pal Singh for hearing. The case will come up for hearing on March 7. In the petition, the complainant mainly relied upon news items in which the DGP (Jails) had reportedly stated that he knew people who were behind drug trafficking in the state.
|
|
Court seeks details of appointments made by former VC Boparai
Chandigarh, February 28 They are seeking direction to the university to review the selections and appointments made by the former Vice Chancellor during his tenure from August 2001 to November 2007. As the case came up before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover, Punjab Additional Advocate-General stated that the assertion on March 12, 2010, that no criminal offence against Boparai was made out, was tentative. He told the Bench that the competent authority in the State Government would take a final decision within two weeks from today on the issue of determining his criminal liability regarding 400 appointments to various posts in the university on ad hoc or contract basis, without inviting applications from all eligible persons through open advertisement. The Division Bench directed the university to provide details of number of contractual and ad hoc appointments made by Boparai and also state how many of them had been again given employment on regular or ad hoc basis after initiating the advertisement process. Information has also been sought regarding the stage of selecting candidates on 191 (non-teaching) posts advertised by the university and a time frame for making regular appointments to the remaining teaching and non-teaching posts. The State was directed to apprise the court of its final decision in regard to criminal liability of Boparai against whom a vigilance inquiry report was submitted. The PIL has now been adjourned to March 29 for further hearing.
|
|
Housewife robbed of gold, cash
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 28 Rakesh Kumar, husband of Sapna, said when he was away to his shop, two unidentified persons came to his house in the afternoon and introduced themselves as electricity meter readers. They demanded water from Sapna. When she went to kitchen to bring water, they followed her and gave her some intoxicant, after which she fell unconscious. They took away jewellery and cash worth Rs 10 lakh. He said a passerby heard her cries when she regained consciousness and informed him. SHO, Mandi Gobindgarh, visited the spot and a finger print expert was also called in.
|
|
NRI husband ‘hired’ contract killers to eliminate wife
Moga, February 28 An FIR has been registered against her husband Gurajit Singh and five unknown persons. Gurajit is settled in Canada. A few unidentified gunmen fired shots at and injured Harpreet when she was going to her home in Ludhiana on a car on Monday. She is working at Government High School at Raonta village in Nihalsinghwala sub-division of Moga district. She received two gun shots -- one in her right eye and another in the right leg. She is undergoing treatment at the DMC hospital in Ludhiana. Harvinder Singh, SHO, Nihalsinghwala police station, said a criminal case has been registered on the basis of the statement of the injured woman. “She has stated that her husband, who lives in Canada, does not want to take her with him, while she insisted on going. He hired the killers to eliminate her,” the SHO said. Preliminary findings revealed that Harpreet was married to Gurajit Singh, who hails from Raonta village and settled in Canada. Harpreet has claimed that after returning to Canada, she discovered that her husband had married another woman and now wanted her out of his life, the SHO said. “We have searched the residence of Harpreet’s in-laws at their village, but found no one as the entire family lives in Canada. We are searching for the youths hired by Gurajit who fired at Harpreet,” he added.
|
|
| 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 | |
Chandigarh, February 28
Lahore, February 28
Moga, February 28
Ludhiana, February 28