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Baisakhi mela
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Capt’s dharna a stunt: Sukhbir
Malwa leaders demand opening of Hussainiwala
A first: BSF deployed at Baisakhi Mela
Extend rail freight corridor till Attari, demands Badal
Chief Minister Parkash S Badal with Home Minister
P Chidambaram at Attari on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
PCC president stages dharna
Not lobbying for PCC chief’s post, says Jagmeet Brar
Explosion in cracker unit kills 4
Jallianwala Bagh martyrs remembered
A contingent of the Punjab Police pays tributes to martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Farmers block GT Road for two hours
Free screening of pregnant women for thalassemia
Abolishing 50% quota for Punjab students
8-hour power for farmers during paddy season
Un-metered water connections in Punjab
Woman booked for abetting husband’s suicide
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Baisakhi mela
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), April 13 Former Congress Legislature Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today skipped the Congress rally at Talwandi Sabo where PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh was the main speaker. The local party leadership had earlier announced that Bhattal would attend the Baisakhi rally. However, neither she nor her supporters turned up at the rally. Local MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu single-handedly organised the rally. A few legislators loyal to Amarinder accompanied him. Among them were Ajit Singh Mofar, Joginderpal Jain, Arvind Khanna, Gurkirat Kotli, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Ajaib Singh Bhatti. Amarinder warned that he would not sit quiet if the SAD-BJP government continued to harass Congress activists by implicating them in false cases. “We will stage dharnas outside police stations where fake cases have been registered against the activists”, he said. To a question, the PCC chief denied reports of infighting and claimed the party stood united. He said there was no revolt against him as “only five to seven persons have been raising a hue and cry against my leadership.” He said AICC president Sonia Gandhi would soon decide the matter. He said he would visit Majitha tomorrow where a block president had gone missing three days ago. Amarinder said though the Congress had suffered defeat in the assembly elections, it would contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with renewed vigour. He called upon the Congress workers to start preparing for the same. Amarinder said the Congress had reached the conclusion that it had lost the elections in the state because of money and muscle power used by the SAD-BJP alliance. He alleged the Badal government was on its way to sell government properties, such as the Government Rajindra College, Bathinda. He said the Congress would move the Punjab and Haryana High Court if the government initiated any steps to sell the college land. He alleged the SAD-BJP government had no money to pay salaries to its staff and one of the CM’s relatives had even talked of a financial emergency-like situation in the state.
Capt’s dharna a stunt: Sukhbir
Talwandi Sabo, April 13 Sukhbir was talking to mediapersons after addressing a Baisakhi rally. He dismissed allegations that the state government was victimising Congress activists. “We do not believe in vendetta. Our agenda is development”. He said a criminal case had been filed against Congress workers on the directions of the Election Commission regarding poll violence.These activists were evading arrest. The police was only carrying out the EC orders and the state government had no role in the matter. Sukhbir said top Congress leaders were busy fighting among themselves and did not have the people’s welfare on their mind. He said the SAD-BJP government would endeavour to develop backward areas of Malwa into textile hubs and Amritsar and Ajitgarh as IT destinations. Addressing a rally in the absence of CM Parkash Singh Badal, who was in Amritsar for the opening of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Sukhbir said the new industrial policy was aimed at reducing red tape to make the single-window system functional in spirit. He said an overhaul of the industry department was in the offing with the state finalising a plan to create a land bank for investors. He said he would urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to inaugurate the Rs 21,000 crore Bathinda refinery by the month-end. Sukhbir said that inauguration of the ICP at Wagah today would change the economic profile of the sate and he would urge Home Minister P Chidambram to take steps for opening the Fazilka and Ferozepur borders for trade with Pakistan. Prominent among those who addressed the political rally were Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Rajya Sabha member, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, and Sikander Singh Maluka, Education Minister.
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Malwa leaders demand opening of Hussainiwala
Ferozepur, April 13 Senior Congress leader and Guruharsahai MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said Ferozepur district once was a trade hub. However, the Partition and subsequent closure of the border post-1971 India-Pakistan war sounded death knell for commercial activities in the region. “Not only this, the district was divided time and again, which further proved catastrophic for the local traders. They have been clamouring for opening the border for the last 40 years,” he said. He also lauded the UPA Government’s efforts for boosting the bilateral trade with Pakistan and commissioning of the Integrated Check Post. — OC Deploy central forces for panchayat poll: SAD (A) On the occasion of Baisakhi festival, SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann said his party would demand the deployment of central forces during the ensuing panchayat elections in Punjab as the state government and the Punjab Police were "incapable" of organising free and fair elections. He said they would also not allow "distribution of money and liquor" in the panchayat elections. The SAD (A) also passed 11 resolutions, including the demand for a CBI inquiry into the murder of Shaheed Jaspal Singh, opening of Hussainiwala and Suleman (Ferozepur) borders and the release of the Sikh leaders detained "illegally". — TNS
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A first: BSF deployed at Baisakhi Mela
Talwandi Sabo, April 13 Commandos and armed policemen were also deployed in strength to thwart any attempt to disturb peace. Though senior police officials remained tightlipped about the deployment of the
BSF, it was reliably learnt that the step was taken to thwart any attempt by hardliners to create disturbance on the issue of the death sentence to Balwant Singh
Rajoana, who was among those who assassinated the then CM Beant Singh. IGP (Bathinda Range) NS Dhillon said a company of the BSF was requisitioned last month when there was tension over the Rajoana issue. These personnel along with the local police were just deployed today to maintain orderly movement of pilgrims.
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Extend rail freight corridor till Attari, demands Badal
Attari (Amritsar), April 13
Addressing a gathering at the inaugural ceremony of the ICP, Badal urged Pakistan not to restrict the import of Indian goods from Attari-Wagah to 137 items and allow trade of all 5,600 items through the route as it had done for trade with the rest of India under the ‘negative list’ regime. He also raised the issue of restricted trade with Afghanistan through the land route. “While Pakistan allows Afghanistan to export its goods to India, it doesn’t permit India to export its goods to Afghanistan,”he said. He exhorted both the governments to work towards facilitating Kartarpur Sahib corridor and demanded that the rail freight corridor between Kolkata and Ludhiana be extended up to Attari. He urged the Union Government to provide visa facility at the ICP and open the Hussainiwala border for trade. He sought compensation for the farmers with land beyond the border fence. He hoped that both the governments would facilitate easy travel for pilgrims on either side of the border. Pakistani Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif said the ICP would promote trade and commerce between the two countries which would help reduce misunderstanding, tension and bitter memories of the past. Referring to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s initiative, he proposed kabaddi matches between the two countries at Lahore, Faislabad and Multan. He said such measures would help reduce tension and promote friendly ties. Badal also urged the governments of India and Pakistan to relax visa norms for MPs and MLAs. Later, Chidambaram said that both the countries should consider the issue favourably.
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PCC president stages dharna
Dayalpura (Rampura-Phul), April 13 Accompanied by hundreds of supporters who included some senior leaders, Amarinder staged a sit-in outside the police station where he threatened the Akali-BJP government with dangerous consequences if it continued with alleged vendetta against the Congress workers. The PCC president appeared confident apparently after having learnt that Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had reportedly cold-shouldered the dissidents and told them that Amarinder alone could not be blamed for the party’s defeat in Punjab. Earlier scheduled to land at Dayalpura in a helicopter, Amarinder, however, reached there in his car driving all the way from Patiala. The PCC president went to the residence of Tarsem Singh and Baljeet Singh who are accused in the case along with Kangar. It was at their residence that a police contingent led by Dayalpura SHO Sikander Singh had conducted a raid and allegedly beaten up the family members and taken several of them into custody as a pressure tactic to make Tarsem and Baljeet, who are absconding, surrender. Amarinder reminded Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of his promise that there would be no vendetta and if there were any complaints, he would look into those. He said, “Badal never means what he promises and that is precisely the case here as the vendetta goes on contrary to his commitment.” He said the Congress leaders and workers would flood jails if “vendetta” did not stop. The PCC president was accompanied by senior leaders, including PCC general secretaries Harminder Jassi, Fatehjang Bajwa, Kushaldeep Dhillon, Arvind Khanna, Rana Gurjeet, Joginder Singh Panjgraian, Darshan Singh Brar and Ajit Singh Shant.
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Jakhar meets PC over ‘vendetta’
Amritsar, April 13 The Union Home Minister was here to inaugurate the newly built Integrated Check Post at Attari. Jakhar urged Chidambaram to raise the issue with the state government headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Addressing mediapersons before moving towards Attari, he alleged that the SAD-BJP leaders were on a ‘spree’ of lodging false cases against Congress workers all over the state. He said he had raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly and the CM at that time had assured him of appropriate action within 15 days in the matter. “But even after the lapse of the 15-day deadline, I have not heard any word (about cancelling false cases) from the CM while more Congress workers have been implicated in false cases,” he said. He demanded the formation of an independent commission under a retired judge to investigate these false cases.
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Not lobbying for PCC chief’s post, says Jagmeet Brar Muktsar: Breaking his silence on the party’s defeat in the recently held assembly elections, CWC member Jagmeet Singh Brar today said there was a need for a Pradesh Congress leader who could take all senior Congress leaders along. “A good general is one who not only leads from the front but also owns defeat,” he said. Choosing not to directly attack PCC leader Capt Amarinder Singh, he repeatedly pointed out that it was time that the “party reins in the state are in the hands of a leader who can take on the Akalis head-on.” He warned that if this was not done, the Akalis’ claim that they would rule the state for the next 25 years may come true. Asked whether he had been lobbying in Delhi for the PCC chief’s post, Brar said: “I am a man of principles and do need to lobby for any post... But I’m sure if appointed to the post, I will unite all Congress leaders to ensure the party was successful in the 2014 parliamentary elections.” On the poll debacle, Brar said infighting was the major reason for the same. The PPP factor had also worked against the Congress, he maintained. “I met the AICC president a number of times after the poll debacle but never uttered a word against any individual or blamed anyone for the party’s defeat”. On his brother Ripjit’s defeat , he said: “He lost because of infighting. But I don’t want to blame anyone.” — Archit Watts/TNS
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Explosion in cracker unit kills 4
Moga, April 13 District Magistrate Arshdeep Singh Thind has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, which would be conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind, who holds the additional charge of SDM, Moga. Such was the impact of the blast that the roof and walls of the building collapsed, causing damage to nearby houses in the town’s Preet Nagar locality . Three of the killed have been identified as building owner Liaqat Ali , his wife Hoor Bano (50) and daughter Aamreen (14) The other victims are yet to be identified. The District Magistrate,, SSP Snehdeep Sharma and other civil and police officials rushed to the spot to monitor rescue operation. The administration summoned explosive experts from the Army and also forensic experts to collect samples from the blast site so as to ascertain the exact cause and density of the blast. Preliminary findings suggest that the building owner was illegally making crackers in the house and the blast reportedly occurred due to leakage in a cooking gas cylinder.
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Jallianwala Bagh martyrs remembered
Amritsar, April 13 The function was attended among others by former minister Laxmi Kanta
Chawla, Scheduled Castes Commission Vice-Chairman and MLA Raj Kumar
Verka, former Deputy Speaker Darbari Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Supreet Singh Gulati and Jallianwala Bagh Trust Secretary SK
Mukherjee. Chawla said, “The Jallianwala Bagh martyrs will be remembered till eternity for their sacrifice. The political leadership must put in efforts to realise the dreams of the martyrs. The youth should work towards strengthening the nationalistic feelings among the people.”
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Farmers block GT Road for two hours
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 13 The protesters led by Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra and joined by Didar Singh
Bhatti, former MLA, raised slogans against the state government and the district administration. Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan and senior police officers rushed to the spot. Following an assurance from the DC that the administration would review the compensation amount and arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister in this regard, the protesters lifted the blockade. The MLA said farmers were offered an amount of
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Free screening of pregnant women for thalassemia
Ludhiana, April 13 Dr Shiela Dass, professor and head, Department of Hematology (Pathology) of the
CMCH, said, "The Indian Council of Medical Research has given us a project worth Rs 70 lakh to screen pregnant women for
thalassemia. Under the project, we have already got a machine to test DNA of expectant mothers. This test will detect weather newborn baby will be a carrier of thalassemia or not. It is mandatory that this test should be done within three months of pregnancy. “We will conduct DNA test through biopsy of uterus of pregnant women and advice the couple accordingly, if both mother and father are carriers of
thalassemia.'' Dr Dass said, "Earlier, we used to conduct this test by testing blood, but now the Ludhiana Civil Surgeon has given us approval to conduct the test through biopsy." Dr AG Thomas, CMCH director said, "It is a matter of pride for us that we are contributing significantly for research of various ailments." A thalassemic patient needs at least Rs 2.5 lakh for blood transfusion per year. By now, maximum age of a person with this disease in Punjab is 36 years. Dr Dass said, "The problem of thalassemia is more prevalent among children of couples who prefer to marry in the same caste and less among those who go for inter-caste marriages. The disease among kids of couples who come from different castes is 3.5% to 5%. However, among kids of couples who got married in the same caste is almost double, 5 % to 10%.''
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Abolishing 50% quota for Punjab students
Patiala, April 13 The spokesperson said the decision to offer 50 per cent reservation to students from Punjab was implemented by the university when there were limited engineering seats in the state. "Today, there are many engineering colleges, resulting in more engineering seats for students in Punjab," he said. "Thapar University does not receive government funding. Other similar institutes, including BITS, Pilani, Manipal, VIT etc, enjoy the advantage of recruiting higher ranked students. By making admission equally competitive for all students, Thapar University hopes to garner some of the best engineering students in the country," he said. The spokesperson said, "A situation may come when we may not have enough qualifying candidates to fill our seats through the domicile quota. Therefore, throwing open all seats for national competition will certainly improve the students' profile at the university and improve the institute's ranking. It will also ensure that no seat goes vacant, especially since engineering is such a coveted subject."
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8-hour power for farmers during paddy season
Patiala, Apirl 13 After a meeting with Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, the CMD said that the power supply schedule would be announced through the media. — TNS
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Un-metered water connections in Punjab
Chandigarh, April 13 “We direct the State of Punjab to formulate and finalise its policy within a period of three months from today and thereafter to notify the same”, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover has ruled. The directions came on a petition filed by Sarpreet Kaur against the State “Thereafter, the matter would be put up before the Council of Ministers and a new water policy will take effect as per the decision of the Council of Ministers. The Policy that will be formulated is to apply only to urban areas of the State of Punjab”, the Bench asserted in its order. Referring to the contents of the affidavit, the Bench asserted: “With regard to the action taken by the State of Punjab as stated in the affidavit of the Special Secretary, Department of Local Government, it may be observed that by the earlier order of the court dated December 5, 2011, directions have been issued for framing a policy for metered connections, which would apply to both urban and rural areas of the State of Punjab. Such policy is required to be framed within two months of the order dated December 5, 2011. “In view of this, we now direct the State of Punjab to formulate and finalise its policy within a period of three months from today and thereafter to notify the same.” Closing the petition, the Bench said that necessary action in terms of the order and strict adherence to the time schedule would be maintained by the State”.
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Woman booked for abetting husband’s suicide
Hoshiarpur, April 13 Police said Parkash Singh of Sehege, stated that his son Ranjit Singh got married to Balwinder Kaur about seven years ago. His daughter-in-law had filed a divorce suit due to which Ranjit was upset. Yesterday evening Ranjit died after consuming some poisonous substance. In another incident, some miscreants stole a Tata Sumo jeep parked outside Gurdwara Pul Pukhta at Tanda yesterday evening. Police said the jeep owner, Ranjit Singh of Badala Sohal in Amritsar, stated that he along with his family was going to Anandpur Sahib. On the way he parked his vehicle outside a gurdwara near Tanda and went inside with his family to pay obeisance. On returning, they found their vehicle missing. Tanda police has registered a case under Sections 379 of the IPC. In another case, miscreants stole some gold ornaments and foreign currency from the house of Jagjit Singh of Gandhi Colony, Mukerian. An official said Jagjit and his wife had left their house in the morning for work. When his wife, who is a schoolteacher, returned, she found doors of the house open and a gold chain, three gold rings and some foreign currency missing. Police has registered a case under Sections 380 and 454 of the
IPC.
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Attari (Amritsar), April 13
Amritsar, April 13
