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Shootout at a Gurdwara in Wisconsin, US
Patiala village remembers its honest, but ambitious son
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No headway in plan to set up Sikh Mission
Shift focus from paddy to other crops, says Pawar
Congress MPs claim credit for direct relief
Cement import hit; prices likely to go up
Maoist leader, evading arrest for three years, nabbed in Muktsar
2 rescued from kidnappers
Consider riot victims’ claim in 4 months, GMADA told
Jail records to be
computerised: Minister
Less rain, less dengue cases
Memo to VC on NRI seats
Buildings to be razed to make way for road
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Shootout at a Gurdwara in Wisconsin, US
Amritsar, August 10 SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar made the announcement following the ‘bhog’ ceremony of ‘Akhand Path’ organised for the peace to departed souls at the Golden Temple Complex. The ceremony was also attended by US Embassy officials Chad Thornberry and A. Sukesh. Earlier, Makkar said he recently met the US Ambassador and told her that the US should initiate concrete measures to redress the identity issue of Sikhs as a number of Sikhs were attacked post-9/11 due to mistaken identity. He said the SGPC will give an aid of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of two Sikh preachers who were killed in the shootout.
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Patiala village remembers its honest, but ambitious son
Patiala, August 10 After doing menial jobs initially, Kaleke struck gold when he entered gas business. He later went on to own several gas stations. He was associated with the Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin for the last 18 years. His last prayers are also scheduled to be held in the same shrine tomorrow. A large number of Sikhs are likely to participate in the ritual. Kaleke was related to noted NRI Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, who also shifted to the US around the same time and rose to be a millionaire. The death occurred at a time when Dhaliwal’s daughter Tina Kaur was slated to marry a US citizen today (August 11) in Mequon, Wisconsin. Darshan Singh is the elder brother of Punjab Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, who is married to Kaleke’s sister Harinder Kaur. Harinder Kaur, who was already in the US to attend her brother’s ‘bhog’ ceremony, said, “Satwant was a gentleman. If approached, he would always help his friends, Dugal residents and for that matter, anybody in need.” Shootout eyewitnesses said Kaleke confronted the attacker, a former US soldier who was also gunned down later, as he opened fire at the devotees inside the gurdwara. “My uncle lived up to his reputation of being a devout Sikh. His bravery will keep on inspiring the younger generations,” said Vijay Kaleke, resident of Dugal village. Kaleke had shifted to the US along with his four brothers around two decades ago. While the rest stayed put there and made a fortune, one of the brothers, Amarjit Singh, returned as he was serving in the Punjab Government. Satwant Singh is survived by two sons, one of whom is Amardeep Kaleke, an Emmy award winner in the category of documentaries.
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No headway in plan to set up Sikh Mission
Amritsar, August 10 At the same time, it has underlined the need for the Sikhs to launch a concerted campaign to sensitise people in foreign countries about Sikh identity and principles. However, the SGPC's efforts in this direction were yet to make headway. The SGPC had planned to set up a Sikh Mission and printing facility for Guru Granth Sahib in the US. But, both the projects seem to have got stuck in red tape." Talking to The Tribune, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said, "We have already sent our case regarding the Sikh Mission to the RBI and other ministries concerned in the Union Government. We are yet to get a clearance for the same." The SGPC was mulling the idea of the Sikh Mission in the US with an aim to propagate Sikhism and help Sikhs settled abroad to deal with the problems they were facing on account of mistaken identity and security barriers. Earlier, in the aftermath of instances like ban on 'kirpan' in schools in France and turban frisking of India's envoy to UN Hardeep Puri in the US last year, the SGPC had planned to publish literature for sensitising the people living abroad about Sikhism in their own language, but that also didn't materialise. Makkar said they would now expedite the process for setting up Sikh Mission in the US.
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Govt inflates additional power bill by Rs 1,000 cr
Chandigarh, August 10 The government, which had earlier in a written submission to the Centre demanded a Rs 2,380 crore financial package to offset the effects of a deficient monsoon, now wants Rs 5,112 crore for the purpose. In its memorandum to the Centre, it had earlier claimed that a sum of Rs 1,530 crore was required for additional power to farmers for the kharif season. This included Rs 716 crore on purchasing additional short-term power between June and September this year and Rs 814 crore on additional power to be purchased in August and September. In the memorandum handed over to the Pawar committee by ministers Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and Janmeja Singh Sekhon, the government has demanded a compensation of Rs 2,531 crore. Besides Rs 1,531 crore on account of additional power purchased during the paddy season, now Rs 500 crore has been calculated as the loss to state revenue on account of diversion of power to the agriculture sector and Rs 500 crore on the additional power to be purchased in winter because of low hydro generation. The manner in which the compensation calculated for the state electricity utility has increased by more than Rs 1,000 crore in a few days has raised some an eyebrow. Punjab’s record on the issue of distribution of central assistance has been dismal. In 2009, the Centre gave a Rs 800 crore drought relief to Punjab. Following an agitation by the BKU (Rajewal) the state released only Rs 150 crore to the farmers. The rest of the money was given to the state electricity utility for the additional power purchased by it. Besides Rs 2,531 crore on account of additional power purchase, Punjab has sought Rs 850 crore to compensate farmers for the additional cost incurred on purchase of diesel, Rs 893 for conversion/rescheduling of cooperative credit, Rs 300 crore on account of additional ground water irrigation, Rs 300 crore for installation of alternative tubewells, Rs 211.60 crore for arrangement of fodder for the livestock and Rs 26 crore for drinking water supply. Besides this, Kairon also demanded a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal for paddy over and above the MSP, a significant upward revision. Kairon said the MSP of cotton should be raised by Rs 500 per quintal over and above the MSP announced this year. He also demanded a drought relief of Rs 200 per quintal for maize.
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Shift focus from paddy to other crops, says Pawar
Chandigarh, August 10 At a meeting with ministers and senior officials of the state government here today, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that states like Chhattisgarh and some in the North-East had begun to grow paddy. Hence, Punjab did not need to destroy its eco system and spend a huge amount on raising the crop. Some states in the South had also been doing well as far as producing rice was concerned. Pawar said for the past two years, the Centre had been giving a special grant to the North-East states to encourage them to cultivate paddy. Pawar reportedly told the officials that the state had to spend too much on power to irrigate paddy. Also, the sub-soil water had been going down. Hence, it would be better for the state to shift focus on growing crops other than paddy. Pawar reportedly offered central help to the state in this regard. For the past several years, the wheat-paddy cropping pattern has remained an issue of debate. But state farmers are reluctant to give up growing wheat and paddy because of assured returns. Pawar was told that because of deficient rainfall, farmers would be incurring an additional expenditure of Rs 567 crore on the kharif crops. Besides, the government would have to spend Rs 300 crore on deepening tube wells rendered defunct owing to the falling sub-soil water table in the kharif season. Pawar was also told that the state power utility would be incurring an additional expenditure of Rs 1,531 crore to cope with the energy demand for the paddy crop (from June to October). The state government would have to divert power worth Rs 500 crore from the industrial and other sectors to the agriculture sector during the paddy season. This would entail an additional expenditure of Rs 2,031 crore. Former Vice Chancellor SS Johl had warned the state government in the late 1980s that it should reduce the area under paddy by 10 lakh hectares. He had also made representations to the Centre in this regard. The state grows paddy on about 28 lakh hectares every year. Almost the entire rice produced in the state goes to the central pool because rice is not consumed much by the local people. Pawar’s Paddy Cure
Viable alternative The Centre should provide a viable alternative to paddy to the farmers and promise a market for other crops. Only then can the farmers think of discarding paddy — BS Rajewal,
BKU chief
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Congress MPs claim credit for direct relief
Chandigarh, August 10 A delegation of Punjab’s MPs comprising the party’s national spokesperson and Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari, Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa, Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla and Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu had met Pawar and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh here last night in this regard. Tewari said while the MPs had no objection to the power subsidy, they wanted that compensation to the farmers be paid directly. He said the Agriculture Ministry would now seek details on the drought-hit farmers, their bank accounts and Kisan Credit Cards so that the relief amount could be directly credited to their account.
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Cement import hit; prices likely to go up
Amritsar, August 10 This has fuelled fears that cement prices may go up in the domestic market in the days to come. President of the All-India Cement Importers Association, MPS Chatha, said the cement stock that was to be imported via the rail route had also arrived. They were counting on the land route for imports, but lack of infrastructure and labour problems, particularly on the other side of the border, had left them disappointed. He said Pakistan’s cement exporters were also facing a problem getting clearance from the Customs authorities there. “It is taking them four to five days to get their consignment cleared,” he said. Hence, the volume of trade had dipped drastically. Chatha said the delay in resolving the matter could lead to an increase in the cement prices in the domestic market. “Already, the cement prices have gone up from Rs 245 to Rs 260 per bag in the wholesale market.,” he said. Chatha said a delegation of traders from Amritsar, led by MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, had left for New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar
Shinde.
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Maoist leader, evading arrest for three years, nabbed in Muktsar Muktsar: The Muktsar police claims to have arrested a Maoist leader absconding for almost three years. A former government employee, Lajpat Rai, alias Manveer Singh, alias KD, was nabbed from near the local Market Committee office yesterday, sources said. The Senior superintendent of Police, Mukstar, Inder Mohan Singh, said: “We have arrested a Maoist and handed him over to the Jalandhar police. Some Maoist literature has been recovered from him.” — TNS
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Mansa, August 10 The police got the information and laid a naka in the city. Within half an hour, it intercepted two cars carrying the victims and arrested all the four accused from Tinkoni Bhikhi. The arrested persons have been identified as Gurdeep Singh from Alampura Mandran village, Harpreet Singh from Hodla Kalan village, Jaswant Singh and Amarjit Singh from Bhikhi. The SHO City, Mansa, inspector Harpal Singh, presented the kidnappers in the court, which sent all the accused to one-day police remand.
— TNS
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Despite security cover, couple facing threats
Jalandhar, August 10 Residing in the same locality, Pratibha Bhatti and Munish Kumar tied the nuptial knot in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March 2012. They were provided security by the district police on the orders of the court. Led by the area councillor, some residents allegedly attacked the couple on July 8 when their security guard Balkar Singh was out for dinner. Munish, a fruit trader, said the councillor and four others barged into their house and thrashed his pregnant wife. One of the assailants, he said, was armed with a sword. The assailants fled after the couple’s bodyguard returned. The matter was reported to the Mukerian police and an FIR registered. Munish said: “The councillor is well-connected. He was aware of the fact that our security guards had been sent to Dasuya for the byelection there on July 9 and 10. So they choose to attack us then.” The couple demanded stringent action against those flouting the court directions.
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Consider riot victims’ claim in 4 months, GMADA told
Chandigarh, August 10 The directions came on a petition filed by Amarjeet Kaur and other petitioners against the State of Punjab and other respondents. In their petition placed before a Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath, the petitioners had contended that their “victimisation has been accepted by the competent authority by issuing Red Cards to them” and they were entitled for regularisation of possession of residential flats constructed initially by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA). Referring to government policies, the petitioners said their grievance was that “GMADA has not taken action whatsoever, despite the directions issued earlier by the High Court in the case of similarly placed riot victims”. Appearing before the Bench, counsel for the petitioners contended that the order rejecting or accepting the petitioners' claim had not been passed by the competent authority so far. Taking note of the contention, the Bench asserted that under these circumstances and without expressing views on the entitlement of petitioners, it was deemed appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with a direction to GMADA and another respondent to consider the petitioners’ claim and “pass an appropriate order in accordance with government policies within four months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order”. The High Court, in a similar matter pertaining to accommodation for riot victims in Ludhiana, has already ruled: “No one, including the riot victims, is above law, nor any other person, whosoever he may be, can be allowed to take law in his hands”. Taking up the issue of unauthorised occupation of flats in Ludhiana, the Bench had also directed the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police “to proceed in the matter in accordance with law forthwith and ensure that the unauthorised possession is removed and the vacant flats are delivered to those found entitled to and eligible for allotment as per the government policies”.
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Jail records to be
computerised: Minister
Bathinda, August 10 This was claimed by Swaran Singh Phillaur, Punjab Minister of Jails, Tourism and Culture, who visited Bathinda today to launch a website of Bathinda Hotel and Resort Association. He also visited various tourist places and the Bathinda Central Jail. The Minister said the computerisation of records would include the fingerprints of all prisoners, remissions, good conduct, date of release, record of parole and moral character. The entire information would be interlinked with the jails and important functionaries of security agencies so that they might access any information pertaining to the jail, prisoners’ crime and other information at the click of the mouse. The facilities would be provided initially in the Central Jails of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala as a pilot project and would be introduced in other jails of the state, he said. The Minister said smart cards would be issued to the prisoners by replacing coupon system for monetary transactions. Senior most officials were instructed to monitor and control drug paddling in jails, he said, adding that the officials would head the state and district-level committees.
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Shopkeepers observe bandh against sealing drive
Patiala, August 10 The bandh call was given by the Patiala Beopar Bachao Sangharsh Committee.The bandh remained peaceful as police forces were deployed in the city in large numbers. However, the agitating shopkeepers vented their anger by raising slogans against the Punjab Government, the civic body and the district administration. Hundreds of shopkeepers gathered at the Sheranwala Gate at about 8 am and proceeded towards the bus stand chanting slogans of "Punjab sarkar murdabad". The protesters then closed the gates of the bus stand , leaving many commuters stranded for hours. Led by the office-bearers of the Sangharsh Committee, the shopkeepers took out a protest march through the Dharampura bazaar, Nabha Gate, Bus Stand flyover, Lahori Gate and several other areas. Later, they staged a massive protest at Chhoti Baradari. Calling the Patiala MC a "den of corruption", the shopkeepers questioned as to how these illegal establishments had been allowed to come up in the first place. Committee representatives Rakesh Gupta, Rakesh Singla, Mahinder Singh and Nirmal Das Malhotra said sealing the shops would deprive at least 3500 shopkeepers of their livelihood. The representatives said it was sad that the state government had not intervened in the matter. "The SAD-BJP government should find an amicable solution to end the crisis immediately," they said, adding that the civic body and PDA authorities should also explore a legal solution to the problem. When contacted, Patiala Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrator of the PDA G.K.Singh said that the orders for sealing had been issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and they were bound to implement these. Patiala Municipal Commissioner Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu said that MC was only following the court directions . Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Gill said that the protest was peaceful and there was no untoward incident. "We have already asked the cops to remain on toes", he said. Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli said, "It is not possible for the civic body to defy the High The run-up to the shutdown Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed Patiala MC to seal all illegal commercial establishments developed by the Patiala Improvement Trust and PDA under the Town Planning Schemes. On the HC directions, Patiala MC had sealed all illegal commercial establishments on the Upper Mall Road. Yesterday, PDA had sealed 105 shops in the Urban Estate. The shopkeepers are now up in arms against the state government since hundreds of them will be affected by the sealing. They have constituted a Patiala Bachao Sangharsh Committee to launch a joint agitation against the sealing.
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Less rain, less dengue cases
Ludhiana, August 10 Against 93 cases of dengue reported till July-end last year, Punjab so far has witnessed 25 cases. The count of malaria cases too has come down from 1,166 to 506 this year, said epidemiologist Dr Gagandeep Singh. Out of the 25 dengue cases, 11 were reported in Ludhiana district alone while three were reported in Bathinda. Dr Gagandeep said the health authorities were constantly spreading awareness about preventive measures against dengue and malaria. “Less rain this year as compared to last year can be attributed for the decrease in dengue and malaria cases,” he said. Officials from the Health and Local Bodies departments will soon be holding a meeting to discuss imposing a fine of Rs 500 under the Municipal Corporation Act if dengue larvae were found on anybody’s premises during surveillance, he said. The governments of Haryana and Delhi have already implemented the Act. Ludhiana Chief Medical Officer Dr Subhash Batta said, “Mosquitoes mostly breed in coolers, flower pots and tyres kept in the open. The best way to check their spread is not to allow water stagnation.”
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Patiala, August 10 According to Vice Chancellor of BFUHS, no private college can fill these left over seats on their own. "I will take up the matter with senior authorities," he said. The seats have to be filled through centralised counselling as per PMET merit 2012. However some private colleges have been carrying out their own counselling sessions.
— TNS
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Buildings to be razed to make way for road Kotkapura, August 10 Following instructions from the PWD (B&R), the Kotkapura Municipal Committee has served notices on the owners of 80 residential and commercial buildings. The MC has asked the owners to vacate the premises within seven days. Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd has been awarded a contract by the Punjab PWD for the widening of the stretch. Subash Joshi, executive officer, Kotkapura, said if the owners did not vacate the premises voluntarily, the MC may have to use force. Sources said 1,550 trees on the 30-km stretch would be axed to widen the road.
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Patiala, August 10
Scanty rainfall during the current monsoon has left all sections of the society, particularly the farmers, high and dry. But, officials of the Health Department have a reason to cheer: less rainfall this year has meant lesser mosquitoes and, therefore, a decrease in dengue and malaria cases.
Indicating that after a couple of years, the Centre may not require paddy (rice) from Punjab for the central pool, the Union Agriculture Ministry today told the state government that it should switch over to growing pulses and maize.