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It’s prestige war in Patiala district
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With senior leaders missing,
electioneering dull in Mansa
In Amritsar, SAD wins 50% seats unopposed
Memorial row: Sikh clergy to meet today
Majithia: Hike crop damage relief
Police yet to trace Kapurthala assailants
US court reserves verdict in case against Badal
Notices issued to 19 nursing colleges
Z-level central security for Tewari, Bajwa
Car dealers in Punjab under Excise scanner
Namdhari Sangat to hold district-level protests today
3 IAS officers get additional charge
Amritsar-Amman flight likely by June
Violence on SLIET Campus
Over 12,000 oxytocin injections seized
Why no FIR against Honey Singh, asks HC
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SAD, Congress banking on village groupism
Tarn Taran, May 14 Assembly constituency leaders are shuttling between villages to garner support for their party candidates. The general public seems indifferent but is not averse to attending liquor parties. “These parties are being organised by those who want to contest the panchayat elections. In a way, they are assessing their support base before the elections,” said a political leader from Tarn Taran. Akali candidates have been elected unopposed in four zila parishad zones — Palasaur, Jhabal, Khadoor Sahib and Pakhoke. The Congress has not fielded its candidates from Khadoor Sahib and Pakhoke. The two zones are in the Khadoor Sahib Assembly constituency from where first-timer Congress candidate Ramanjit Singh Sikki had defeated SAD stalwart Ranjit Singh Brahmpura. Jhabal and Palasaur fall in the Tarn Taran constituency represented by SAD legislator Harmit Singh Sandhu. Congress candidate from Jhabal Amandeep Kaur had withdrawn her nomination papers, paving the way for SAD candidate’s election. The People’s Party of Punjab has fielded a candidate from the Sursingh zone in the Valtoha constituency. The fight here is between SAD candidate Jaspal Kaur and PPP’s Amarjit Kaur. The Congress has not fielded a candidate here. The Congress is supporting the PPP in Sursingh while the latter is supporting the Congress candidates in Valtoha. Grass-roots facts
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It’s prestige war in Patiala district
Patiala, May 14 The Congress cadre is demoralised given the fact that big leaders are not lending it the kind of support that is required to win any election. While former CM Amarinder Singh and his son Raninder Singh are missing from the electioneering scene, Patiala Member of Parliament Preneet Kaur joined the campaign only a few days ago. “We are determined to fight back the SAD. We we are leaving no stone unturned to fight the SAD goons who are hell-bent on demoralising the Congress cadre,” said Patiala (Rural) Brahm Mohindra. Infighting in the SAD has come to the fore with the party ticket in several areas being allotted at the behest of senior leaders, ignoring local leaders. In Sanaur, local Youth Akali Dal leader Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra clashed with local SAD leader Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu over ticket allotment. In Nabha SAD leader Makhan Singh Lalka announced his list of candidates which was opposed by workers headed by Balwant Singh Shahpur. In both the constituencies, the matter was resolved by senior Cabinet Ministers. In Patiala (Rural) two SAD leaders, including Harmail Singh Tohra, opposed the candidature of SAD leader Satbir Singh, who had contested as an Independent and later joined the SAD. Things are not too good for the Congress either with the important constituency of Samana almost leaderless. Raninder Singh has skipped the election campaign altogether and Preneeet Kaur has been busy in New Delhi. DCCs to be revamped after poll, says Bajwa
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa today said that some district Congress committees (DCCs) would be revamped after the May 19 elections. There would be a reshuffle in the PPCC too, he said. Addressing an election meeting organised by Congress MLA Brahm Mohindra in Alowal village, Bajwa said any leader working hard for the party would be suitably rewarded. “We will make sure that those who work hard get due importance as this will also end infighting, if any”, he said. The PPCC chief said despite veiled threats by the SAD leadership and the massive “misuse” of official machinery by the ruling alliance, the Congress would not withdraw from the election process. He blamed the Chief Minister for the “breakdown of law and order”.
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With senior leaders missing,
electioneering dull in Mansa
Mansa, May 14 The district is part of the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. Local MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is yet to campaign for the party candidates. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal have also stayed away from campaigning so far and so have major leaders of all parties. The poll seems to have been left to local leaders and workers. The SAD-BJP is facing unofficial joint force of the Congress and Sanjha Morcha. BSP candidates are not contesting the elections officially under the party banner but they gone opted for the same election symbol of an LPG cylinder. As many as 35 candidates are slugging it out for the 11 zila parishad seats. Four seats, Joga, Bhaini Bagha, Nangal Kalan, Raipur, are reserved for women. The nomination of only one Congress candidate Amrik Singh Dhillon was rejected. He was considered a strong contender. He is now supporting his covering candidate, Ram Kishan from Jhunir zone. Amrik alleges his nomination was wrongfully rejected. Returning officer Varinder Kumar Sharma said the action was legal as Rs 17 lakh were pending against him in his previous term as sarpanch of Jhunir panchayat. Dhillon did not challenge the rejection of his papers. Karamjit Kaur of the SAD is taking on a male candidate Khem Singh of Congress from Borrawal. "I take inspiration from MP Harsimrat Kaur in taking on a male candidate," she tells voters. She is a sitting member of the parishad. Ten of the 35 zila parishad candidates are illiterate. All the five candidates for Bhaini Bagha seat, reserved for SC female, are illiterate. Malkiat Singh Samao of the SAD is the only candidate having a postgraduate degree while Dalbir Singh of the same party from Kulrian seat is the only graduate from among the remaining candidates. Dalbir, aged 27, is the youngest candidate. He also has the maximum property with ownership of 27 acres while Khem Singh of the Congress from Borrawal owns 23 acres. At 68 years, Seeb Kaur of the Congress from Bhaini Bagha is the eldest to contest the elections. Harbans Singh Dattewas, SAD district president, said: "We are seeking votes on performance. We have brought development. Streets and drains in villages have been laid with concrete. We have installed RO plants for providing clean water. Health camps are organised in this cancer belt. We have got constructed a railway over-bridge at Budhlada which connects 45 villages. If voted to power, we will ensure availability of doctors in rural areas". Congress MLA Ajit Singh Mofar said: "We are exposing the non-performance of the SAD-BJP government, especially their failure to maintain law and order. The government has also failed to provide round-the-clock power supply. The central schemes have not reached the masses, pension payments are irregular and farmers are not getting good seed for crops". Lacklustre affair so far
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In Amritsar, SAD wins 50% seats unopposed
Amritsar, May 14 Besides, the zila parishad hardly has any power or contribution to the rural development agenda. The ruling SAD had made a clean sweep in the previous zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in 2008 in Majha region. This time too, out of the total 21 rural constituencies in Amritsar, nine have already been taken by the SAD. Gurmeet Singh (Jasraur), Ranbir Singh (Lopoke), Sandeep Kaur (Chogawan), Harmeet Kaur (Harsha Chhina), Upkar Singh (Jahangir), Bhagwant Singh (Khasa), Jasbir Kaur (Majitha), Sukhwinder Singh (Tasrikka) and Gurwinder Kaur (Mehta) have been declared unopposed. The Congress did not field any candidate on Lopoke, Jasraur, Chogawan, Harsha Chhina and Jahangir seats. Among the undisputed winners are the family members or relatives of SAD leaders. Ranbir Singh is the son of former MLA Vir Singh Lopoke whereas Gurwinder Kaur is the wife of SAD MLA Baljit Singh Jalalusma. Others in the fray include: MLA from Baba Bakala Manjit Singh's brother Ranjit Singh. He is contesting from Baba Bakala. The contesting candidates are promising safe drinking water, better sanitation services, health services, education, road infrastructure, grants for making houses and hygienic toilets.
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Jakhar's village ‘highly sensitive’
Abohar: Panjkosi, the native village of Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar, is among 11 polling booths in Khuyiansarwar block that have been declared highly sensitive by the election authorities. As many as 44 polling stations have been listed as sensitive. The Congress has already sought deployment of central security forces apprehending that polling won't be fair under the command of the state police as the latter "has been politicised thoroughly". Meanwhile, Jakhar has stepped up campaigning for party candidates. He is targeting the alliance government for backtracking on its election manifesto. He alleged funds received from the Centre under several welfare schemes were being diverted by the state government to meet other expenses. TA/DA for election staff Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has issued orders to all the department heads, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to give TA/DA as per entitlement to the officials/employees who have been deployed for the panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections to be held on May 19. Of Illiterate candidates Bathinda: Elderly and semi-literate or illiterate candidates outnumber the young and literate candidates in Bathinda district. In some of the zones, voters have no choice but to elect from amongst two illiterate candidates. For instance, in Bhai Rupa, SAD candidate Chatar Singh is illiterate while Congress candidate Malkit Singh is under matriculate. Most Congress candidates are semi-literates while the SAD has two candidates who are graduates. There are 16 zila parishad zones, of which 14 will go to the polls. Besides, eight candidates are in the 60-70 age group, 12 in 50-60 and 11 are in the 41-50 age group. Focus on Dera Bassi Mohali: As the poll nears, the focus of the Mohali police is on Dera Bassi where as many as 30 polling booths have been declared as "highly sensitive". A total of 37 polling booths have been put in the "highly sensitive" category in the district. The remaining seven booths are located in Kharar area. Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said a total of 444 polling booths would be set up in various zones in the district. "A total of 92 booths have been placed in the 'sensitive' category", he said. He said special security arrangements would be made at the "highly sensitive" booths.
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Memorial row: Sikh clergy to meet today
Amritsar, May 14 The Taksal had dedicated the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale before handing over its management to the SGPC on April 27, the day the memorial was thrown open to devotees. The Taksal move was opposed by the SGPC. Sources said the row was on the agenda of the Sikh priests. There are reports that the kin of those killed in Operation Bluestar have contended that the memorial be dedicated to all those killed in the Army operation and not a particular person. On the other hand, the Taksal claims that they’ve named the memorial as per a resolution passed by the SGPC executive committee. Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa has already met Akal Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and urged him to ensure that there is no “tampering” with the memorial and that the wall clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph be re-installed. The Taksal’s move to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale has been opposed by the SAD’s alliance partner, BJP, as well as the Congress. The SGPC had replaced the clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph, besides turning around the ‘golak’ inside the memorial with Bhindranwale’s name inscribed on it. There are still five sites where his name is engraved- two marble plaques atop the entrance of the memorial, two aluminum plaques on either side of the staircase leading to the memorial and a board mentioning the history of the Army operation on the left of the memorial entrance.
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Majithia: Hike crop damage relief
New Delhi, May 14 He also demanded that compensation for loss of cattle owing to various natural calamities be doubled. Taking part in deliberations by the “National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
(NPDRR)” during the two-day inaugural session at Vigyan Bhawan here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Majithia said it was high time that effective disaster management plans were chalked out both at the national as well as the state level . He also spoke of the need to initiate preventive measures.
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Police yet to trace Kapurthala assailants
Jalandhar, May 14 Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Inderbir Singh said they were hopeful of nabbing the culprits soon. Of the 16 injured persons, the condition of five, undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, is critical. Among them is Ajit Singh of Mothanwala who has suffered serious head injuries. He is yet to be operated upon. Ajit Singh's wife Gian Kaur has head injuries and multiple fractures on the face. Their sons Seetal and Hardyal have grievous head injuries.
Maqsudan Sahni of Kamalpur Bhatha is also critical with blood clots in the brain. The condition of all those admitted to the Civil Hospitals in Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala is stable. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
(PPCC) president, Partap Singh Bajwa, has demanded the immediate arrest of the assailants and a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of the injured persons. 5 injured critical
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US court reserves verdict in case against Badal
Washington, May 14 The district court had taken up a petition filed by New York-based Sikhs for Justice, which alleged that Badal had committed "grave human rights violations" against the community in India. Attorneys appearing for Badal argued that he did not receive any court summons, whereas Sikhs for Justice claimed that its authorised person had served the court summons. Sikhs for Justice, in a statement, said it would now approach the recently created American Sikh Congressional Caucus seeking its help in asking the State Department to withdraw its support to Badal. It would also demand a Congressional hearing to discuss a ban on the entry if Shiromani Akali Dal leaders into the US. Notably, the recently formed caucus had said it would only raise domestic issues related to the Sikhs.
— PTI
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Notices issued to 19 nursing colleges
Chandigarh, May 14 Various PNRC inspection reports have pointed out that certain colleges are being run without the required teaching staff. Many have teachers on the official list, but none in reality. Several have no computers. Then there are those with computers but none working. Discrepancies have also been pointed out in laboratories for practical work and in admissions. Punjab has more than 225 nursing colleges and their quality of teaching is under the PNRC’s “strict” review. A director of a college, who did not want to be identified, said: “We are surprised that the PNRC has raised objections to colleges who had got the nod from PGI’s inspection teams.” Significantly, the Registrar, PNRC, in a press note said: “The nursing colleges under consideration are not being disaffiliated. Only routine inspections were carried out in these colleges.” He said inspection reports had been sent to the colleges to bring about certain improvements. “No compromise on quality of education will be allowed. The replies from these colleges will be reviewed shortly,” said Dr Tejveer Singh, Director, Medical Education and Research. The institutes that have been served notices are ST College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Mahilanwali, Hoshiarpur; Dr Dayal Memorial School of Nursing, Anandpur Sahib; Guru Hargobind College of Nursing, Raikot; Malwa School of Nursing Sardulewala (Mansa); Sardar Patel School of Nursing, Abohar; Bhai Mati Das School of Nursing, Goraya (Jalandhar); Baba Farid Institute of Nursing, Kotkapura; Mai Bhago College of Nursing, Tarn Taran; International College of Nursing, Tarn Taran; Bhagwati Institute of Nursing, Bikhi (Mansa); Shiv Shakti School of Nursing, Bikhi (Mansa); HKL School of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, Guruharsahai (Ferozepur); Majha International School of Nursing, Batala; Life Guard School of Nursing, Sangrur; Khalsa Rural Hospital and Nursing Training Institute, Nangal Kalan; Seth Madan Lal Institute of Nursing, Ludhiana; Raghbir Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhavanigarh (Sangrur); Mata Sahib Kaur Institute of Nursing, Balongi (Mohali) and Guru Seva College of Nursing, Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur. Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, said: “We have involved the district administrations as well as the health services to ensure quality teaching. A follow-up will be undertaken after we receive replies from the colleges.” Discrepancies galore
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Z-level central security for Tewari, Bajwa
New Delhi, May 14 Tewari is an MP from Ludhiana, Bajwa from Gurdaspur. Tewari will get Z category security. Bajwa will be provided Z category security when in Punjab and Y category security when travelling outside Punjab. Tewari’s father Prof VN Tewari was teaching at Panjab University, Chandigarh, when he was shot dead in 1984. Bajwa’s father Satnam Singh Bajwa was killed by militants in 1987. — TNS
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Car dealers in Punjab under Excise scanner
Patiala, May 14 The car dealer had suppressed purchases and sales to the tune of Rs 118 crore. The department has already recovered Rs 12.5 crore from the dealer which would be adjusted against the penalty and pending tax. Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said information was received that M/s Mehta Motors of Bathinda was allegedly not paying full tax on new cars sold by it. The company was a dealer of Tata Motors, Renault. “I directed the Investigation Wing of the department to obtain data regarding the cars sold by the manufacturers through this dealer. When the data was received, it was found that between April 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012, the dealer had purchased cars worth Rs 175 crore, but had shown purchases worth Rs 57 crore only, thus suppressed an amount of Rs 118 crore,” Verma stated. The modus operandi of the dealer was to offload cars outside Punjab and deliver these directly to the customers. “The tax deposited by the car owners was pocketed by the dealer and never deposited in certain cases,” said Verma. Officers of the department said the dealer had a tax liability of Rs 15 crore. “This amounts to cheating and we would write to the police to register a case after the penalty amount is recovered,” they said. Verma has ordered a probe to ascertain whether officials of the department were also involved with the dealer. The department has further ordered scrutiny of records of all the car dealers in the state. Modus operandi
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Namdhari Sangat to hold district-level protests today
Ludhiana, May 14 Now, the INS will hold protests in every district on May 15 in which only 21 activists will go on hunger strike, while the remaining will hold peaceful protests in their respective districts. The INS, which is associated with Thakur Dalip Singh, gave the protest call to the followers against the management of Bhaini Sahib. They alleged that the management had denied entry to followers of Thakur Dalip Singh. The district administration had earlier denied permission to hold a protest at the Bhaini Sahib due to possibility of a clash between the two groups. Navtej Singh, president, INS, said, "Sant Surinder Singh Namdhari, vice-president, Namdhari Darbar, and Hira Singh Gabria, Akali leader, requested us to cancel the protest. But, we are very clear about our objective. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal permitted us to peacefully go on hunger strike." In a recent meeting, the office-bearers of the Sangat had decided that the followers would now go on hunger strike in their respective districts from 9am to 1pm on Wednesday.
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3 IAS officers get additional charge
Chandigarh, May 14 A press release said Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary, Power, Science Technology and Environment and Non-Conventional Energy, had been given the additional charge of Secretary, Vigilance. Bhawan Garg, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, and in addition Special Secretary, General Administration, had been given the additional charge of Special Secretary, Personnel. Anjali Bhawara, Principal Secretary, School Education, had been given the additional charge of Principal Secretary, Higher Education and Languages.
– TNS
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Amritsar-Amman flight likely by June
Amritsar, May 14 It will fly twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays after 4 am and return after an hour’s halt at the Amritsar airport. The Airbus A319, that will reach Amman in five hours, will connect passengers from Amritsar to over 113 destinations worldwide, including those in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS nations. Sources said though the flight is yet to get the necessary approval from the Indian Government, it has already opened its bookings. The flight will be a welcome relief for pilgrims, NRIs, tourists and business men of the region with the BMI Airlines having withdrawn its Amritsar-Almaty-London flight and Air-India too suspending its
Amritsar-Toronto flight. Flight Schedule
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Violence on SLIET Campus
Sangrur, May 14 Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul said Justice SN Aggarwal (retd) and RP Aggarwal, a retired IAS officer, had been appointed as members of the commission by the Union Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD). He said the commission would look into the entire episode, including the circumstances that led to the violence on the campus on May 6. Besides, it would also go through the incidents that took place on the campus in the past four to five years, he added. He said the commission would prepare a comprehensive study to prevent such incidents in the future. An unprecedented violence had erupted on the SLIET campus on May 6 when the authorities reportedly declined to hear the demands and grievances of students. From May 6 to 10, hundreds of students staged a dharna on the campus demanding removal of institute director Sunil
Pandey.
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Over 12,000 oxytocin injections seized
Patiala, May 14 The police has confiscated the banned oxytocin injections that are illegally used on cattle for better milk yield. “This injection is lethal and is now used by drug addicts to get a kick,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HS Mann. The SSP said they had raided a factory ‘Presto Remedy’ and seized over 12,000 injections. “In a separate case, we have recovered lakhs of capsules and other medicines being illegally carried by two persons in Nabha,” he said. —
TNS
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Why no FIR against Honey Singh, asks HC
Chandigarh, May 14 A Division Bench made the State of Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration respondents in the petition filed in public interest by NGO “HELP”. As the case came up before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, Punjab Additional Advocate-General JS. Puri produced an affidavit on behalf of the Punjab Government. The Bench questioned: “Why has the Punjab Government not taken cognisance of main hoon balatkari (I am a rapist) song by Honey Singh even though it attracts the provisions of Section 294, IPC, which is a cognisable offence?” When Puri repeatedly requested the Bench to issue instructions to the government for registering a case against Honey Singh, the Bench asked him to act as per the law instead of seeking instructions from the court. Turning towards a large number of youngsters gathered inside the courtroom, the Bench observed: “These young men have come to the High Court to see Honey Singh. They should rather boycott such singers, who sing lewd and obscene songs. These young men should realise that out culture is being spoiled by such vulgar songs.” As Honey Singh was not present in the court, the Bench directed that fresh summons be sent to him for appearance on July 4. “Honey Singh’s song available on the YouTube indicates that it was sung at a concert in Gurgaon. Thus, it cannot be said that no action can be taken against its singer?,” the Bench added.
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With virtually no major issues to highlight, the SAD and Congress bigwigs are banking on political groupism in rural areas to win elections in the 17 zila parishad and 145 block samiti zones of this border district.
Jalandhar, May 14
