|
|
|
|
|
Poll violence: Congress workers protest outside CM’s residence
Supplying books to schools is DGSE’s job, says Maluka
|
|
|
Protest outside minister’s house
Congress workers protest outside the residence of Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka in Kansal village, near Chandigarh, on Saturday. Tribune photo: S Chandan
CM okays terms of reference for probe
With LS poll drawing near, Sidhu ‘distances’ himself from politics
Transporters create ruckus at Attari
Aspirants rue delay in admissions to PG medical courses
Promised medical seats, 4 families robbed of
Rs 67 lakh
Factories reel under power cuts
Nishan Singh shifted to borstal school
Four injured in fire at Dhuri factory
Justice Kaul sworn in as CJ of Punjab and Haryana HC
SI among three held for extortion
|
Poll violence: Congress workers protest outside CM’s residence
Badal (Muktsar), June 1 As per the scheduled programme, the “Insaaf yatra” of the Congress began from Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Muktsar. The rally is being held to bring to book those who damaged nine vehicles on May 19 when the panchayat polls were held. Congress workers alleged that the government had falsely booked over 150 Congress workers for the violence. The yatra stopped at a few villages, including Mann village, and also passed through the streets of Gidderbaha. The Congress leaders then entered Badal village where a huge posse of police was deployed. The Congressmen later reached outside the Chief Minister’s residence and sought an assurance from the CM that the cases slapped on the Congressmen would be revoked. They accused Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Revenue Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia of shielding goons and promoting violence in Punjab. Jagmeet said, “The Congress will hold four conferences in Jalalabad, Lambi, Bathinda and Majitha to highlight the highhandedness of the police .” Though Muktsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Paramjit Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh tried to pacify the protesters, they continued the dharna. Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Bathinda range) Amar Singh Chahal also reached the spot. Muktsar DC Paramjit Singh said, “The protest was peaceful which is why Congress workers were allowed to enter Badal village and lodge their protest.” The CM was due to come to his residence at Badal village today, but he cancelled his visit. The protest continued till the filing of this report and there was blackout in the village with the administration having turned off all street lights. Rift in party Infighting in the Congress was again visible today, as Muktsar MLA Karan Kaur Brar, Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh ‘Raja’ Warring, and Congress Lambi constituency in-charge Maheshinder Singh Badal did not turn up at the rally.
|
|
Supplying books to schools is DGSE’s job, says Maluka
Chandigarh, June 1 In an interview with The Tribune, the Education Minister ruled out his resignation and claimed that DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu was the overall in charge for the purchase and supply of books to schools. He said the DGSE office should have checked if there was any problem in the selection or nomination of any firm. "It is the DGSE who takes the final decision on spending central funds on books, practical copies and science kits," he added. The argument by the minister comes in sharp contrast to the claims by the DGSE office, which says it was bypassed by the minister who had passed orders for setting up a single committee for purchasing books. The committee is said to have made recommendations in which the DGSE office did not have any role. Maluka said he had never ordered the purchase of library books under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) as was being made out. "I only formed a committee to ensure the procurement of quality books at the best possible price". He also claimed that he had not given any financial powers to his daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur, who was taken on deputation from the Rural Development Department and posted as Additional Project Director of the SSA. He said these powers were most likely given to her by the DGSE. When asked whether in hindsight he felt he should not have brought his daughter-in-law to this own department, he said: "I wanted her to be in Chandigarh. Earlier also during Capt Amarinder's tenure as Chief Minister, she had served on deputation with the Punjab Agro". He claimed Parampal had an outstanding record and could do no wrong. Claiming that Parampal's application for the lone non-state cadre service post should not be seen from a political angle, he said the Chief Secretary should hold a test for all those who had applied for the post. "Let the government send the best four candidates for an interview to the UPSC on the basis of merit,” he added. When questioned about his alleged relations with Justice AN Jindal (retd), who has been told to probe the matter, he said he did not know Justice Jindal. He said the Jindal family had left Rampura Phul in 1964 and he had never met or spoken to any of his relatives presently residing in Rampura Phul. Ruling out the need for his quitting the post, the minister said all documents pertaining to the case were available on record. On whether he was ready for swapping his ministry, he said it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister. Maluka also denied that he had ever slapped any woman schoolteacher at a programme in Bathinda. Maluka claimed: "Punjab was no. 13 as far as school infrastructure is concerned. Now it is no. 1." He said during his tenure, a large number of teachers had been regularised and results improved.
|
||
|
Protest outside minister’s house
Chandigarh, June 1 The protesters raised slogans against Maluka and the SAD-BJP government and demanded his resignation. Addressing the protesters, Rana KP Singh demanded a CBI probe into the scam and flayed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for "shielding the tainted minister". He alleged besides indulging in financial irregularities, Maluka committed an immoral act by supplying books with vulgar content to primary schools. He said the probe ordered by the Chief Minister by a retired judge, Justice AK Jindal, was "a sham". Justice Jindal had family links with Maluka, he claimed, adding Maluka should have resigned on moral grounds. Meanwhile, members of the National Students Union would stage dharna tomorrow, besides all frontal organisations of the Congress would continue their protest, a party spokesman said.
|
||
|
CM okays terms of reference for probe
Chandigarh, June 1 Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson said the terms of reference would facilitate an inquiry into the details of the purchase and supply of library books for government primary and upper primary schools from a private supplier and the purchase and supply of science kits and map masters by the Language Department. The ambit of inquiry would include the role of any person in these purchases/supply and the inquiry in this regard was to be completed within three months, added the spokesperson.
|
||
|
Have enough power to meet demand, claims PSPCL
Jalandhar, June 1 The PSPCL has even shut down a 110 MW unit of Bathinda thermal plant on account of low power demand. Besides, the PSPCL has surrendered some power purchased through a short-term agreement. The power demand recorded on May 30 last year was 1,491 lakh units (LUs). This year, the figure stood at 1,495 LUs, an increase of just 4 LUs. Besides, the power availability on May 30 this year was 1,495 LUs whereas it was 1,479 LUs on the same day last year. Also, as per the Punjab State Load Despatch Centre, the power load recorded in the state on June 1 was about 6,900 MW, which is not too high at this time of the year. At present, all the six units of Ropar thermal plant are operational. At Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant, out of the total four units, one unit of 250 MW capacity is closed for overhauling. It will become operational on June 2. At Bathinda thermal plant, while one unit of 110 MW is closed for renovation, another unit of same capacity has been shut down on account of low power demand. GS Chhabra, PSPCL Director (Generation), said the power scenario in the state was comfortable at the moment.
|
||
With LS poll drawing near, Sidhu ‘distances’ himself from politics
Amritsar, June 1 Sidhu has been out of touch with his constituency for a couple of months now. During this period, he visited the holy city once on May 9 for a few hours. At that time, he had stated that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar as its people had voted for him and elected him to Parliament not once but thrice. He had, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the way his favourite projects for the city were scuttled. There were reports that he would return to the political turf once the IPL was over, but with him heading to London for Champions Trophy, the speculations of his quitting politics are rife again. Though Sidhu could not be contacted for his comments, his wife and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu said it did not seem to her that he was planning to contest the Lok Sabha elections. She, however, said Sidhu had a number of meetings with the party leaders, including the top leadership, in New Delhi recently. Meanwhile, the BJP's alliance partner SAD seems to be eyeing the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, which became evident last week when former Rajya Sabha MP Raj Mohinder Singh Majithia, during a SAD rally at Kathunangal, demanded that the seat be allotted to the SAD while stating that Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia would be the right candidate. Incidentally, the SAD has also widened its base in the urban areas of Amritsar, a fact that came to the fore during the MC elections last year when the SAD won 25 seats, one more than its alliance partner BJP in the Amritsar civic body poll. At that time, some SAD leaders had also demanded that the Mayor’s post should be given to their party, but Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said they would stick to the pact with the BJP. Earlier, in April, Sidhu’s wife had sparked a controversy by hinting that Navjot Sidhu might quit politics. She had posted a comment on Facebook in which she said her husband was feeling sidelined in the political system due to his honest ways and impeccable reputation. Later, she had also stated that Sidhu would not contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
|
|
Transporters create ruckus at Attari
Amritsar, June 1 The traffic flow also remained affected for the retreat ceremony at the Attari Border in the evening. The tourists were forced to walk all the way to the border due to a road blockade, which started at 2 pm and ended at 5.30 pm. Sources said the road blockade had no affect on business as trucks carrying goods for export had entered the ICP before the blockade started. The truckers were demanding that only their trucks be hired by the traders for imports meant to be dispatched within Punjab. A meeting with the traders and the authorities in the morning failed to break the deadlock. Later, it was decided that a meeting will be held at the Circuit House, Amritsar, on June 4 to resolve the issue amicably. Earlier, the traders had taken up the issue with police officials who had deputed an SP rank official to sort out the matter. The traders alleged that the local truckers had blocked their trucks carrying goods imported from Pakistan. They had accused the truckers of creating a nuisance on various occasions, which they claimed, was threatening to derail the bilateral trade between India and Pakistan. Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia had last month ordered that the local truck union be disbanded at Attari and the traders be allowed to hire trucks as per their wish.
|
|
|
Aspirants rue delay in admissions to PG medical courses
Faridkot, June 1 They say the delay would mean a shortened academic period. Earlier, the classes of postgraduate medical courses used to start by May-end. This year, as the counselling for admissions is yet to begin, there is no likelihood of the classes to begin within the next three months. While the test (NEET-PG) was held in November 2012 instead of January 2013, the results were declared after a delay of about five months on
May 17. As there were a number of writ petitions challenging the NEET, the Supreme Court had stayed the declaration of results. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) declared the results after the stay was vacated on May 13. But now the aspirants are waiting for the admission process to kick off. Earlier, May 31 was set as the deadline by the Supreme Court for filling all postgraduate medical seats, but now the date has been extended to July 31, said Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). The university had fixed counselling for May 27 and May 30. Since the National Board of Examinations, which conducted the national eligibility-cum-entrance test, is yet to start counselling at the national level, the BFUHS cannot proceed in this regard. “We are hopeful that the Medical Council of India and the NBE will start counselling in the first week of June,” said Dr SS Gill, Vice Chancellor.
|
|
|
Promised medical seats, 4 families robbed of
Rs 67 lakh
Amritsar, June 1 The police, however, denied that the families were looted at gunpoint. Police Commissioner Ram Singh said the families were defrauded by the owners of a Mohali-based institute. The accused had been identified and would be arrested soon, he said. Interestingly, the victim families were dithering from lodging a complaint with the police. Sources said the Mohali institute had given an advertisement regarding availability of seats in various medical colleges. About four families had contacted the institute and a deal was struck at Rs 75 lakh per seat. The families were asked them to reach Amritsar with the money. Parminderjit, one of the victims, said when they reached at the designated venue, four persons from the Mohali institute came in two cars. “They were armed with pistols. They robbed us of the money,” he added. Avtar Singh Makkar, president, SGPC, said the families were duped by an educational institute on the pretext of getting their wards admitted to the college.
|
|
|
Sehajdhari Sikh Federation president beaten up
Chandigarh, June 1 The accused, Deepak Kajla, and his father BD Kajla were addressing a press conference, alleging that Ranu had illicit relations with his wife. When Ranu reached the press conference venue along with Deepak’s wife Manwinder Kaur, a scuffle broke out and Ranu was beaten up. He was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. Talking to The Tribune, Ranu said: “I have suffered fractures on my shoulder and nose. I had gone to the press conference to voice my version. I do not have any affair with Deepak’s wife. I am just helping her because she was being harassed by her husband”. Manwinder Kaur said: “I had lodged a complaint against my drug addict husband who had been torturing me. The matter is already in the court.” No case was registered till the filing of the report.
|
|
|
Factories reel under power cuts
Ludhiana, June 1 Mohinder Gupta, president of the Furnace Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, said the industry had been regularly facing unscheduled power cuts. "The repair and maintenance cell of the PSPCL is weak and taking more time to complete the maintenance work probably due to staff shortage. The repair works are being carried out every alternate day as a result we have to regularly face unscheduled power cuts," said Gupta.
|
|
|
Moga residents protest as police beat up family Moga, June 1 Raju and the woman were immediately rushed to the emergency ward of the district hospital. Bunty, however, was soon released when the residents raised slogans outside the police station. When contacted, Harinder Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), said, “Bunty was found roaming in an area from where the police had recovered illicit liquor at midnight. The police suspected him to be involved in selling illicit liquor and went to his house to search it. However, nothing objectionable was found.” The SHO denied that Raju, Bunty and his wife were beaten up by the police. Meanwhile, the police has registered a criminal case of liquor smuggling against unknown persons and investigations were on.
|
|
|
Nishan Singh shifted to borstal school
Faridkot, June 1 Under Punjab Borstal Act 1926, if a prisoner is less than 21 years of age, he is entitled to be sent to a borstal school, a place where offenders are given industrial training and reformed. “Under the directions of higher authorities, we have shifted Nishan Singh to Ludhiana Borstal School,” said JP Singh, Faridkot Jail Superintendent. Sources, however, revealed that Nishan was shifted to the borstal school as authorities feared that he might be attacked in Faridkot Jail.
|
|
|
Four injured in fire at Dhuri factory
They were taken to Dhuri Civil Hospital from where they were reportedly referred to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. Dr Jagmohan Singh, medical specialist at Dhuri Civil Hospital, when contacted, said the factory owner, his son, and the accountant had sustained 50 to 70 per cent burn injuries while the driver got minor burn injuries. Dhuri police said it had so far not registered a case in this regard as it was still in the process of getting the statements of the owner and the employees. Karam Singh, Station Fire Officer of the Sangrur Municipal Fire Station, said the fire broke out at the factory laboratory. The factory owner and others got injured when they tried to extinguish the fire, he said. Karam Singh said after inspection they found that the factory owner had not installed any fire safety equipment on the premises. The fire officials
extinguished the fire within an hour.
|
|
Justice Kaul sworn in as CJ of Punjab and Haryana HC
Chandigarh, June 1 Chief Justice Kaul was administered the oath of office by Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia at a simple, but impressive ceremony held at Haryana Raj Bhavan this morning. Talking to the media soon after he was sworn in, Chief Justice Kaul asserted that the Bar and the sitting judges would be taken into confidence before forming the pool. "Before the names are recommended for elevation, the Bar and the sitting judges will be consulted. A pool of talent will then be formed. The names shortlisted from it will then be placed before the collegium for consideration," Chief Justice Kaul said in response to a query on making the system of recommending the names more transparent. Refusing to comment on the controversy raised by the Bar, Chief Justice Kaul added the names had been sent by the High Court collegium; and would now be considered by the Supreme Court collegium. Chief Justice Kaul also struck down as impracticable the suggestion of inviting objections from the Bar and other interested persons before recommending the names for elevation. Talking about his priorities, Chief Justice Kaul said his endeavour would be to put in place a citizens' grievance redressal system for the settlement of cases and complaints at the government level itself without compelling people to move the courts. "Once such a system is put in place, people will not have to knock at the doors of the courts for settlement of their disputes. They would also be spared the trouble of filing petitions in public interest for the redressal of their grievances," he asserted. "This, in turn, would bring down the number of cases pending before the courts". Chief Justice Kaul said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had one of the highest case disposal rates. Approximately 1 lakh cases were filed annually; the disposal was almost the same. Linking pendency with the shortage of judges, Chief Justice Kaul added ideally the High Court here should have 50 to 55 judges for bringing down the number of pending cases. As of now, the High Court has just 41 judges against the sanctioned strength of 68. Chief Justice Kaul also expressed confidence that the number of cases pending before the district courts in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh would be brought down from 11.50 lakh approximately to less than 10 lakh by the end of this year, with new judges joining in. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by sitting and retired judges of the High Court, bureaucrats and advocates. Also present at the ceremony were Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh
Hooda.
|
|
SI among three held for extortion
Patiala, June 1 Phulel is currently attending the national athletics camp at the National Insitute of Sports, Patiala. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police HS Mann said on the basis of the complaint by Darshan Singh of Good Earth Colony on May 31, the police registered a case against the two under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and Information Technology Act 2000. Mann said that Darshan Singh met Krishna at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib. Soon, Krishna introduced him to Prabhjot Kaur, he said. Mann further said that Darshan soon developed a physical relationship with Prabhjot, who secretly made an obscene video of them. “Thereafter, Sub Inspector Phulel Singh approached Darshan and showed him the video clip. He threatened to upload the clip on the internet if Darshan didn’t shell out Rs 10 lakh,” Mann said. The SSP said they finally settled on Rs 2 lakh, which Darshan was supposed to pay in instalments. After Phulel collected the first instalment of Rs 35,000 on May 31, Darshan found out that he was trapped by the three. Thereafter, he filed the complaint. Hunt to nab Krishna is on. Sources at the NIS said Phulel was reinstated recently after he was suspended for forging a few documents.
|
|
| 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, June 1
Chandigarh, June 1
Chandigarh, June 1
Sangrur, June 1