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Monsoon weakens, has farmers worried
Led by P’kot MLA, BJP men damage toll barrier
Party executive from today, Amritsar MP unlikely to participate
Chowdhary can't stop grant to state: Badal
Cong: Kangar booked at behest of Maluka
Domestic help-turned-sarpanch vows to bring succour to poor
Not a single vote for them
Poll violence: Victim’s kin allege police inaction
Number of missing in U’khand rises to 31
Heroin seizure adds to traders’ woes
Govt approves Sharma’s posting as Himachal DGP
Tewari leads delegation to Chidambaram
Class X girl raped in
Tarn Taran
High Court quashes govt directive to
fill promotion posts via deputation
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Clash after Akali sarpanch’s relative run over by car
Nawanshahr, July 6 Agitated SAD workers and local residents allegedly manhandled policemen and attacked their vehicles. They also attacked Chaman Singh, former chairman of Nawanshahr Market Committee, who allegedly fired gun shots in the air to disperse the protesting crowd. Dharam Singh is survived by his wife and two sons. SAD workers alleged that Chaman Singh hired goons to avenge the defeat of his close confidant Paramjit Singh in the panchayat elections. The SAD has won the panchayat election from Bhan Mazara after about three decades. Refuting the allegations, Chaman Singh said: "Dharam Singh was hit by a police vehicle, which is why the SAD workers later attacked the police". Both the SAD and Congress workers accused the police of not taking any preventive measures despite growing tension in the village in the past few days. The police has registered a case against seven persons - Chaman Singh Bhan Mazara, his sons Gurpreet Singh and Pritpal Singh, Goga, Ravinder Singh, Kuldip Singh and Gurdip Singh - under Sections 302, 120-B, and 506 of the IPC. Activists of the SAD and the BJP today blocked traffic at Chandigarh Chowk for a few hours, demanding immediate arrest of all the accused. Congress MLA from Nawanshahr Gur Iqbal Kaur Babli and district Congress president Satvir Singh Palli Jhikki have accused the ruling party of falsely implicating Chaman Singh in the murder case and demanded an impartial probe into the matter.
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State reels under power crisis
Chandigarh, July 6 With the 1,500 MW Nathpa-Jhakri hydropower project of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam and 1,200 MW Karchham-Wangtoo projects in Kinnaur district being shut down due to heavy silt deposition, Punjab is facing a severe shortage of power. Across the state, people complained they had to deal with long and unscheduled cuts. Even agriculture consumers in some areas did not get the promised eight-hour supply yesterday. While the industry in the state is expected to observe two weekly offs because of poor power availability, the high electricity-consuming industries like induction furnaces have been going without power for three days a week. For the past two days, the snapping of power supply from the two above-mentioned projects and a technical snag leading to the closure of six units at the Ropar thermal plant led to the state getting erratic supply. Though five units at the Ropar thermal plant were made operational today morning and the sixth unit was expected to become operational by late tonight, Punjab is still facing a shortage of 500 MW of power on an average each day. Official sources said against the demand for 9,000 MW (mega watt), the power availability with Punjab was just 8,500 MW. The state has its own generation capacity of 3,200 MW while it gets the remaining from Bhakra and National Thermal Power Corporation, besides arranging power from other state electricity boards and private power generating companies through short-term and long-term power purchase agreements. “Though we have the resources to make additional short-term power purchase agreements and remove the gaps in supply, the capacity of the power grid system to transfer power to Punjab is just 5,300 MW. We are already using this capacity to the optimum level. The capacity was recently enhanced by 150 MW,” said a top government official. The official said the power crisis would be resolved by March 2014, the time when Punjab would enhance its own power generation. “We will be adding 1,360 MW to our generation capacity by March next year and another 1,400 MW before the onset of the paddy season in 2014,” he said.
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Monsoon weakens, has farmers worried
Chandigarh, July 6 A government official said: “The rains last month had created a flood-like situation in several cities of Punjab. But after that, it has rained intermittently.” A Met department official said that since June 1, about 150 mm rain had been recorded in the state even though the normal was 61.8 mm. “We are hopeful the monsoon will revive in the region in a day or two,” said Dr KK Gill, Assistant Agro Meteorologist, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. She said the movement of the monsoon had been hampered due to low pressure in other parts of the country. Because of the inert monsoon for the past some days, the demand for power has shot up in Punjab. Sources said it had gone up to 2,000 lakh units on Thursday. The paddy growers too are a worried lot. With rainwater lacking, they have been depending on tubewells for irrigating their crop. However, the dry spell has come as a relief for some. Director (Agriculture) Mangal Singh Sandhu said the rain in June had impeded the sowing of maize, an exercise that had picked up now. “Already, 1.38 lakh hectares of land have been covered under maize. The target is 1.70 lakh hectares. We expect to achieve it soon,” he said.
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Another key accused in Pannu assault case held
Mohali, July 6 DIG, Punjab Police, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, said Bobby, a taxi driver and an aide of Gurwinder Singh alias Baba Panesar, was arrested from Ludhiana. “Bobby was present at the site when the incident took place. He recorded the entire incident and uploaded it on Internet,” said the DIG. Pannu was thrashed at Gobind Ghat around 1.15 pm on June 21 and the first video of the incident was uploaded by Balwinder Singh Kanakwal at 4:02 pm the same day. Sources said it was Baba Panesar who was raising slogans against the Punjab Government and another accused, Gursewak Singh Sonu, was instigating the other persons in the group against Pannu. “The person insisting Pannu to accept his folly in the video was Sonu,” said the sources. Bobby was produced in the court today, which sent him in a two-day police remand. The DIG said Baba Panesar, who was sent in judicial custody on July 4, has again been sent in police remand for two days by the court. The police has so far arrested four key accused, Baba Panesar, Sonu, Kanakwal and Bobby, in the case. The DIG said investigations were on in the case.
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Led by P’kot MLA, BJP men damage toll barrier
Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), July 6 Taking preventive measures, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has shut down the barrier. The development was confirmed by NHAI senior functionary Satish Chandra. Trouble began on Friday night when BJP’s Pathankot unit chief Narinder Parmar along with his supporters was returning from Mukerian (to Pathankot) and was stopped at the barrier. As the BJP leader showed the return pass, a barrier employee lowered a barricade, which damaged the bonnet of Parmar’s vehicle, said sources. An argument ensued, which later turned into a scuffle. The tension that was simmering since last night flared up today when the Pathankot MLA along with his supporters reached the spot. Joined by the locals, who were allegedly being harassed by the toll staff, the BJP workers damaged toll booths and barricades. They also blocked the highway for over three hours, thus putting the commuters to inconvenience. Traffic on the highway was restored only after Mukerian Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rahul Chaba pacified the protesters around 5 pm. Sharma alleged the toll staff manhandled Parmar and other BJP activists even though they had a valid return pass. NHAI project director Vipnesh Kumar has lodged a complaint at Harzipur police station alleging that a mob led by the MLA thrashed the toll barrier employees. He has also filed a written complaint to Dev Raj, authority’s chief general manager of Chandigarh region, complaining that the toll barrier was “forcibly stopped”. The closure would cause a revenue loss of over Rs 6.5 lakh per day to the government.
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Party executive from today, Amritsar MP unlikely to participate
Amritsar, July 6 The crucial meeting will see top Punjab BJP leaders deliberating on the party strategy for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Navjot Singh Sidhu, the BJP MP from the city, however, is conspicuous by his absence. The speculations about Sidhu not attending the meeting seem to be true as he hasn’t arrived in the city yet. Sources close to him have also indicated that he was not likely to participate in the meeting. BJP state chief Kamal Sharma said, “We have formally invited him and he says he will try and attend the event.” He reiterated that the Amritsar MP had no grievances. The meeting will be attended by BJP ministers, MLAs and executive members among 250 delegates from across the state. The delegates will comprise BJP Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Zila Parishad representatives, district unit chiefs and office-bearers of the party. BJP president Rajnath Singh will land in Amritsar around 11 am tomorrow. He will be received by party leaders at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport. From there, he will head towards the Golden Temple to pay obeisance. Later, he will address the state executive meeting around 3 pm before flying back to New Delhi at 5.30 in the evening. Among the prominent BJP leaders attending the meeting are Punjab BJP affairs incharge Shanta Kumar, co-incharge Shyam Jaju, and Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma. The state executive meeting will culminate on Monday.
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Chowdhary can't stop grant to state: Badal
Chandigarh, July 6 Badal said the grant was given to the state under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). A few days ago, Chowdhary had given the statement in response to a query on Badal's picture on ambulances running in the state under the NRHM. On more powers to panchayats, zila parishads and block samities, Badal alleged the UPA Government wanted to rule the states indirectly and to do so it was trying hard to wrest control of various institutions from the states. On talk to appoint him convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Badal said he would not accept the offer. He said he would not be able to discharge the duties of the convener at this stage as it would involve extensive travel.
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Cong: Kangar booked at behest of Maluka
Chandigarh, July 6 In a statement issued here today, PPCC vice presidents OP Soni, Charanjit Singh Channi and Tarlochan Singh Soond, PPCC general secretary Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa and Congress party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira demanded that the FIR be cancelled. The Congress leaders said Kangar and ten other party leaders were booked in a case of poll violation even though he was not present at the scene. They said that it was a case of vendetta as SAD minister Sikandar Singh Maluka’s involvement in the allegedly illegal purchase of library books, science kits and practical notebooks was recently highlighted by the Congress. Kangar had also led a protest against Maluka at Rampura Phool.
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Domestic help-turned-sarpanch vows to bring succour to poor
Muktsar, July 6 Originally hailing from a remote Behtana village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, Draupadi had come to this village along with her husband Sunder Singh of Badha village in Gurgaon eight years ago. Since then, the couple has been working as domestic help in the village. They even work at the house of a newly elected sarpanch of nearby Chak Attari village. They have four children who are studying in the village's government school. Elated over her achievement, Draupadi said: "After the village panchayat was declared reserved for an SC woman, several prominent residents approached me to contest the election. Some landlords too supported me. I won the election by 125 votes." She said: "I did not run my election campaign to seek votes. I got 250 votes and my nearest rival Surjit Kaur polled 125 while another contestant Veero Kaur got 15 votes." Draupadi said it was her destiny that she was elected sarpanch of the same village where she has been working as a domestic help. "We live in a shanty which seeps during the rainy season. We are in a better position to know the problems faced by the poor. I will try hard for the development of my village," said Draupadi. She is, however, a bit apprehensive that her lack of education might act as a hindrance. Her husband Sunder Singh said: "She now has a big responsibility on her shoulders. Since Draupadi cannot read or write, she needs to be careful before putting her thumb impression on any official document. Who will come to our rescue in case of any irregularity?" Meanwhile, a landlord in the village, who had guided the couple all through the election process, has offered his two-room house to them.
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Not a single vote for them
Muktsar, July 6 A study of the panchayat election results revealed that in Bhagu village of Lambi block, five contestants for the post of sarpanch could not even open their account. Though a total of seven candidates were in the fray, two of them got all the votes. The village was in general category and Satwinder Singh became the sarpanch after defeating his rival Kulwinder Singh by 89 votes. The remaining contestants Sukhjinder Singh, Sukhwant Kaur, Jaswant Singh, Jaswinder Singh and Pawandeep Kaur did not get a single vote. Sources said there was a close contest between Satwinder and Kulwinder who are said to be relatives, Both of them had asked their relatives to file nominations just to get more number of polling and counting agents. “One candidate had asked three of their relatives to file nominations and the other had asked two of his relatives to file the nomination,” the sources said. At Smagh village in Muktsar block, five of total nine contestants for the post of sarpanch failed to get a single vote. They are Harjinder Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Harpal Singh and Randhir Singh. Shivraj Singh became the sarpanch after securing 517 votes. In Shivpur Kukrian village, four candidates were in the fray for the post of sarpanch, but one of the candidates, Harsharan Singh, did not get a single vote. In Chibranwali village, too, the situation was almost similar. Of the total 15 contestants, three could get only one vote each, two got two votes and one did not even get a single vote. In Dodanwali village, where three candidates were in the fray, one candidate Mayia did not get a single vote. In Khunde Halal, Lakhewali, Lubanianwali, Jasseana, Chak Motlewala, Lambi Dhabh, Jhughe Ranjitgarh, Chak Kalasinghwala and Lande Rode villages, too, there were a few candidates who got only one or two votes.
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Poll violence: Victim’s kin allege police inaction
Faridkot, July 6 The police has, however, registered an FIR against some unidentified persons under Section 307 of the IPC for attacking a police party and polling agents. "The police has recorded the statement of the deceased's father and a special investigation team has been constituted to probe the matter," said Faridkot SSP GS Randhwan. Lakhwinder Singh, victim's father, alleged the police was trying to cover up the case as an inspector had killed his son. He said the incident took place in presence of over 100 persons.
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Number of missing in U’khand rises to 31
Chandigarh, July 6 Sanjay Kumar, Secretary General, Administration, said, “We are constantly updating the list as more people are approaching the district and state-level control rooms.” Eight are from Fatehgarh Sahib, six each from Mohali and Barnala, four from Amritsar, two each from Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana and one each from Patiala, Ropar and Bathinda. Sources in the control room at the state headquarters said that none of the missing persons had responded to the numerous calls made on their phone numbers. Their mobile phones are switched off. We are in touch with the family members of the missing persons to check for any updates. All the Deputy Commissioners of the state have been asked to keep updated information on the missing persons. The control room officials here are in constant touch with their counterparts in
Uttarakhand.
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Heroin seizure adds to traders’ woes
Amritsar, July 6 Exporter Rajesh Setia said they got only three rail wagons instead of six in the Samjhauta Express recently for exporting their goods. Besides, he said they were provided 13 out of 34 rail wagons parked in Attari for loading their goods, which again was insufficient. He said the Railways did not provide the remaining 21 wagons, contending that they were being sent for maintenance. This despite the fact that a delegation of traders had recently met the Railway officials, he added. Jaspal Singh, a clearing agent, said the exporters had booked around 200 wagons at the rail cargo facility in Amritsar, but the number of wagons being provided to them is too less. Besides, those wagons were in a bad shape and couldn’t be utilised to its optimum level. He said the traders have now stopped making further bookings as already a huge quantity of goods has piled up. Jaspal Singh said it was unfortunate that at a time when the US dollar had become strong against rupee and they were trying to earn foreign currency for the country through exports, the Railway authorities weren’t helping them in the matter. The aggrieved traders now again plan to meet Railway officials. Meanwhile, the fresh seizure of 10 kg of heroin in rail cargo from Pakistan has dealt another blow to an already suffering bilateral trade between the two countries. The trading community feels that they had been breathing easy for the last few months, but this seizure will now deter them from placing further import orders with Pakistani traders. Last year, various agencies had recovered over 150 kg of heroin in rail cargo from Pakistan in separate instances. The contraband was hidden in cement bags imported from the neighbouring country.
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Govt approves Sharma’s posting as Himachal DGP
Chandigarh, July 6 The government is learnt to have sent its clearance in a sealed envelop to the office of the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister. The process has also been initiated to relieve him from his parent cadre. The officer has also confirmed the development. The approval was sent only after the HP authorities asked the Punjab Government to recommend Sharma's name for the post. The entire exercise was carried out through the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Sources said the Punjab Home Department had also been asked to give its clearance. With Himachal DGP B. Kamal Kumar due to retire on July 31, the HP Government has also sent a request to the Union Home ministry to allow the appointment of Sharma, a 1983 Punjab cadre IPS officer. The HP Government had pleaded that since none of the three senior most IPS officers in the state, Somesh Goyal, Sanjay Kumar and SR Mardi, fulfill the 30-year minimum service requirement, permision may be granted to bring someone from outside. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh seems to have gone on the defensive after officers from the state protested the move. Earlier in 1987, IB Negi had come from outside the Himachal cadre to head the state police for three years.
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Tewari leads delegation to Chidambaram
Chandigarh, July 6 He said Chidambaram had given an assurance that he would take look into the concerns of the bicycle manufacturers. He said the excise duty had made an adverse impact on the bicycle industry. "Since Ludhiana is a hub of cycle manufacturing, it was felt that we should talk to the Finance Minister about our problems and concerns," Tewari said. According to a press release issued here today, the delegation submitted a memorandum to the minister which read that in the Budget 2011-12, central excise duty of 1 per cent was imposed on bicycles without the central value added tax (CENVAT) credit facility for inputs and input services and 5 per cent with full CENVAT credit facility.
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Class X girl raped in
Tarn Taran
Tarn Taran, July 6 The accused, Raju and Hardeep Singh, have been booked by the Verowal police. In her complaint, the victim alleged the accused forcibly took her on a motorcycle to a shop belonging to Hardeep Singh at Dhota village. They bolted the shop from inside and raped her, she alleged. SSP Raj Jit Singh Hundal said the accused had absconded and efforts were on to arrest them.
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High Court quashes govt directive to
fill promotion posts via deputation
Chandigarh, July 6 Justice K. Kannan has minced no words to say: "The state directives were not legal and enforceable. The corporation shall set its own terms of service without in any way allowing the state to trench upon its activities on a day-to-day basis or on long term". The ruling came on a bunch of three petitions filed by Ramji Dass and other employees of the Tubewell Corporation against the state of Punjab and other respondents. The petitioners had contended that they were being denied their due by the corporation. It was filling promotion post on deputation from the state departments, although sufficient number of corporation employees was "fit for being promoted to the next higher post". Justice Kannan was told that action through the communication dated September 25, 1995, the state directed the corporation to "follow and modify its by-laws, policy of promotion and recruitment so as to have 50 per cent of the posts filled in the cadre of assistant engineer, divisional engineer and superintending engineer from the Irrigation Department". Allowing the petition, Justice Kannan asserted: "If the state was laying a policy that whenever vacancies exist and if there are not sufficient number of persons in the corporation itself to fill the posts, there could be deputation which could be drawn to a particular percentage". "If the state was literally charting out a project as to how the corporation should fill the posts and to what numbers, the corporation was surely allowing itself to be completely abrogated in its institutional autonomy and being led blindfolded by state fiat".
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Mukerian (Hoshiarpur), July 6
