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Crucial BJP meet to finalise names of corpn chiefs
Finance
Commission chief’s visit today
Clamp down on drug peddlers: Dy CM
Sinking rupee further hits Indo-Pak trade
Give details of mid-day meal funds, Jakhar asks govt
BSP to hold dharna against price rise today
Flood-hit allege bias in relief distribution
Panel urges Modi to resettle Sikh farmers
Police party attacked, 2 prisoners freed
in Faridkot
Pir Muchalla land back with Forest Dept: DC
No state-level Teachers’ Day function today
DIETs staff not paid for three months
BKU activists burn state govt’s effigies in Sangrur
45-year-old man’s body found
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Not answerable to Cong for absence: Sidhu
Amritsar, September 4 Talking to mediapersons at the airport here today, Sidhu said he would follow the party orders regarding the Lok Sabha elections, although he also apparently referred to his foothold in the party, saying, "BJP president Rajnath Singh says Sidhu will himself decide from where he has to contest." He, however, said he could never snap his ties with Amritsar, adding that he shared a lifelong relationship with the people of the holy city. On the absence of senior leaders during his tour, he said: "Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora has come to receive me on behalf of the entire city." He said he had been part of top committees formed by the party, besides being the co-incharge for the Delhi elections and three-time MP. On the Congress' poster campaign against him, he said he had won four elections from Amritsar (including his wife's) and he did not owe an answer to the Congress for his absence from the constituency. "I won my first election due to my glamour quotient, second on the basis of my work, third on trust and fourth on character. These four defeats were a tight slap on the face of the Congress." He said politics was a mission for him, but he also had to eke out his livelihood. "Don't I have the right to earn my bread and butter? If Arun Jaitley can practice as a lawyer and Sukhbir Badal can do his business, why can't I work on TV?" He said his wins would not have been possible without the SAD support, adding that he was ready to make any sacrifice for the alliance. He said he would answer each and every question in the press conference tomorrow. Later, during a meeting with district administration officials, Sidhu reviewed development works underway in Amritsar and directed the officials to stick to the deadlines. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal briefed him about various development works being undertaken by the Union and the state governments. Sidhu had distanced himself from his constituency, alleging that his pet projects were being scuttled and he was being "sidelined" in the BJP. He had been focusing more on his cricket commentating assignments and career as TV celebrity over the last one year. He first made an entry in TV reality show Bigg Boss and then got busy with IPL Season 6 followed by Champions Trophy. He is being seen in a TV comedy show these days. He was also conspicuous by his absence during Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Madhopur in Pathankot on June 23 and later during the state BJP's executive meeting here on July 7-8 despite BJP president Rajnath Singh attending it. Earlier, his wife had sparked a row in April this year by hinting that he might even quit politics.
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Crucial BJP meet to finalise names of corpn chiefs
Chandigarh, September 4 After discussions with the state unit in charge Shanta Kumar and party general secretary JP Nadda, the BJP high command is likely to announce the names of those to be appointed chairperson of the Punjab Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC), Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board (PKVIB), Punjab Infotech, Punjab Gau Sewa Board, chairman and vice-chairman of the Punjab State Forest Corporation and heads of the Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Patiala and Pathankot Improvement Trusts. The high command is yet to clear the name for the important post of Vice-Chairman of the Planning Board (equivalent to Cabinet rank). While the state leadership is learnt to have cleared most of the other names, there is some difference of opinion over the nominee for this post. Certain party leaders who were defeated in the last assembly elections are learnt to have the backing of the senior alliance partner, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The latter is reportedly keen on having them on important posts. But the BJP's state leadership is learnt to be opposed to their appointment on the ground that they have already been given a chance to prove their worth and that they should work at the ground level now. Names for the post of political adviser to the Chief Minister and chairperson of the Women Social Board have not been finalised either. The state president, Kamal Sharma, could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts.
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Finance
Commission chief’s visit today
Chandigarh, September 4 With the state having accumulated a debt of over Rs 1 lakh crore, most of it during the days of militancy, the state is looking for some compensation from the Finance Commission. Punjab will tell the commission that the debt growth in the state has been the lowest in the past decade and was the highest between 1980 and 1991 during the peak of terrorism. It will argue that while the state's debt burden had risen by 24.2 per cent on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the decade 1980-91, the state debt growth was 16.96 per cent (CAGR) during 1991-2001 and had declined to 11.06 per cent during 2001-11. Official sources told The Tribune that as an alternative to the debt relief grant, the government would also seek a revenue deficit grant of Rs 30,000 crore spread over five years beginning 2015 when the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission would come into force. Punjab, along with West Bengal and Kerala, has been identified as a debt-stressed state. It was to get special grants from the Centre after a special committee was formed by the Ministry of Finance in 2010. However, Punjab failed to make use of this opportunity because of its failure to arrive at a political consensus on the conditions laid down by the Centre to bail out the state. "There has been an earnest attempt by the state to keep debt accumulation range-bound. Our debt to gross state domestic product (GSDP) ratio has come down and is on the path laid down for us by the 13th Finance Commission. Nonetheless, there is a mismatch between revenue receipts and commitment to spend on people's welfare. "Also, Punjab's share in the total devolution of central taxes has come down over the years. Hence, it should be given a revenue deficit grant," said Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. Punjab will also ask the commission to increase transfer of resources to the state and make changes in the formula for distribution of tax revenue between the Centre and the state with developmental expenditure responsibility having been shifted from the Centre to the states. The states get 32 per cent of the total central revenue though they are required to meet over 50 per cent of the total developmental expenditure. From this share meant for the states, Punjab gets just 1.4 per cent from the central divisible pool. Punjab is now seeking that the states' share from central revenue be increased from 32 per cent to 50 per cent and it be given a 3 per cent share, which is equal to its contribution to the national gross domestic product. Punjab will also ask the commission to revise the guidelines for raising money through market borrowings, by not staggering it on a quarterly basis. Rather, states should be allowed to raise loans at will based on their requirements through the fiscal year. Among the state-specific grants from the commission, Punjab is seeking Rs 8,800 crore for diversification in agriculture. It wants special grants to deal with the high incidence of cancer and hepatitis, for rural water supply and sanitation and special area grants for the border, kandi and waterlogged areas.
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Clamp down on drug peddlers: Dy CM
Chandigarh, September 4 While reviewing the law and order situation in the state during a meeting of SSPs of all districts and commissioners, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal directed the police officers to strike at the root of the drug trade and not be content with just arresting drug peddlers. "You must investigate the forward and backward linkages," he said. Sukhbir said though there was a quantum increase in the recovery of narcotics, this should not make the force complacent as peddlers were trying to induce youth in the state to take to drugs. Asking SSPs to conduct micro-analysis of their own districts to check the flow of drugs, sale and its resale, the Deputy Chief Minister said all drug peddlers would have to be dealt with an iron hand. Agreeing to the suggestion of Director-General of Police Sumedh Singh regarding weeding out of all those police personnel found colluding with drug peddlers, Sukhbir said weeding out of "rotten eggs" had to begin from the higher level. He said besides intelligence and other sources, he was regularly getting feedback from many formal and informal channels regarding the menace and any SSP not performing in his area would have to lose the command of the district. The DGP informed the Deputy Chief Minister that the Punjab Police had already stepped up its drive against drug addiction and more than 6,300 drug peddlers and drug lords had been arrested since April this year. He said till date 7,649 cases had been registered.
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Sinking rupee further hits Indo-Pak trade
‘incurring losses’ — Iqbal Singh
Bedi, importer
Amritsar, September 4 All India Cement Importers Association President MPS Chatha said though they were earlier receiving 20 to 25 truckloads of cement from across the border daily, the number had dipped drastically with no trader willing to import cement from Pakistan in view of the weakening rupee. Importer Iqbal Singh Bedi said the gypsum import too had taken a hit with the number of gypsum-loaded trucks arriving from Pakistan declining by around 50 per cent. “At present, we are getting 30 to 40 trucks of gypsum as compared to around 80 daily earlier. We can't afford to import gypsum as it hasn't remained viable for us. Whatever little imports you see now are due to the fact that we are compelled to get the goods for which we have placed orders, irrespective of the losses we suffer," he rued. Apart from gypsum, Bedi has stopped cement import from the neighbouring nation. He said he had also evinced interest in import of sugar and had even imported 27,000 bags of sugar a couple of months ago when the rupee was doing well. However, he could not think of it now. Leading clearing agent Jaspal Singh said the imports were definitely down as compared to the corresponding period last year. He said, “The Integrated Check-Post is witnessing arrival of a few trucks of cement, around 30 trucks of gypsum, 25-30 of dry dates and four to five of dry fruits on a daily basis." He said fresh orders were being placed only for dry dates as it was a seasonal product while attributing the import of the remaining commodities to old orders. Sources said the daily imports were hovering around 60 to 70 trucks while the daily export was around 100 trucks, mostly carrying tomatoes.
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Give details of mid-day meal funds, Jakhar asks govt
Chandigarh, September 4 Quoting a letter (No. F 5-5 dated April 18, 2013), Union Ministry of Human Resources, he said Rs 5,136 lakh were released to which the state government was required to contribute Rs 1,426 lakh under the rules. It appeared that the funds under the welfare schemes received from the Central Government were being misused for other purposes, including Sangat Darshan by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. "Since Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal claims that the state's economy is in good shape, let him ensure immediate release of funds for the mid-day meal scheme as hundreds of children are returning home empty stomach every day. Till today, the state government has not provided funds to the government-aided schools to purchase utensils for cooking," he said. "The government should also initiate action against Finance Department officials for detaining central funds received under various welfare schemes since 2011-12," Jakhar said, adding that a white paper on the utilisation of funds during the preceding years should also be issued.
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BSP to hold dharna against price rise today
Fatehgarh Sahib, Sept 4 Harbhajan Singh, District Secretary, BSP, after holding a party meeting, said before holding the dharna, the party would also organise a protest rally that would pass through various markets of Sirhind and reach the Fatehgarh Sahib district administrative complex. He said party workers would carry banners and placards highlighting corruption both at the Centre and in the state. Singh said the state and Central governments have failed to checking the spiralling prices, which have hit the common man. He further said the Congress and SAD-BJP combine were only promoting party interests and added that these parties had no concern for the common man. He said the during the meeting, Kulwant Singh had been appointed as district in charge of the party and various issues concerning the common man were discussed. Charan Das, Avtar Singh, Naresh Kumar, Kuldeep Singh
and Karnail Singh were among those present at the meeting.
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Staff shortage hits drainage operation in Muktsar
Muktsar, September 4 Paramjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, today sent some senior officials to flood-hit areas for an inspection. The officials found that the contractors given the task to drain out water had neither maintained the logbook nor employed sufficient number of tractors. The situation was worst near Muktsar town where Additional Deputy Commissioner NS Bath conducted a surprise visit. Though tractors have been deployed, a number of these were lying idle. The operators also failed to produce logbooks. Some tractors were found stationed in areas where water had been already drained out. It was found that some contractors had been underpaying labourers. A senior official blamed the Drainage Department for the situation. "No senior official of the department seems to be supervising the work, which is further resulting into misuse of funds," said the official, seeking an action against the erring employees. Jagpal Singh Abulkhurana, a Congress leader from Lambi, has demanded a detailed account of funds used in the drainage operation. SL Sidhu, Superintending Engineer, Drainage Department, Muktsar circle, said: "Since we do not have sufficient staff, we have asked the residents to set up committees to supervise the drainage operation." Meanwhile, the death toll due to floods has risen to three in the district. A 70-year-old man, Jugraj Singh of Chak Jawahrewala village, who had gone to Chak Attari village, drowned after he slipped into a water-filled pit. Stagnant floodwater has led to several health problems among the residents. Of the 49,720 people examined since August 21, nine were found having malaria, 15,992 skin infection, 2,363 gastroenteritis, 1,919 diarrhoea and 1,046 conjunctivitis. KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, along with Kanwarjeet Singh 'Rozy' Barkandi, SAD's Muktsar constituency in-charge, and a number of officials visited some flood-affected villages of the Muktsar assembly constituency.
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Flood-hit allege bias in relief distribution
Muktsar, September 4 Similarly, the people staying at a relief camp at the Indoor Stadium here have no idea when they would be able to return to their houses. “The administration has hardly provided any assistance. We ourselves had to make way to enter the waterlogged stadium,” claimed the displaced residents of Model Town area. Congress MLA from Gidderbaha Amrinder Singh ‘Raja’ Warring alleged that families having links with the parties distributing relief material were getting it easily as compared to others. The district administration, however, rebuts these claims. The data given by it till yesterday stated that 7,872 families had received 788 quintals of wheat flour, 59 quintals of sugar, 7.9 quintals of turmeric and other spices and 7,872 packets of salt. Protesting against the slow process of compensation, the activists of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union today went on an indefinite strike outside the District Administrative Complex. They have been demanding some amount as immediate compensation to meet their daily requirements. Farm labour has been the worst affected. “The fields are inundated and we are not getting any work. So, the administration must give us some financial assistance,” said Satnam Singh, a farm labourer.
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Panel urges Modi to resettle Sikh farmers
Chandigarh, September 4 Dr Ajaib Singh, member of the commission, today said Hooda had moved in the right direction and decided to pass a law to resettle the affected farmers in Haryana. Whereas Modi, he alleged, was leaving no stone unturned to uproot Sikh farmers from Gujarat where they had been living since 1965. Dr Ajaib Singh said these farmers in Gujarat were facing hardship as their accounts had been frozen. Dr Singh said that instead of extending help to Sikh farmers, the Gujarat Government had moved the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Gujarat High Court, which had upheld the appeal of these farmers. He alleged that the Gujarat Government had even fielded high profile advocates to fight the case. Dr Singh said some people had tried to divert people’s attention from the issue by highlighting Sikh farmers’ plight in Haryana but Hooda had silenced his detractors and decided in favour of the farmers.
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Police party attacked, 2 prisoners freed
in Faridkot
Faridkot, September 4 Two police jawans were injured in the incident. A four-member police party was returning from Ferozepur to Faridkot after producing prisoners Davinder Singh of Bambiha Bhai in Moga and Nishan Singh of Ruknewala village in a Ferozepur court. As the policemen got off a bus along with the handcuffed prisoners, the latter ran towards a car parked on the other side of the road. Those in the car opened fire on the police personnel, injuring two. The latter had no arms to strike back. Bahadur Singh, Superintendent of Police (H) and Kashmir Kaur, Deputy Superintendent of Police, rushed to the site and admitted the injured policemen to the local Guru Gobind Singh Medical College. A case has been registered, said official sources. This is not the first incident of its kind. In the past two years, there have been at least six incidents of prisoners fleeing from the Central Jail. In the absence of official vehicles, police personnel have to take prisoners for court hearings in buses. Jail officials said that on an average, as many as 70-80 prisoners were daily taken to courts, located in different districts, for appearance. This made the escorting policemen highly vulnerable to attacks by anti-social elements.
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Pir Muchalla land back with Forest Dept: DC
Zirakpur, September 4 Wary of being embroiled in a long-drawn court case, both the offices are trying to shrug responsibility and pass on the buck. The land in question is estimated to be worth Rs 1,264 crore. The SDM's office says the Forest Department is the custodian of the land which has been illegally transferred in the name of Shivdayal Singh. Hence, it should get an FIR lodged in the matter. But District Forest Officer (DFO) Tajinder Pal Singh Saini says staff of the office of the SDM, under whom the tehsildar functions, is involved in the fraudulent land transfer. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the SDM’s office to get the case registered, adding that the Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) has already directed SDM Inderjit Kaur Kang to lodge an FIR in this regard. The SDM said she had asked the DFO to get the case registered. Mohali DC Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu said the land in question had been restored to the Forest Department by rectifying the records. An estimated 337.19 bighas of forest land was found transferred in the name of Shivdyal. Investigations by the District Revenue Officer had revealed connivance of certain government functionaries at the local level. In 2010, when the Forest Department had obtained the “fard” for the land, the total area was 1,871 bighas. When the "fard" was obtained again in 2013, about 337 bighas were found to have been transferred to Shivdyal. The "fard" is to be obtained every year by all departments to ensure the demarcation and possession of their land-holdings. In this case, however, it was found that the Forest Department had not obtained the "fard" for the past three years. The probe report had also revealed that the "fard" documents had been tampered with, pages had been replaced and there were several instances of overwriting and variation in ink.
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No state-level Teachers’ Day function today
Patiala, September 4 The decision has not gone down well with teachers, who feel it is their right to be honoured on a day dedicated to them. They feel politics has taken a toll on all issues and the real spirit behind these celebrations has died. Former Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Joginder Singh Puar attributed this lack of spirit to various organisations which have been reduced to dummy organisations and are just concerned with making their political presence felt. “The collective wisdom that once existed in all organisations, including the teaching bodies, is dying. They are not concerned as to whether the awards should be given on Teachers’ Day or not. Their first preference is that everything should happen in the presence of a minister so that they could mark their attendance in his eyes. Who cares as to when the function should be held? If the minister was unavailable, anybody else could have been the chief guest, but the function should have been held,” he added. “It is sad that such prestigious occasions, which come once a year, are at the mercy of politicians who choose to celebrate these days according to their convenience. A few days back, following the unavailability of the Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, the Sports Ministry did not give away the sports awards on the National Sports Day, ie August 29 and later held the ceremony on August 31” said former coach of the Indian wrestling squad PR Sondhi. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary of the Punjab Education Department Anjali Bhawra said the function was not being held on the Teachers’ Day because the minister was out of the country, but refused to divulge the reason behind his visit.
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DIETs staff not paid for three months
Sangrur, September 4 A representative of the employees said this was not the first time they had not received their salaries for three consecutive months - This has happened many times in the past. It seems the authorities concerned have made it a routine affair and are least concerned with alleviating the misery of the employees. Sources said 75 per cent grant for the DIETs was provided by the Centre while the state government contributed 25 per cent as its share. One reason behind the delay in release of salaries is non-release of funds well in time by the Central government, they added. Muzvinder Dev Goyal, secretary of staff of Sangrur DIET, today said it was very difficult for them to run their domestic affairs without salary for three months consecutively. He said three months ago in July they had got their salaries for three months — March, April and May. They could not afford such a situation time and again due to rising prices, he added. Goyal urged the Director, SCERT, Punjab, to make permanent arrangement for providing salaries to them in the first week of every month. He demanded that their salaries be released without any delay.
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BKU activists burn state govt’s effigies in Sangrur
Sangrur, September 4 The district president of the union Amrik Singh Gandhuan said the union members and activists burnt effigies of the state government at Cheema, Longowal, Channo, Kohrian, Lehragaga and Dhuri. They held rallies and demonstrations there, raising slogans against the state government. The district president further said despite assurance by the state government that no union leader against whom case had been registered during farmer agitations would be arrested, Kokrikalan was today arrested by the police. Thus, state government had backtracked on its promise, he added. He said the farmers today held protests to remind the state government that it should fulfil the promises made with the farmer unions. He said they also held rallies today, demanding unconditional release of Kokrikalan. In case the police fails in releasing Kokrikalan immediately, a state-level agitation would be chalked out by the union, he added.
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45-year-old man’s body found
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 4 SHO Gurmeet Singh said the deceased had gone to the Civil Hospital last evening to deliver some items to his daughter who had delivered a child. He said the deceased, who was working as a tailor, later left for an undisclosed place. The SHO said employees of Family Welfare Department told the police this morning that a body was lying in bushes next to their office. He said when police reached the site, it found a dupatta around neck of the deceased. He said the body had been sent to Civil Hospital mortuary for postmortem. — TNS
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Patiala, September 4
Punjab's share in the total devolution of central taxes has come down over the years. Hence, it should be given a revenue deficit grant
There is a quantum increase in the recovery of narcotics. But this should not make the force complacent as peddlers are trying to induce the youth to take to drugs
— Sukhbir Badal, Dy CM
