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With Rs 800 crore in kitty in 3 months, govt aims to clear pending bills
Patiala land
scam |
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Gurta Gaddi Diwas
Chief Minister PS Badal being felicitated at a rally in Khadoor Sahib on Wednesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Amritsar MP has exposed true face of the Badals: Bajwa
Pradesh Congress chief PS Bajwa at a party rally at Khadoor Sahib on Wednesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Another toddler raped, undergoes
surgery at PGI
SAD keen to contest 6 Delhi assembly seats
Time to oust scam-ridden UPA govt, says Sukhbir
Councillors told to ensure large turnout at Sukhbir’s rally
Govt recommends 5 officers for IAS post
Despite HC orders, Improvement Trust fails to acquire prime land
Panel assures fair probe into custodial death
Book on history of Punjab released
Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil releases ‘Punjab: A History From Aurangzeb to Mountbatten’, written by Rajmohan Gandhi (right), grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, at a function in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan
Stray dogs maul patient in Amritsar hospital
Hemkunt Sahib pilgrimage to resume from Sept 22
Fourth extension for BBMB chief
9 Pakistani prisoners repatriated
The released prisoners at the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Govt to construct marriage palaces, says Rakhra
Need to curb drug menace with a heavy hand: HC
Former Akali MLA gets jail for defamation
Sand mafia attacks cops
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With Rs 800 crore in kitty in 3 months, govt aims to clear pending bills
Chandigarh, September 18 Based on historical data, the government expects to earn an additional Rs 250 crore as VAT from the coming month. A bumper paddy crop this year, which will be harvested from next month onwards, will also help the state earn Rs 350 crore as purchase tax, while the state is also expecting to earn another Rs 200 crore as revenue through regularisation of illegal colonies. Talking to The Tribune, DP Reddy, Principal Secretary, Finance, said this additional revenue of Rs 800 crore along with the low debt servicing in November (Rs 450 crore as against an average of Rs 1,000 crore each month), will help in getting buoyancy in revenue receipts. "Come October and the state will be able to disburse its salaries on time and clear all pending bills, including advances of general provident fund, medical bills, retirement benefits of employees, arrears, travelling bills etc. In fact, salaries are delayed only in cases where the drawing and disbursing officers have failed to submit the bills to the treasury on time or in cases where employees' services have not been regularised," he said. This year, the state's average revenue receipts are up by 10.49 per cent while the revenue expenditure has grown by 6.46 per cent. "As against Rs 8,914.58 crore revenue receipts between April and July 2012, the revenue receipts this year are Rs 9,849.34 crore. Revenue expenditure during the same period last year was Rs 10,393.91 crore as compared to Rs 11,065.57 crore this year (till July). This shows that our earnings are growing at a much faster rate than our expenditure," said Jaspal Singh, Secretary, Expenditure. He said the revenue deficit last year was Rs 1,479.33 crore as compared to Rs 1,216.23 crore (between April and July). Interestingly, in spite of the continuing revenue deficit in the state, the government is unwilling to impose any new taxes. Justifying the government's decision, Reddy said they could not overtax the people. "We are now focusing on plugging all loopholes in the tax collections. We are also increasing the tax net and ensuring that there is better tax compliance. We also propose to bring down the government's own administrative expenditure by 10 per cent, which will help the state save Rs 250 crore this fiscal," he said.
Feel good factor
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Patiala land
scam
Patiala, September 18 Since the government did not respond to VB’s request and kept sitting on Garg’s file, it could not submit a chargesheet against Garg within the stipulated 90-day period. Therefore, Garg, who was arrested on March 14, got bail on June 14. Now, the government is taking action and translating the case record, including the FIR, which runs over 100 pages from Punjabi to English. The file is being translated since it is to be sent to Delhi where the Personnel Department will sanction prosecution against Garg. Sources said any further delay in the case would weaken it. The government is yet to sanction the prosecution of ex-Naib Tehsildar Gurinder Walia, whose file is to be approved by the Revenue Department. “We sent both the files in May 2013 and are yet to get the sanction for prosecution,” said Pritam Singh, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP),
Vigilance. Anirudh Tewari, Secretary Personnel, Punjab, said: “We received Garg’s file two weeks ago. After the documents are translated, the file will be sent to the Chief Minister’s office for clearance. Gurinder Walia’s file will be sent to the Revenue Department.” Garg was allegedly instrumental in marking 6,000 sq yards of government land in Patiala as private property to allow its further sale. An FIR was registered against him and several other officials on November 9, 2012.
Translation pending
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Gurta Gaddi Diwas
Khadoor Sahib, September 18 Talking to mediapersons after addressing a rally here to mark Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Angad Dev, the CM said he was peeved at Sidhu's approach. “Pehla ta saada naa japda see, hun pata nahi ki ho gaya hai” (He used to sing paeans on his being elected MP. I don’t know what has gone wrong.) He said even his party (BJP) was bewildered and wondered whether there was any “match-fixing”. Badal said the people would not vote on what Sidhu had to say, but on the performance of the UPA Government which had failed on all fronts. On former Additional DGP Shashi Kant’s claims about the involvement of political leaders in the drug trade, he shot back, saying: “ Why did he not say or do anything when he was in service?” On the reported discontinuation of grants by the Centre for Ambulance 108, he said this showed the “narrow mindset of Congress leaders.” Addressing the party rally, Badal said if the NDA came to power at the Centre, UPA leaders would be made accountable for “every single penny plundered by them from the public exchequer”. He claimed that the sovereignty of the nation was in peril. Badal said instead of doing something constructive for the state, Pradesh Congress leaders, including PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa, were “busy spitting venom and spoiling the state’s atmosphere.” Justifying Sangat Darshan, he said everything was done by following a proper procedure. Terming the central grants as a “huge fraud” on the people, the CM said the riders imposed on the states by the Centre for the grants had resulted in lopsided development. He said owing to these riders, the state government could not give more compensation to the flood-hit. The Chief Minister showered praise on Akali stalwart RS Brahmpura, telling the people that they had made a mistake by not electing him as MLA. Badal accepted all demands put forth by Brahmpura.
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Akali councillors ‘boycott’ CPS Sidhu
Talking to The Tribune, Dr Sidhu alleged that Akali councillors in her Amritsar-East constituency had been boycotting her for the past one week or so. “They have not been attending functions where I am called to inaugurate works in their areas. They have been cold-shouldering me ever since my husband came out in the open against the government,” she alleged. She named a couple of SAD councillors to corroborate her charge. Amritsar SAD unit president Upkar Singh Sandhu could not be contacted for comment despite several attempts. An angry Navjot Singh Sidhu asked: “Have I become untouchable now as I have spoken the truth? Is this the coalition dharma?” He said he had addressed scores of election rallies in support of the ruling SAD and had treated the SAD and the BJP workers equally. On his meeting with Punjab BJP in charge Shanta Kumar in New Delhi tomorrow, Sidhu said he would explain everything to him in writing. “I have nothing to fear or lose. I will bring to his notice the SAD move to boycott my wife. It doesn’t matter if I’m unwanted or untouchable. But, I can’t break the trust of Amritsar residents, ” he added.
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Amritsar MP has exposed true face of the Badals: Bajwa
Khadoor Sahib, September 18 He said the Amritsar MP deserved praise for bringing the “misdeeds of the Badals in the public domain.” He said what Sidhu had said was true for all MPs and MLAs who faced discrimination for one reason or the other. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, was “portraying a rosy picture by resorting to lies” and should apologise to the people for falsehood. He said the Congress had “exposed the misdeeds of several SAD-BJP ministers, but the Chief Minister had shielded his colleagues. Bajwa claimed that the status of civic amenities in Amritsar was no different from any other city in the state. He said it was unfortunate that the Akalis had abandoned the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. “Punjab has become the country’s drug capital with 70 per cent of its youth under the influence of drugs,” he claimed. He said to make the state drug-free, the people will have to first make it “Badals-free”. To a query on former Additional DGP Shashi Kant moving the High Court with names of political leaders allegedly shielding drug smugglers, he said the names should be made public. He said the state Congress had always maintained that SAD leaders were hand in glove with the drug mafia. “In Moga, an ASI has named an Akali leader in a case of a drug seizure,” he said. Bajwa accused the state government of misusing SC Welfare Fund. He demanded a CBI inquiry into power theft in border villages in the Khemkaran assembly segment in “connivance” with MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.
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PPCC chief says Manpreet Badal is an honest leader
Khadoor Sahib: To a query on People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Badal, Pradesh Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said here today that he wanted to bring him into the Congress fold when he left the SAD in 2010. “He is an honest leader and a nationalist. Had we inducted him in the party, things would have been different for us.”
Bajwa termed reports on Congress MLA from Khadoor Sahib Ramanjit Singh Sikki joining the SAD as “baseless”. On the contrary, some Akali leaders were keen on joining the Congress, he claimed. Later, Sikki himself rubbished reports of his joining the SAD.
— TNS
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Another toddler raped, undergoes
surgery at PGI
Chandigarh, September 18 “She is feeling somewhat better with the pain having subsided. However, doctors have told us that the injuries were too deep and these would require another two to three weeks to heal,” said her father, Sunil, who works as a labourer in Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district. Sunil said though the incident took place about 20 days ago, her injuries were discovered much later by her mother. “We then got her examined at the Civil Hospital in Hoshiarpur, where doctors confirmed that she was raped. Later, we reported the matter to the police when she identified her uncle as the culprit,” Sunil said. A senior police official today visited the PGIMER to examine the case. A week ago, a two-and-half-year old girl from Ludhiana was also brought to the PGIMER with similar injuries. The girl was abducted by two persons in the early hours on September 10. She found bleeding on the roadside in the afternoon, said the police. Both the victims are at present undergoing treatment at the Advanced Pediatric Centre in the
PGIMER.
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SAD keen to contest 6 Delhi assembly seats
Chandigarh, September 18 "We have told the BJP that we are interested in contesting from the constituencies where Punjabi population is significant," said SAD leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia. He said the SAD had already started its membership drive in Delhi. "We are preparing a databank of all the members for uploading on our party website," said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of the SAD's Delhi unit. He said about 52,000 members had been enrolled so far and of these, about 30 per cent were Punjabi Hindus and Muslims. Following directions by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, interested people from all communities were being enrolled, said Ramoowalia. "We have instructions that in each booth committee at least 30 per cent members should be from non-Sikh communities," said Ramoowalia. Meanwhile, Paramjit Singh Sarna, president, SAD (Delhi), is actively trying to set up an Akali party in Punjab to oppose the SAD-led by Sukhbir. Sources said Sarna recently organised a gathering of Akali leaders, who were opposed to Badals, in Delhi. Those who participated included Prof Gurdarshan Singh, Surjit Kaur Barnala, Bir Devinder Singh, Jaswant Singh Mann, Manjit Singh Calcutta and Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal. There are reports that a five-member committee led by Sant Daduwal would be set up to bring all the Akali leaders opposed to Badals on one platform. The SAD (Amritsar) is also busy in enrolling members to hold the party delegate session in Amritsar. Jaswant Singh Mann, secretary general, said the party would announce its agenda in Amritsar. "Our aim is to rebuild the party by bringing all those who agree to its political ideology in its fold," he said.
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Time to oust scam-ridden UPA govt, says Sukhbir
Ferozepur, September 18 While blowing the poll bugle, the Deputy CM gave a clarion call to the electorate to oust the "scam-ridden" Congress-led UPA Government, which, he said, was responsible for the economic slowdown due to its "anti-people and erroneous policies". Sukhbir described BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as a "towering political figure who is most suitable for the coveted post". Earlier, Sukhbir inaugurated various roads, including Guruharsahai to Muktsar-Jalalabad via Boor Wala Kuti road, Mamdot to Ferozepur-Fazilka road, Chak Mobain Hardo Dhandi to Tahliwala road. He also laid the foundation stone of a new bus stand at Guruharsahai. Fazilka: Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said former Director General of Police (Prisons) Shashi Kant never apprised him of the so-called "narco politics" even as he had been holding the Home portfolio. Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a newly constructed building of Suvidha Centre here this evening, he said: "We have been trying hard to wipe out the menace. There is no question of patronising the drug mafia. He (Shashi Kant) should have taken action against the guilty while in service". Sukhbir announced to hold Sangat Darshan programmes from next month to listen to the public grievances. He said this initiative of his father had proved a boon for the rural population and that he would accelerate the movement. Sukhbir said a separate grant of Rs 1,700 crore would be issued to strengthen the rural road network. He said during his two-day tour of Ferozepur and Fazilka districts, he had laid foundation stones of development works worth Rs 24 crore and Rs 25 crore, respectively. Faridkot:
Addressing a political conference near Guru Ki Dhab in Faridkot, Sukhbir said:
"Modi has what it takes to expose every chink in Congress armour." Akali and BJP leaders projected Modi as a panacea for all ills afflicting the country. "You elect Modi as the next Prime Minister and he will grant the state plenty of funds," said
Sukhbir. He rubbished Congress claims that BJP and Modi were communal.
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Councillors told to ensure large turnout at Sukhbir’s rally
Patiala, September 18 Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra is scheduled to to host a lunch for Sukhbir at his native village, almost a 10-minutes drive from the rally venue. City residents are up in arms against the Patiala MC because of the poor condition of roads and pending works. Hence, the local Congress cadre is trying to organise a protest during the Deputy CM’s visit to highlight the people’s grievances. Led by Rakhra, hectic preparations for Sukhbir’s visit are afoot with Akali councillors told to bring 200 workers each to the rally. However, councillors say that with several works in their wards pending, it would not be easy be get people for the rally. A closed-door meeting of halqa chiefs was reportedly held on Monday under Rakhra’s chairmanship to devise a strategy to ensure an impressive gathering at the Deputy CM’s rally. “Initially, the stage was to accomodate 25 persons. Now arrangements have been made to accomodate 60 leaders,” sources said. Sukhbir will lay the foundation stone of sewage treatment plants in Rajpura and Patran and will inaugurate a bus stand and an SDM’s complex in Patran. He will address the rally in Patiala after inaugurating a building that will house the offices of the chief architect and the water and sanitation wing.
Preparations afoot
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Govt recommends 5 officers for IAS post
Chandigarh, September 18 Their names have been approved by the Chief Minister. Official sources said the names had initially been recommended by a four-member committee headed by the chief Secretary from among 26 non-PCS officials who had applied for their nomination into the IAS. Only one person from the five officials will be selected by the UPSC. A maximum of eight persons can be appointed to the IAS from among non-PCS officers in the state. At present, only three IAS posts are occupied by non-PCS officers. These officers are DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies; KS Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture; and VK Sharma, Commissioner, Ferozepur division. However, the DoPT has now given a vacancy of just one post to be filled by non PCS officer in Punjab. EC okays transfers
The Election Commission has approved the posting of six IAS and six PCS officers in Punjab, including the deputy commissioners of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Nawanshahr. While IAS officers have been posted as deputy commissioners in these districts, the government has withdrawn the orders for transfer of MS Jaggi, a PCS officer, into a cadre post (deputy commissioner,
Faridkot).
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Despite HC orders, Improvement Trust fails to
Patiala, September 18 Members of the SST Nagar Bachao Sangharsh Committee said despite directions from the HC to acquire around 20 bighas of land, the cost of which was around Rs 150 crore in 2011, the Improvement Trust, instead, cancelled the extension scheme. Committee president Ranjit Singh said while developing SST Nagar, the Improvement Trust had planned to acquire this land next to Baba Zorawar Singh Park in SST Nagar under an extension scheme, but later dropped the scheme. The committee members said when the Trust had ordered to acquire the land, a few people residing in the area filed a petition in the High Court. The HC then directed the Local Bodies Department to hear their grievances but their pleas were dismissed. They again went to the HC, but the court dismissed their plea and directed the Improvement Trust to acquire the land in 2011. They alleged that Trust officials in connivance with some private players were deliberately not acquiring the land. Deputy Mayor Harinder Kohli said, “We will send a complaint to Local Bodies Minister Chuni Lal Bhagat in this regard and seek action against the erring officials.”
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Panel assures fair probe into custodial death
Patiala, September 18 Assuring a thorough probe into the death of Sushil Kumar, Verka said he would not let the matter be swept under the carpet and would seek a detailed report from the police. Meanwhile, the police said the victim was rounded up at a naka by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and had died on way to hospital. However, the victim’s family said Sushil Kumar was picked up from his house on Friday by the Crime Investigating Agency (CIA). While the Deputy Commissioner yesterday directed Patiala Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurpal Chahal to complete the probe within 15 days into the matter, the police said ASI Karamjit Singh and Head Constable Ranbir Kumar had rounded up Sushil Kumar during night patrol. “He complained of chest pain and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead,” the police said. Refuting the police allegations, victim’s wife Radha Rani said a team of the CIA and Kotwali police had picked up her husband on Friday from their house on the pretext that his name had cropped up in a theft case. “They took away my husband and we were not allowed to meet him for two days,” she alleged.
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Book on history of Punjab released
Chandigarh, September 18Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil on Wednesday released a book, “Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten”, written by history scholar and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi. Patil said the undivided Punjab had played a significant role in the history of India.
Referring to Indo-Pak relations, Dr Gandhi said the neighbouring countries should sort out their problems bilaterally instead of seeking others’ help for resolutions. Dr Gandhi said: “Neither the US nor China can help us on this issue. If relations between the neighbours have to be improved, we have to do it ourselves. No Nehru, no Gandhi can do it for us”. The function was organised by Aleph Books in collaboration with Aitihasiki, the alumni association of the Department of History, Panjab University.
— TNS
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Stray dogs maul patient in Amritsar hospital
Amritsar, September 18 The deceased identified as Sukhwinder Singh, a rickshaw puller, was admitted to the hospital on September 16 after he sustained a head injury. But, he went missing from the Emergency ward last evening. Thereafter, his family located his body lying in an open space near Surgical Ward number 1. Harpal Singh, son of the deceased, said no one had accompanied his father to the hospital as a family member was expecting a child. Harpal said: “My father was too weak to walk alone. He couldn’t have reached this far without anyone noticing him,” he said. Dr KS Sidhu, Medical Superintendent, said surgical ward in-charge Dr Sudhir Khichi had been asked to probe the matter. “When the emergency medical officer on duty could not find the patient last evening, he informed the police,” Sidhu said. Subhash Chander, ASI. said the police had initiated action under Section 174 of the CrPC. “We are now awaiting the victim’s postmortem report,” Chander added.
Criminal neglect
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Fourth extension for BBMB chief
Chandigarh, September 18 An official spokesperson said: "The Chairman's case for a three-year extension is pending with the Department of Personnel and Training.” When contacted, Agrawal sent a text message, asking who the caller was. He, however, did not respond to the Tribune query on his being given yet another
extension. Agrawal was appointed Chairman in March 2010. He was given an extension for three months on March 18, another two-month extension on June 18 and a month’s extension on August
18. Padamjit Singh, chairman, All-India Power Engineers Federation, said: "What needs to be understood is that no effort whatsoever is being made to appoint a new Chairman. The process should have started at least six months before Agrawal’s retirement.” He pointed out that a number of complaints were pending against Agrawal with the Central Vigilance Commission. “It is strange how the Centre continues to let him hold the office,” he said. A BBMB official refused to say anything on the matter. He said the office had no information on Agrawal’s extension.
About the officer
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Hemkunt Sahib pilgrimage to resume from Sept 22
Amritsar, September 18 He said the pilgrims would now halt at Gurdwara Joshi Math instead of Gurdwara
Gobindghat. The langar hall at Gurdwara Gobindghat had been reconstructed. He said the devotees could take horses for traversing the stretch from Gobindghat to Hemkunt Sahib while helicopter service was available from the Joshi Math to Gobind
Dham. Darshan Singh said the road from Rishikesh to the Math had been cleared and traffic restored. He, however, cautioned the elderly, the ailing and children against undertaking the yatra in the inhospitable weather.
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9 Pakistani prisoners repatriated
Amritsar, September 18 While talking to mediapersons at Attari-Wagah joint check post, Sohail claimed he had gone to meet his friend residing in a village near Jammu border in the year 2000. But, he said, the Indian authorities nabbed him for illegally crossing the border. Sohail said that though he was sentenced for 11 years, he was being released after spending 13 years in jail. Sohail urged the government to immediately release the prisoners who had completed their sentence. Another prisoner, Wasim Ahmad said he was arrested for crossing the border illegally in RS Pura sector in 1998. Mohan Bai, who along with three other family members was released from Gujarat, said they were held for overstaying in the country.
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Govt to construct marriage palaces, says Rakhra
Mohali, September 18 Rakhra was present at the function of Paramjit Kaur Badali, the newly appointed chairperson of the zila parishad, who took charge of her office here. “To give the new facility of the government marriage palaces, we would create a cluster at the village-level. Charges of these marriage palaces would be very nominal,” he said. The minister said the construction of zila parishad bhawans was also on the cards. “We have no such bhawans. These are needed for the smooth functioning of zila parishad activities,” he said.
— TNS
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Need to curb drug menace with a heavy hand: HC
Chandigarh, September 18 The call came during the hearing of a bail plea filed by Mohan Lal, accused of being “the leader of a gang of smugglers”. The prosecution had claimed that “about 7 kg opium was recovered from the possession of the petitioner and other co-accused, who had no permit or licence”. The prosecution had said that officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had acted on a tipff received on August 3, 2011, that the petitioner and the co-accused, travelling by Indore-Amritsar Express, were bringing contraband from Rajasthan. Dismissing the plea, Justice Mehinder Singh Sullar minced no words to say: “It cannot possibly be disputed that the tendency and frequency of such illegal trade of opium, adversely affecting the basic structure, fabric and health of society, have been increasing day by day.This needs to be curbed with a heavy hand...To my mind, the petitioner is not entitled to the concession of regular bail." Only recently, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had raised a controversy, saying “out of every 10 youths in Punjab, seven are into drugs.” Former (DGP) Shashi Kant has already claimed: “A number of well-known politicians of various political parties have joined the select band of top-rung dope smugglers. With the increasing cost of running electoral campaigns, individual contenders, as also political parties, are getting increasingly dependent on drug money”.
State inks pact with UN panel Chandigarh: To launch a crusade against the drug menace in the state, the Punjab Government has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The MoU was signed by Regional Representative of UNODC Cristina Albertin and Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, DS Bains for initiating joint drug control efforts in the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Expressing concern over the issue, Badal said: "The state government is committed to launch a war against drugs and seeks the involvement of UNODC in weeding out the menace from the state".
— TNS
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Former Akali MLA gets jail for defamation
Amritsar, September 18 Counsel for Sarkaria Amarpal Singh Randhawa argued that the content of the advertisement was “damaging”. Since it was published on the election day, his client had not got the opportunity to refute the allegations. Sarkaria has won from the constituency twice in a row since then.
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Punjab is eyeing an additional revenue of Rs 800 crore in the coming three months. This money is expected to bail the state government out of the financial crisis, thus help it meet its committed liabilities on time.
With spending likely to go up during Diwali, leading to higher VAT collections, and purchase tax from paddy coming in November, the government can now heave a sigh of relief.
Terming the path chosen by MP Navjot Singh Sidhu as wrong, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that Sidhu’s outburst against the state government would have no impact on the poll prospects of the SAD-BJP alliance in the coming Lok Sabha poll.
Talking to mediapersons after addressing a rally here to mark Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Guru Angad Dev, the CM said he was peeved at Sidhu's approach. “Pehla ta saada naa japda see, hun pata nahi ki ho gaya hai” (He used to sing paeans on his being elected MP.)
Praising Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for “exposing the true face of the Badals,” PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa today said there was no place for honest persons like him in the ruling alliance.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a Congress rally here, Bajwa said: “Leaders who pose thorny queries to the state government are never appreciated by the ruling alliance, whether it be Manpreet Badal or Navjot Sidhu.”
Ferozepur, September 18
Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil on Wednesday released a book, “Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten”, written by history scholar and Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi. Patil said the undivided Punjab had played a significant role in the history of India.
Referring to Indo-Pak relations, Dr Gandhi said the neighbouring countries should sort out their problems bilaterally instead of seeking others’ help for resolutions.
Amritsar, September 18
Nine Pakistani prisoners, including a woman, lodged in various jails across the country were repatriated through the Attari-Wagah land route here today.
Two of them were released from Tihar Jail (Delhi), two from Jodhpur Jail, four from Gujarat Jail and one from Jammu. Mohammad
Sohail, who was released from Tihar Jail, was arrested for allegedly spreading terror.
Amritsar, September 18