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Tewari takes up Pbi varsity
land transfer with Patil
Panchayat land given away at nominal rates, admits
govt
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assembly in session
Led by CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar, Congress MLAs walk out of the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday. A Tribune photo
Congress leader Brar joins SAD
Bus service to connect Sikh Takhts soon
gang Rape case of Minor
7 Guards celebrate golden jubilee
Nod to widening of Sangrur stretch of NH-71 ’84 riots: Sikh outfits to file ‘genocide’ plea in UN
Armyman among three killed in Ropar mishap
Facing BKI threat, Sehajdhari Party chief to move HC for
security
Clean chit to all 15 accused
Criminal thrashes inmate,uploads video on Facebook ‘from jail’
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Tewari takes up Pbi varsity
land transfer with Patil
Patiala, October 30 The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Punjabi University, had sought Tewari’s intervention to prevent handing over of the prime land to the state government when the varsity itself was facing a paucity of space.
The land -- estimated to be worth over Rs 400 crore – has been transferred to the state government free of cost for setting up of a model school. According to the DTF, the land — adjoining Urban Estate on the Chandigarh-Bathinda National Highway — is being given to a private company for setting up the school.
Tewari questioned how the university, itself short of space, could afford to give 5.75 acres of prime land to the state government for setting up of a school by a private company.
Quoting from the forum’s representation to him, Tewari said, “Punjabi University Patiala, in its syndicate meeting on September 24, decided to transfer 5.75 acres of prime land of the university to the Government of Punjab. The land is to be handed over, forever, to the government free of cost for opening one school in the district of Patiala (as part of the state government’s scheme to open six model residential schools for meritorious poor students). The school would be established and operated by a private concern.”
Tewari said he was told there was an acute shortage of on-campus accommodation for students, particularly women, and about half of them stay outside campus. Married women research scholars, too, have to stay outside campus because of lack of residential accommodation. A girl student living as a paying guest was attacked by an auto-driver some days ago. Case file *
On Sept 24, 2013, Punjabi University decides to transfer 5.75 acres of its prime land to the Punjab Government free of
cost * The land, estimated to be worth over Rs 400 crore, is to be used to open a model residential school for meritorious poor
students * Teachers’ body slams move, says university grappling with shortage of both funds and space
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Panchayat land given away at nominal rates, admits
govt
Chandigarh, October 30 In Mohali district, 68 bighas in Bulopur village had been given to Universal Educational Society at Rs 15,000 per acre, 21.26 acres in Sanauli to JTL Education Foundation Trust at Rs 30,000 per acre, 15.9 acres in Behra village to Thapar University at Rs 20,000 per acre, and 19 acres and two canals in Tangori to Dew Educational Welfare Trust at Rs 32,000 per acre. In all these cases, land has been leased out for 33 years.
In Patiala, two acres and five kanals in Kakrala had been leased out to DAV Public School at Rs 20,000 per acre and two acres and five marlas in Fatehpur to Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Public School at Rs 20,000 per acre.
In Sangrur, land had been allotted to Baba Shaheed Singh Education Trust in Baliya and Dewan Todar Mal Education Trust in Kakra at Rs 16,000 per acre and Rs 65, 100 per annum, respectively.
Junda said land worth crores was being given to big business houses at nominal rates but villagers were not benefiting from it in any way. He alleged that village students were not being admitted to institutions set up on panchayat land. The minister said the government was making a policy under which panchayat members would have a say in the allocation of panchayat land.
— Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Mohali district *
68 bighas in Bulopur village given to Universal Educational Society at Rs 15,000 per acre *
21.26 acres in Sanauli given to JTL Education Foundation Trust at Rs 30,000 per
acre * 15.9 acres in Behra village given to Thapar University at Rs 20,000 per acre *
19 acres and two canals in Tangori to Dew Educational Welfare Trust at Rs 32,000 per acre *
In all these cases, land leased out for 33 years Patiala
district * 2 acres and 5 kanals in Kakrala leased to DAV Public School at Rs 20,000 per acre
* 2 acres and 5 marlas in Fatehpur given to Baba Banda Singh Bahadar Public School at Rs 20,000 per acre Sangrur district *
Land allotted to Baba Shaheed Singh Education Trust in Baliya at Rs 16,000 per
acre * Land given to Dewan Todar Mal Education Trust in Kakra at Rs 65, 100 per annum
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assembly in session
Chandigarh, October 30 Former Local Bodies Minister and BJP legislator from Jalandhar Central Manoranjan Kalia said there were several lacunae in the Bill and sought that these be removed. The imposition of property tax dominated the proceedings. The Congress managed to portray itself as a formidable Opposition with its MLAs staging out a walkout twice. In view of the fact that this assembly session would set the tone for the Lok Sabha elections, party MLAs led by their leader Sunil Jakhar, on both occasions, thought it best to return to the House and take on the government on other issues listed for the day. The session began with question hour. A number of MLAs, including those from the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, raised issues concerning good governance. The atmosphere became charged during zero hour when Congress MLA from Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh Raja Warring once again raised the issue of Sangat Darshan being held by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal across the state with elected representatives from the Opposition not being invited to the same. Revenue Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, Amritsar South MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria and Khemkaran MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha were quick to defend the CM. But Warring continued the debate, questioning the distribution of grants at Sangat Darshan programmes. The CM said he was free to hold Sangat Darshan anywhere he wanted . “I am halqa in charge of entire Punjab. I fail to understand the debate on the issue. It is the fastest way of redressing grievances. It is for this reason that I have become CM for the fifth time now. Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, Congress MLA from Qadian and wife of PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa, wrote me a thank you note after I held Sangat Darshan in her constituency and gave grants. Even Muktsar MLA, Karan Kaur Brar has been meeting me at Sangat Darshan programmes in her constituency.... But if you still object, I can set aside a month to hold Sangat Darshan only in the constituencies of Congress MLAs,” he said. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar countered him, saying the need for Sangat Darshan itself indicated the failure of the administration and the justice delivery system. He said that taxpayers’ money could not be distributed like dole. Amid the debate, Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal declared that zero hour was over and asked the Local Bodies Minister to start with the legislative business. Irked, the Congress MLAs walked out. aAs the proceedings resumed, the minister presented the Punjab Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2013. Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Akali MLA from Ropar, said the government was forced to impose property tax to get central funds under JNNURM (Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission). Manoranjan Kalia (BJP) was the first to object to the provisions of the Bill. The issue was then taken up by Sunil Jakhar. Supported by Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Congress MLA from Ludhiana West, and Ashwani Sekhri, Congress MLA from Batala, he said there was no need to impose property tax as the JNNURM had lapsed. The Congress leaders got up and walked out. Later, six Bills were passed. Sewerage system Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal said the sewerage in the state would be revamped in two years. “At the moment we don’t have enough junior engineers. We will have four divisions, each of which will be headed by a Chief Engineer,” he explained. Warring takes on CM Congress MLA from Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh Raja Warring once again raised the issue of Sangat Darshan functions being held by the Chief Minister across the state and Opposition MLAs not being invited to the same. Badal’s argument I am halqa in charge of entire Punjab. I fail to understand the debate on Sangat Darshan. It is the fastest way of redressing people’s grievances — PS Badal, CM
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Congress leader Brar joins SAD
Chandigarh, October 30 The crossover is a big setback to the Congress that has been grappling with fissures in its rank and file.
Brar said that he was “completely disillusioned” with the Congress and had decided to quit after being with the party for more than four decades. A former member of the AICC, Brar took potshots at Punjab Pradesh Congress committee (PPCC) chief Partap Bajwa and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder
Singh. Launching an attack on Bajwa for appointing his brother Fatehjung Bajwa as general secretary, despite his name figuring in “criminal cases”, Brar said honest leaders had no place in the Congress. He blamed Capt Amarinder Singh for his defeat in the last assembly
elections. “I quit my job as teacher to join politics at the behest of Giani Zail Singh. I will not ask for any position in the SAD. I shall be happy to work at the grassroots level,” he said.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal came to the SAD office to welcome Brar to the party fold. Badal presented a “siropa” to
Brar. Sukhbir said: “The fact that the seniormost Congress leader from the Malwa belt has joined the SAD clearly indicates the public’s disillusionment with the
Congress.” When approached, the PPCC chief said: “Brar was throwing tantrums, having failed to win elections or mobilise people. The SAD has engineered the defection to defuse public anger over property tax. It is also timed close to the parliamentary elections”.
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Bus service to connect Sikh Takhts soon
Amritsar, October
30 This decision was taken at the SGPC executive meeting at Gurdwara Sri Degsar Sahib, Katana, today. Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, said they would run 10 semi-deluxe buses connecting Sri Akal Takht, Amritsar, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, and other historic gurdwaras in the region.
He said eight of these buses would connect historic Sikh shrines in Punjab and the remaining two historic gurdwaras in neighbouring
Haryana. He said the SGPC planned to purchase two buses for “mobile exhibition” of books on Sikh history and to inscribe history of important gurdwaras on steel boards.
The meeting, he said, decided to change the flooring of the Golden Temple ‘parkarma’ and provide the facility of booking rooms for Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas and Saragarhi Niwas online. SGPC decisions *
Two buses to be purchased for “mobile exhibition” of books on Sikh
history * History of important gurdwaras to be inscribed on steel
boards * Flooring of Golden Temple ‘parkarma’ to be changed * Rooms at Guru Gobind Singh NRI Niwas and Saragarhi Niwas to be booked online
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gang Rape case of Minor
Moga, October 30 Though the local police had registered a criminal case under sections 376, 120B and 506 of the IPC and relevant sections of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act against two accused, dera followers alleged the police were not arresting them under political influence. The victim is also a follower of the sect.
Around 2,500 followers also gathered on the premises of the local dera and decided to launch an indefinite protest against the local police. Some youths armed with sticks raised slogans against the state government and the police authorities.
Security forces from nearby districts were rushed to the spot and the situation was stated to be under control. However, the administration has beefed-up the presence of security forces at vulnerable places in the district.
Officiating Moga SSP GS Randhawa promised the followers that the culprits would be arrested soon and sought two days. “I will constitute a special police team to arrest the culprits and investigate this sensitive case,” he assured.
Moga Additional Deputy Commissioner Ajmer Singh termed the incident as unfortunate and pushed for stern action against the accused. Both officers also met the victim’s family members to express solidarity. 7 weeks & counting *
A 17-year old Dalit girl of Mahesari Sandhuan village was abducted by Manpreet Singh and Angrej Singh, also of her village, in the first week of September from her
house * She was taken to a tube-well on the outskirts of the village and allegedly
raped * The following day, she was left at the main square of Moga town and told not to tell her
parents * The victim visited her relatives in another village and narrated the
incident * Her relatives and parents filed a police complaint against the accused, who have been on the run
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7 Guards celebrate golden jubilee
Chandigarh, October
30 The battalion was raised on January 1, 1963 at Kota in Rajasthan by Lt Col Rampal Singh, as an infantry battalion and was converted into a mechanised infantry battalion in 2004.
The battalion has operated in almost all terrains, including the mountain sectors both in the north and the north east, the plains and the jungles, on the Line of Control and the Siachen Glacier. It has also held several counter-insurgency operations post-Independence.
The battalion for its outstanding performance in the Kargil Sector in 1971 was awarded the Battle Honour Shingo River Valley and the Theatre Honour Jammu and Kashmir. The unit was awarded COAS Unit Citation for its conduct in the north east during
1994-95. The Brigade of the Guards was raised by the late Field Marshal KM Cariappa soon after Independence and was the regiment to have an all-India and an all-class composition, with troops being drawn from across all regions, castes and religions. Raised as a traditional infantry, all Guards battalions are now
mechanised.
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Nod to widening of Sangrur stretch of NH-71 New Delhi, October 30 The project will expedite the improvement of infrastructure in Punjab and also reduce the time and cost of travel between Sangrur-Punjab/Haryana border section of National Highway-71. The main townships on the project highway are Sangrur, Patran and Khanauri. Development of this stretch will also increase the employment potential in the area.
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’84 riots: Sikh outfits to file ‘genocide’ plea in UN
Amritsar, October 30 AISSF chief Karnail Singh Peermohammad told The Tribune that they have the support of the Akal Takht on the issue as its Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has asked them to go ahead and submit the petition with the United Nations in Geneva on November 1. The AISSF had launched the campaign to gather signatures for the petition in May last year and had been holding camps in all five Takhts and historic gurdwaras in this regard.
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Armyman among three killed in Ropar mishap
Ropar, October
30 Injured Amandeep Singh, a resident of Munne village, was admitted to PGI, Chandigarh. The police said that
Karamjit, an army man, was on leave for his marriage at Sandoya village. Last night, he, along with his friend Nirmal Singh from Panjgrain village near
Faridkot, was going towards Sandoya when his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle driven by
Jagannath, a resident of Bhatto village, at Ropar-Nurpur Bedi road. While Karamjit and Jagannath were killed on the spot, Nirmal Singh died at PGI today. The bodies have been handed over to the families after the post-mortem examination, said the police. The casualties *
Karamjit Singh, an Armyman, and Jagannath were killed on the
spot * Injured Amandeep Singh, resident of Munne village, was admitted to
PGI, Chandigarh
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Facing BKI threat, Sehajdhari Party chief to move HC for
security
Amritsar, October 30 Dr Ranu said he had received the letter last month and he had even lodged an FIR with the Mohali police on September 19. He, however, alleged that the Punjab Police has failed to provide him security. “I am left with no option but to move the high court,” he said. — TNS
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Clean chit to all 15 accused
Mohali, October 30 Bhanwra, OSD to Badal from 1997 to 2002, was one of the 15 accused in a corruption and disproportionate assets case registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on August 29, 2003. A total of 100 witnesses — 60 of the prosecution and 40 of defence — had appeared before the court in the case.
The other acquitted are: Sukhwant Singh Tillu, Gurbachan Singh, Rajinder Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Harjinder Singh, Davinder Singh, Charanjit Singh, Darshan Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Varinder Mohan, Raj Kumar,
Sanjeev, Yashpal Dhawan and Varinder Singh. After the court’s order, Bhanwra and his supporters went to the gurdwara opposite the court complex to pay obeisance.
Bhanwra had surrendered in court on July 25, 2012, and had spent four months and 17 days in jail in the case against the Badals. He was acquitted on October 29, 2011 in that case as well.
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Criminal thrashes inmate,uploads video on Facebook ‘from jail’
Jalandhar, October
30 The uploading of the clips has once again exposed the connivance of jail officials in permitting the use of hi-tech electronic gadgets, including mobile phones and other devices of communication, apart from drugs inside
jails. The clips — “Jimmy alias Pita kaand” and “Rocky kaand” — show other inmates being “brutally assaulted on the jail
premises”. Kahlon has three Facebook accounts and his posts are accumulating likes (16,755) by the minute. His associates have also posted violent comments and pictures on the Facebook account
walls. Reluctant to comment on the issue, Punjab ADGP (Prisons) RK Meena said that the Kapurthala Jail Superintendent could better explain the sequence of
events. GS Aulakh, Kapurthala Jail Superintendent, claimed that the video clips were never filmed on the jail premises as both of them were never lodged there at the same time during their imprisonments.
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The Vidhan Sabha cleared the imposition of property tax in the state, despite stiff opposition from Congress
MLAs, on the third day of the assembly session today. The House passed the Punjab Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2013, even as Congress MLAs staged a walkout, rejecting the amendments to the
Act.
Three-time Congress MLA and former Education Minister Avtar Singh Brar today quit the Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Tension brewed on the outskirts of Moga city on Wednesday after scores of Dera Sacha Sauda followers armed with sticks and swords protested the police’s failure to arrest two persons who allegedly gang-raped a Dalit girl at Mahesari Sandhuan village in this district some months ago.
The All-India Sikh Students Federation
(AISSF) and other Sikh outfits are gearing up to submit a ‘Sikh Genocide Petition’ on the 29th anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots for which they claim to have collected over a million signatures.
Involved in over 40 criminal cases in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Sukha Kahlon posted the clips on his Facebook account — Sukha Kahlon sharp shooter — in
September.