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BHOLA’S DRUG RING
Badal hits back, puts onus on Centre
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Revenue Dept begins probe into Bajwa’s land deals
Aulakh always supported Cong: Lopoke
Dimpa promoting factionalism, says
MLA Chhajalwadi
Industrial policy to be notified on Nov 20
NRI panel for CBI probe
into doc’s ‘harassment’
Govt docs may be allowed pvt practice but with a rider
Power consumers entitled to interest
on advance deposits from 2003: HC
2 officers’ appointment under scanner
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Amritsar, November 16 Addressing the protesters, Nimisha alleged that the ruling SAD leaders were involved in the drug racket, which had been “proved” by the recent arrest of Mannder Singh, alias Bittu Aulakh, and Jagjit Singh Chahal. She alleged the arrested duo had been carrying out their illegal activities by exploiting SAD leaders' red-beacon vehicles and gunmen. The protesters later handed over a memorandum of demands to the Amritsar Additional Deputy Commissioner while seeking a CBI probe into the nexus between the SAD leaders and drug dealers. Congress workers led by former MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa also staged a protest over the issue.
‘Sukhbir, Majithia to blame’ Several senior Congress leaders have accused Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, of patronising drug mafia in Punjab. In a joint statement issued here today, Congress MLA Joginder Singh Pangrain, former minister Darshan Singh Brar, ex-MLAs Kushaldip Singh Dhillon and Vijay Sathi and Punjab Mahila Congress chief Malti Thapar alleged that the Akali duo had been caught on the wrong foot following the expose.
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Badal hits back, puts onus on Centre
Ludhiana, November 16 But, Badal refused to accept that Maninder Singh, alias Bittu Aulakh, a former Youth Akali Dal leader who has been arrested in the synthetic drug racket case, was associated with the SAD anymore. “Leave aside being a senior leader, he (Aulakh) is not even a member of the Akali Dal,” said Badal. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 39th All India National Group Song Competition earlier, Badal blamed the Union Government for the alleged free flow of drugs in the state. “The Centre has failed to seal international borders. So, smuggling of heroin is rampant. The Punjab Police is trying its best to check the menace,” he said.
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Revenue Dept begins probe into Bajwa’s land deals
Chandigarh, November 16 The inquiry will be conducted by Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) Navreet Singh Kang and his Deputy Secretary AS Bhatti. The report will be submitted within seven days. The land in question measures 25 acres in Bharonjian village near Chandigarh. Sources said orders for conducting the inquiry were "verbally" conveyed to the officers by Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia. When contacted, Kang confirmed that the inquiry process had been set in motion. The sources said the FCR had already summoned revenue records of Bharonjian village to verify whether the land purchased by Bajwa and members of his family belonged to the panchayat (as shamlat) or to a private party. The FCR would look into the circumstances in which the government land in the village was possibly transferred to a non-resident individual. The Minister, sources said, was keen on taking action against revenue officials who allegedly processed the ownership (intqal) documents showing shamlat land as private property. Another fact-finding inquiry would be conducted by the Rural Development and Panchayat Department along with Revenue Department officials to verify sale deeds and illegal possession of panchayat and government land in Mohali district, if any. In this connection, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Majithia and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra held a meeting in Chandigarh last night. Reacting to the move, PPCC spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira alleged by singling out Bajwa for probe, the government was indulging in vendetta politics. He said the Justice Kuldip Singh Tribunal had questioned the authenticity of 70,000 sale deeds in Mohali district involving many political leaders and serving officers, but no inquiry had been ordered into these. Majithia has denied any political play in the matter. "Since Bajwa is president of the main Opposition party, the government earnestly wants to get a clear picture," he said.
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Aulakh always supported Cong: Lopoke
Amritsar, November 16 Lopoke said Aulakh had been expelled from the Youth Akali Dal as he had ties with the Congress. The SAD leader said Aulakh had also shared the dais with Congress MLA Sukh Sarkaria.
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Dimpa promoting factionalism, says
MLA Chhajalwadi
Amritsar, November 16 Dimpa had called Chhajalwadi a black sheep of the party. Chhajalwadi said: “It is Dimpa who is promoting factionalism in the party.”
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Industrial policy to be notified on Nov 20
Chandigarh, November 16 Confirming this, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the portfolio of investment promotion, said all legal hurdles had been cleared. “As the state readies to showcase itself as a prime investment destination in India, we are making sure that the entire mechanism for showcasing Punjab as an industrially progressive state is ready. The thrust of the new policy is to provide speedy clearances to the investors,” he said. The Deputy CM said for the purpose, the state had set up the Investment Promotion Department, which would be run by corporate professionals. “Only its CEO will be an IAS officer. The department will be headquartered in New Delhi so as to enable big corporate houses to deal with it. The head of the department will be given powers of various departments so that the CEO can give all clearances, including the ones required from the town and country planning department and pollution control board, to the investors,” he added.
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NRI panel for CBI probe
into doc’s ‘harassment’
Chandigarh, November 16 Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of the association, said the incident had evoked resentment in the Indian-American community. "If the NRI doctor was drunk, as claimed by the Delhi Police, why did the police not get his medical examination done," asked Chahal. He alleged there was no woman immigration or police official when the two were detained and questioned. The NAPA demanded suspension of the officials responsible for the incident.
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Govt docs may be allowed pvt practice but with a rider
Chandigarh, November 16 There are reports that most doctors posted in government hospitals have private clinics. Raids have been conducted in the past and erring doctors caught. The government is keen to resolve the problem in a manner that it should benefit the state, doctors and patients. “As most doctors run private clinics, it is not possible to sack all of them,” said a senior Health Department official. When contacted, Dr Sidhu said she was of the opinion that government doctors should be allowed private practice with certain riders. "After their working hours, doctors could be allowed to do private practice in civil hospitals. For this purpose they could use the OPDs and operation theatres. There is a similar provision at the All- India Institute of Medical Sciences ( AIIMS). We can further improve upon it.” Earnings from private practice could be shared by the doctors and the state government, she said. " The money thus earned by the state government could be used to improve infrastructure in civil hospitals. However, once allowed private practice in government hospitals after duty hours, the doctors will not be allowed private practice elsewhere. "We would fix reasonable charges for surgeries and other medical interventions,” explained Dr Sidhu. She said representatives of associations of doctors and civil surgeons would be inducted as members of the committee headed by her. On the purchase of medicines for civil hospitals, she said there was a need to put a completely transparent policy in place. “ I will submit a report to the Health Minister who will further discuss it with the Chief Minister”, she added.
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Power consumers entitled to interest
on advance deposits from 2003: HC
Chandigarh, November 16 A petition challenging an order to this effect, filed by the corporation has been dismissed as withdrawn by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It also admonished the corporation for its failure to take due care to raise substantive issues in the matter before a Single Judge, despite having an internal legal department and the assistance of counsel. The development is significant as PSPCL has all along been insisting that it is liable to pay interest from the date Electricity Supply Code and Related Matters Regulation, 2007, came into being in 2008. The industrial consumers, on the other hand, were maintaining that interest was to be paid from 2003, when the Electricity Act came into force. The matter was initially brought under judicial scanner by Induction Furnace Association of North India.
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2 officers’ appointment under scanner
Chandigarh, November 16 The application was placed before Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa. The date of hearing has been fixed for November 22 when a petition earlier filed by Mandhir Singh will be taken up. Mandhir Singh has sought directions for staying the operation of the notification dated November 5 issued by the Union Department of Home Affairs through its Secretary to the extent the officers junior to him have been appointed as IPS officers. He asserted that he joined as Deputy Superintendent of Police in the PPS cadre on July 19, 1993, whereas the other two officers joined the PPS cadre in August and September 1993. He said the Director-General of Police had already recommended fixing his seniority above the two officers.
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Women activists of the Punjab Congress, led by party leader Nimisha Mehta, today staged a protest demanding the resignations of Akali Dal MP Rattan Singh Ajnala.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said anybody involved in the drug racket, even if an Akali leader and howsoever powerful he may or, would not be spared.
