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CM firm on timely execution of projects
Incentives for promoting health institutions
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analysis
fee waiver on basmati
Jathedar seeks PM’s help on detainees
Ex-Mayor instigated me to frame Patiala resident, says complainant
Murmers as Congress leader
visits rival's house
Discharged from PGI, Khalsa resumes indefinite fast
11-12-’13 requests deluge nursing homes in Patiala
Police fail to arrest Faridkot child killer
300 teachers seek cancellation of deal
Maximum sentence for hate crime accused sought
Rights body questions Sikhs’ exclusion from US army
CPS Sidhu conducts surprise check at Nawanshahr hospital; warns staff
Restoration work begins in Golden Temple
A view of the damaged gold plating inside the Golden Temple
in Amritsar. A Tribune photograph
Rs 50 lakh for water pipes in village set for relocation
Women of Kanakwal village in Bathinda district going about their work as they await relocation. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
12 days on, no lead in Phagwara
murder case
Police soon to act on ‘questionable’ transfers
BJP to organise ‘Run for Unity’ on Dec 15
Property tax opposed
3-day police remand for acid attack accused
regularisation of illegal colonies
Under-trial gives police the slip in Sangrur
Religious place burgled
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CM firm on timely execution of projects
Chandigarh, December 10 He said he was a proud father today as his son had dreamt of putting the state on the top of the industrial map and the success of the summit was reflective of his unflinching commitment to transform this dream into reality. He alleged that Punjab, known as the “granary of India”, had been blatantly ignored by the
Centre. Rolling out a red carpet to the industry, the Chief Minister said the state government was open to new ideas and innovations to boost industrial growth in Punjab. He said with the conclusion of the summit, the industrialisation process in the state had been set in motion.
Badal asked the industrialists, big, small and medium, to play a pro-active role in the overall development by regularly engaging with the government to revitalise the industry. He said the industrialists could call him up on the phone or meet him personally regarding any problem being faced by them at any stage of project implementation. The Chief Minister said post-summit, it was the duty of the state government to honour commitments made to potential investors.The Chief Minister said he felt enlightened after his one-on-one discussions with top industrialists and was impressed with their suggestions in skill development training, healthcare and education in the rural sector.
Prominent invitees A galaxy of industry captains participated on the second day of the summit. Prominent among them were:
Existing industry looking to govt for help
The euphoria over the New Industrial Policy apart, the existing industry in the state is demanding that the government create an enabling atmosphere for it to grow and reach the next level. Common facility
centres, freight equalisation subsidy, easy access to finance and uniform taxation structure to help the industry compete with firms in neighbouring tax-exempt hill states is what they seek.
Participating in the technical sessions at the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, these industry leaders said they were looking to the state government for support. They suggested separate bureaus for micro, small and medium enterprises.
— As told to Ruchika M Khanna
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Incentives for promoting health institutions
Chandigarh, December 10 Fortis Healthcare, Ranbaxy, Medanta and DSM India(pharmaceuticals) have already signed MoUs with the government. Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vini
Mahajan, said parleys with Max, Manipal, Apollo and Hero groups for more investment in the health sector were expected. On excluding big towns from the incentives, she said these already had adequate medical infrastructure in place. Hence, the towns needed no concessions. But the rest of the towns and rural areas adjoining the “privileged” towns needed to be given incentives to attract private investment. The Fortis Healthcare has made a commitment of Rs 4,000 crore that includes a medical university in New Chandigarh. The group proposes to come up with hospitals in Ferozepur and
Gurdaspur. The medical university at New Chandigarh will include a multi-speciality hospital, medical college, dental college for graduate and post-graduate courses, healthcare management institute, nursing college, paramedical college and biomedical research
centre. The group will also be constructing a 200-bed hospital in Gurdaspur and a 150-bed hospital in
Ferozepur. Medanta Medicity proposes to set up a college and hospital, investing approximately Rs 500 crore. Ranbaxy has committed Rs 150 crore and DSM India Rs 350 crore.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, founder-director, Biocon, has evinced interest in investing in New Chandigarh, observing “it is compelling to look at Punjab seriously. We are looking at investing in Punjab in the near future”. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal told the corporates that the poor and the needy should not be ignored.
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analysis
Chandigarh, December 10 The two-day event, which saw telecom giants- Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel commit to laying 4G digital platforms; Fortis Healthcare,
Biocon, Hero MotoCorp and Medanta Medicity committing to investing in healthcare; ITC Ltd and Cargill India investing in agro processing; Arcelor Mittal expanding oil refining facilities at the Bathinda refinery; IT giants Infosys Technologies and Tech Mahindra promising to set up 20,000 seat capacities and real estate giant DLF Universal promising townships, residential and commercial projects, the going could not have been better. Most of the MoUs exchanged today were in the real estate sector. The state attracted a galaxy of industry captains on the second day of the summit- Vineet
Nayyar, executive vice-president of Tech Mahindra, Kurush Grant, director, ITC Ltd, Ness
Wadia, managing director, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, and Nahar Group, managing director, Kamal
Oswal, and Rajendra Gupta of Trident group. The government announced its decision to set up world-class convention centres at
Amritsar, Ludhiana and Mohali and take the investor summit to these cities each year. The state also announced the creation of a land bank of 10,000 acres to be given to the industry, and promised to bring down the power tariff for industry once the state became power surplus. With this huge commitment for investment in the state, it's now time for the government to continue with the momentum and ensure that the projects take off. The state has not had a very good experience in the past with MoUs remaining on paper alone. No wonder that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal kept insisting that the litmus test for his son, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh
Badal, would be to ensure that these MoUs fructified. He insisted that the MoUs be called "Memorandum of
Commitment". Sukhbir Badal, who engineered the show, told The Tribune that he was aware that success lay not in getting the MoUs signed alone. "We will be following up with the investors on a monthly basis and will review each investor's proposals. By linking our incentives to the progress of each investment proposal, we will ensure that real investment takes place," he said. The state needs to make its Bureau of Investment Promotion effective. The state has already appointed Aniruddh Tiwari as CEO who has been given the powers to okay proposals in a time-bound manner. The state will have to go in for skill development in a big way. Though it has roped in companies like the
Tatas, it will also have to bring the academia, industry and policy-makers on one platform. The success of industrialisation hinges on the quality of people, and a lot more needs to be invested in this sphere.
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fee waiver on basmati
Chandigarh, December 10 Official sources said the government had waived the market fee and RDF on the purchase of basmati in August. A notification in this regard was also issued. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner, Development, said various taxes on the purchase on basmati were waived to promote its cultivation. The government had no intention to re-impose these levies, he said. “The government will not go back from its commitment made to the basmati traders. A senior official of the Mandi Board has been told to conduct an inquiry to find out under what circumstances recovery notices were issued to the traders,” he said. In fact notices, sources said, were given because of a technical flaw in the notification wherein it was stated that waiving of the market fee would be subject to certain conditions, including minimum support price of basmati. Only those traders who were to buy basmati over and above the price fixed by the state government were to be exempted from market fee and certain other charges. However, as part of its strategy, the government did not fix the minimum support price of basmati. Rice millers on strike Seeking relaxation in certain specifications, at least 3,000 rice millers in the state have gone on a strike. They have demanded that the damage percentage in rice should be raised from 3 per cent to 4 per cent and discolouration limit be raised from 3 per cent to 4 per cent. Nakesh Jindal, spokesman, Rice Millers Association, said the millers were not shelling paddy. He said the Centre had been urged to relax the norms. The state government had also approached the Centre in this regard. He said due to unusual weather conditions paddy suffered damaged during procurement this season.
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Jathedar seeks PM’s help on detainees
Amritsar, December 10 He alleged that the Union Government was resorting to double standards while dealing with minorities. “ I have come to know that there are Sikh detainees even in jails of Gujarat, which is ruled by the BJP. The SAD must get in touch with the Gujarat Government to seek their release,” he said. The Jathedar also directed the SGPC to initiate the legal process for the release of the detainees at its own level. He appealed to Gurbaksh Singh to end fast and hand him over a list of detainees in various jails. The Jathedar said it was a serious issue and would be discussed at the coming meeting of the Sikh high priests. He said Gurbaksh Singh should end his fast and channelise his energy into mobilising support for the cause. The Jathedar had sparked a row last week, holding that Gurbaksh Singh’s fast was against the tenets of Sikhism.
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Ex-Mayor instigated me to frame Patiala resident, says complainant
Patiala, December 10 She said she had never got any complaint registered against Sodhi. She alleged that it was Pradhan who, in order to seek revenge from Sodhi on whose complaint a murder case was registered against him, had hatched the conspiracy. She said a boy had tried to snatch her purse, following which her bangles broke and her clothes torn. “I went to the Tripri police station where Pradhan was present. Showing concern, he made me sign a register and later took me to Rajindra Hospital. Later, he told me that he wanted to take revenge from Sodhi and needed my help,” she said. She claimed she didn’t know Sodhi and had never met him. She alleged that Pradhan, his son Preetinder Singh, Amarjeet Singh Anand and Manpreet Singh had been threatening to kill her. The court has scheduled the case for further hearing on December 19. Sodhi was the complainant in the murder case of her daughter. He had alleged that Pradhan was Parampreet’s father-in-law and accused him of her murder. A SIT probe had later given a clean chit to Pradhan. Sodhi had also moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe into his daughter's death. When contacted, Pradhan refuted the allegations. He said attempts were being made by Sodhi and his family to tarnish his image. “I don’t know the woman. Sodhi first got a false case registered against me. But, I was given a clean chit. Now, he has bribed the woman to tarnish my image,”
he alleged.
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Murmers as Congress leader
visits rival's house
Phagwara, December 10 Factionalism in the BJP’s Phagwara unit was witnessed during a celebration here as former minister Swarna Ram, who has been sidelined by the leadership for the past two years, came out his house, reached Goal Chowk where he was welcomed by those BJP activists who are feeling sidelined and were annoyed from the leadership due to indifferent attitude by the leadership. Former BJP Phagwara president-cum Ex-Chairman of Improvement Trust Phagwara, Former Nagar Council President Balbhadhar Sein Duggal, Former Councillors Avtar Singh Saini, Surinder Singh, besides BJP Leaders like Avtar Singh Mand, Pawan Malhotra, Megh Raj Banga, Sarita Sood were among those who celebrated the BJP’s victories in four states by distributing sweets. It has learnt that during last assembly elections, Ram who was a two-time minister was denied a party ticket, which was allotted to present MLA Som Parkash. BJP leader Arun Jaitley then visited the house of Ram and assured him to give a state-level chairmanship after the assembly elections but it did not materialise. Former minister Ram who was ignored by the party leadership was ailing in her house for the last more than two years and was upset and disappointment from the behavior adopted with him, but he could not stop himself after hearing the news of BJP;s victory and his supporters brought him to Goal Chowk garlanded him and greeted for the party victory. The other faction led by BJP block president Ramesh Sachdeva and a supporter of Parkash along with General Secretary Surinder Chopra and other office-bearers also celebrated the victory and distributed sweets to people.Congress leader visits rival’s house
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Discharged from PGI, Khalsa resumes indefinite fast
Mohali, December 10 Harpal Singh Cheema, acting president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Panj Pardhani), said the PGI doctors had discharged Khalsa at around 1.30 am. The doctors said his blood pressure was very low when he was admitted to the hospital yesterday. But it soon stabilised, he said. “From there he along with his son Jujhar Singh and supporters of ‘Sikh Bandi Rehai Lehar’ reached Gurdwara Amb Sahib to continue the protest,” said Cheema. Following the return of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, Damandeep Singh, who sat on the fast in his (Khalsa) place on December 6, ended his fast today. Mohali Sub-divisional MagistrateLakhmir Singh had issued Khalsa’s release orders yesterday.
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11-12-’13 requests deluge nursing homes in Patiala
Patiala, December 10 Dr Goldy Kamboj, consultant gynaecologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, said they had received several requests from couples to shift the delivery date. “Those who are to have a delivery by the cesarean section have been calling us up time and again, requesting that they be operated on this date,”she said. Dr Sangeeta Arora, gynaecologist, New Patiala Nursing Home, said she has been trying to convince couples to shed superstition. “There are women who take out a mahurat for child delivery and don’t even mind a C-section. I have already turned down several requests,” she said.
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Police fail to arrest Faridkot child killer
Faridkot, December 10 Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police Varinder Pal Singh said police teams had been formed to nab the accused. Residents of the area had
also been alarmed to inform the police in case they noticed the movement of any suspected
person, he said. The Senior Superintendent of Police said: “We have heard about the accused being a psychotic. However, till a medical examination confirms this, he is believed to
be sane.” Eyewitnesses said the victim, Lovepreet, a Class II student, had just moved out of the school at 2 pm yesterday when he was attacked by the accused with a long knife. The father of the child said he had no enmity with anyone and that
he was unable to understand the motive behind the killing. Dr Harish Arora, senior psychiatrist, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital,
Faridkot, said making murderous attack on humans or animals was a common tendency among patients with “paranoid schizophrenia” symptoms. In the present case, the accused was in habit of making such attacks. He had reportedly attacked his mother sometime ago, but the family neither reported the matter to the police nor got any medical treatment for the accused youth.
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punjabi varsity land transfer
Patiala, December 10 The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) submitted a representation carrying signatures of teachers protesting against the deal to university Vice Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh today. “Faculty members feel that there is already an acute shortage of land in the university. The decision to transfer the said land will become a big constraint for the future expansion plans of the university. Faculty members also feel that the state government could easily find another piece of land for such purpose in Patiala as already many chunks of land for institutional purposes are available in Urban Estate Phase 1 and Phase 2 adjoining the university,” said DTF convener Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar. The copy of the representation has also been sent to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Governor and Chancellor of Punjabi University Shivraj V Patil.
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Maximum sentence for hate crime accused sought
New York, December 10 Jamie Larson (49) had pleaded guilty in June this year in US District Court, Seattle, to the hate crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Seattle chapter said it hopes to see the "maximum sentence possible" based on the "savage nature of this attack and on the disturbing pattern of similar attacks nationwide”. According to the documents filed in the court, Larson attacked the driver, grabbing his beard, pulling him to the ground, punching and stomping on his head and body. He had also uttered racial slurs during the attack.
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Rights body questions Sikhs’ exclusion from US army
Washington, December 10 In its letter dated December 3, which was released to the media yesterday, the Commission said the current US military regulations generally prohibit wearing of religious headgear and maintaining other religious requirements such as unshorn hair and beards. "It is our understanding that the military’s concern is the possible interference of the Sikh turban and facial hair with protective gear such as gas masks or other military headgear," the Commission stated. "Because we received testimony that Sikh service members can wear their helmets and gas masks properly while maintaining their unshorn hair and beards and wearing their turbans without compromising safety or decorum, the commission is concerned that the aforementioned policies may result in the unnecessary exclusion of Sikh Americans and Americans of other religious faiths from military service based on their religious beliefs manifested in their dress and grooming," the letter said. The Commission points to the "burdensome procedures" imposed on military members who wish to obtain an exemption from such regulations. These include submitting a petition signed by thousands of people and securing the support of dozens of members of the Congress. "The privilege of serving one's country should not be denied to a person for adhering to his or her religious beliefs," said the commission’s chairman, Martin R Castro. "We look forward to a constructive dialogue with the Secretary of Defence to ensure that Sikh Americans and others may serve without sacrificing their faith," he added. The move comes months after Major Kamaldeep Singh Kalsi, who has received a personal accommodation or exception from the Army’s policy, in a briefing helped the commission understand the impact of the military’s policy on Sikh Americans. To date, only two other Sikh Americans have joined Major Kalsi in serving in armed forces - Captain Tajdeep Rataan, who also served in Afghanistan and was awarded both the US Army Commendation Medal and the NATO Medal for his service, and Simranpreet Singh Lamba, an Army enlisted service member. — PTI
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CPS Sidhu conducts surprise check at Nawanshahr hospital; warns staff
Nawanshahr, December 10 Dr Sidhu criticised the practice of directing patients to buy medicines from the market instead of the hospital store. Examining the hospital records, she said, “We will strive hard to win back the confidence of the people.” She further said there was no justification in referring delivery cases to private hospitals. She said their target was to ensure that at least 80 per cent of patients be treated at state-run hospitals. She said a carrot and stick policy would be
formulated to punish the errant staff and reward the dedicated employees to improve healthcare services.
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Restoration work begins in Golden Temple
Amritsar, December 10 The team of experts has started the restoration work from the first floor of Sri Harmandar Sahib and they have initially taken up the work to refurbish the art work. In the second phase of the project, they will carry out the restoration of the gold-related work. The team is using some chemicals to clean up the affected artwork around the roof of the first floor. Sources said they would first do the cleaning work and subsequently apply new colours, wherever required. Talking to The Tribune, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said they had ensured that the restoration work was done under the guidance of experts as it involved precious art work and gold work inside the sanctum sanctorum. SGPC senior vice-president Raghujeet Singh Virk, who is looking after the project, said the experts were first experimenting with a part of the affected area and the full-scale project would take off when the experiment bears positive results. He said the number of workers involved would increase next week when the work gains momentum. He said there would be no tampering with the ancient art work and efforts would be made to preserve its originality. He said the new art work would be done only at those places where the ancient art work had totally disappeared. He said they had imported colours and other material from foreign countries to achieve a perfect finish. The gold plating and the art work inside Golden Temple dates back to Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s era. The interiors of the Golden Temple boast of rare architecture comprising “mohrakashi”, “tukri” and “gach” work. The gold plating inside the shrine has turned black apparently due to rising pollution while at a few places it has lost grip with the walls. Similarly, the artwork on the upper floor has also suffered damage at various spots, particularly along the staircases leading to the top floor. Earlier, the SGPC had put up glasses on the artwork at the upper floor, as a result of which seepage has taken a toll on it. The gold plates on the outer walls of the shrine were first replaced in 1999 after a gap of 170 years.
Highlights of project *
In the first phase of the project, the team of experts will refurbish the art work. Subsequently, restoration of the gold work will be carried out *
SGPC senior vice-president Raghujeet Singh Virk said there would be no tampering with the ancient art work and efforts would be made to preserve its originality *
Imported colours and other repair material will be used to achieve a perfect finish
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Rs 50 lakh for water pipes in village set for relocation
Bathinda, December 10 The government had announced in April this year that the village with a population of about 2,200 would be shifted to a safer place. The residents had been complaining of “unbearable” air pollution allegedly due to proximity of their village to the Bathinda refinery. The process for relocation began in May. At least 100 acres of land was identified near Talwandi Sabo bypass. With the government spending money on providing civic amenities in the village, the residents apprehend that the government is not serious in shifting them. “It has been seven months since the government announced relocation of the village. Nothing has happened on the ground. A team of officials led by Bathinda SDM visited us yesterday also,” said Sukhmani Singh, village sarpanch. Many wanting to renovate or add rooms to their houses have kept their plans on hold as they are mentally prepared to shift to a new location. KK Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said he would look into the matter of laying of pipes. He, however, assured that work on relocating the village was on but it might take time. “The process involves acquiring 100 acres of land and relocating 300 families,” he said. Sohan Lal, Superintendent Engineer, Water and Sanitation Supply Department, said the pipes were laid as the government had approved the work and released funds. “We were duty bound to carry out the work,” he said. Earlier, the government had announced that the village at the new location would be developed as a town with well-planned roads, layout and landscaping. Power supply wires may also be laid underground.
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12 days on, no lead in Phagwara
murder case
Phagwara, December 10 On November 29, two women and as many children of a family were killed, while two others were injured at their house in Kot Rani village near here. The same day, Kumar met with an accident and was hospitalised. The SSP said police were raiding places to arrest the accused’s accomplices.
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Police soon to act on ‘questionable’ transfers
Hoshiarpur, November 9 The case was hanging fire for two years as the police did not register a case in spite of directions from the Punjab Health Department and then Hoshiarpur Civil Surgeon (CS) in this regard. Information sought under the RTI Act showed that the case dated back to 2010 when doctors and other staff of the local health department were transferred in spite of they not asking for it. Dr Avnish Sud, then Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Bhunga, who was transferred to Bhol Kalota, had complained to the department about his new appointment. He was replaced by Dr Vajinder Singh, who was shown to have requested for the transfer. He, however, denied making any such request. After an inquiry by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), it came out that the transfer orders were forged, bearing fake dispatch numbers of the CMO office and forged signature of then CMO Dr Ravi Dogra, who had retired on December 31, 2010. Dr Sud also complained to then Punjab Health Minister, demanding an inquiry into the matter. The department cancelled all transfer orders and wrote to then CS Dr Yash Mittra on September 19, 2011, to inquire into the matter and send a report. After inquiring, Dr Mittra wrote to the Principal Secretary, Health Department, on October 28, 2011, that an FIR should be registered against the accused officers, but to find out who had committed the forgery, it needed the services of a fingerprint expert. In reply to his request, the department had, on December 15, 2011, directed the CS to get the FIR registered and that the police would conduct the forensic investigation. Its copy was marked to the SSP, Health Director and complainant Dr Sud. Subsequently, Dr Mittra wrote to the SSP on December 27, 2011, to register an FIR, but the police did not act. Seeing no action for six months, Dr Sud wrote a letter, attached with copies of all proofs, to the SSP. This time as well, the police did not respond. “Even after bringing to the fore a big fraud and providing all proofs, police did not take action for two years,” Dr Sud said SSP Bhargav said the case came to his knowledge recently. “I will go through the complaint and all documents submitted in this regard. Action will be taken as per to the law,” he said.
In nutshell *
In 2010, doctors and other staff of the Phagwara health department were transferred *
After an inquiry by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), it came out that the transfer orders were forged, bearing fake dispatch numbers of the CMO office and forged signature of then CMO Dr Ravi Dogra, who had retired on December 31, 2010. *
The Punjab Health Department cancelled
all transfer orders
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BJP to organise ‘Run for Unity’ on Dec 15
Sangrur, December 10 Kalra said Sardar Patel had united 565 regimes of kings into one country, and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was doing the same by organising “Run for Unity” in the country.
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3-day police remand for acid attack accused
Ludhiana, December 10 Civil Judge Pankaj Verma visited Parvinder Singh, who was injured while trying to evade arrest, at hospital and remanded him to police custody. Gurbans Singh Bains, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime, claimed: "The accused have confessed to their crime. Amitpal Kaur Pari, who masterminded the crime, was about to leave the country. We will arrest the shopkeeper at Bakshiwala who had sold acid to the accused. The vendor who had changed the registration number plates of the vehicle used in the crime will also be arrested,” he said. The victim is undergoing treatment at CMCH here.
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regularisation of illegal colonies
Chandigarh, December 10 In all, two separate PILs were filed last month in the High Court. One was dismissed, but the other was disposed of today by the Bench. Taking up the petition by Darshan Kaur and other petitioner, the Bench had earlier asked the Punjab Government to explain the “rationale of differential composition fee, regularisation charges”. Taking up the petition against the state and other respondents filed through counsel NS Shekhawat, the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih had asserted: “We have put to counsel for the petitioners that the impugned notification dated August 21 actually seeks to give a clothe of legality to the unauthorised and illegal construction carried out by the petitioners and similar persons and, thus, really is favourable to them. “However, counsel seeks examination of this policy and various parameters, an aspect which is not possible to decide without calling for a response. This is so as, according to counsel for the petitioners, the composition fee/regularisation charges should be based only on the area occupied irrespective of the time period when the construction has been made. “We, thus, call upon the state to file an affidavit explaining the rationale of the differential composition fee/regularisation charges within four weeks. “We, however, make it clear that no benefit
would be available to a person who does not deposit the charges as per the impugned notification within the time
prescribed”.
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Under-trial gives police the slip in Sangrur
Sangrur, December 10 Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa said the police had launched a manhunt to nab the accused. He added that action would be taken against the policemen who let the accused slip away.
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Religious place burgled
Hoshiarpur, December 10
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Its curtains on the first-ever Progressive Punjab Investors Summit. But it is actually the unveiling of a new era of growth. Having pulled off what many believed to be impossible, the signing of 117 memorandums of understanding
(MoU), entailing an investment of Rs 65,000 crore, could well put Punjab on the fast track.
After being discharged from PGI, Chandigarh, in the wee hours today,
Kurukshetra-based Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa returned to Gurdwara Amb Sahib to continue his indefinite fast. He began the fast 25 days ago, demanding the release of Sikh youth, who are lodged in jails despite having completed their jail terms. Ropar Jail staff had taken him to the PGI after releasing him last evening.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has begun the restoration work on the interiors of the sanctum sanctorum at Golden Temple with the help of experts from a Delhi-based firm. This is the first time that restoration work is being conducted inside the shrine.
Strange are the ways of the Punjab Government. It has spent nearly Rs 50 lakh on laying water supply and sanitation pipes in Kanakwal village, which it has announced will be relocated elsewhere.
Addressing an illustrious gathering at the valedictory function of the two-day summit, the Chief Minister applauded Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for his vision and passion to “herald industrial revolution in the state”. 
"A policy to help start-ups has to be put in place if Punjab has to grow and become an industrialised economy. The growth in the MSME sector is negative and the need of the hour is to recast policy for the manufacturing sector to make it more suited for small enterprises. The threshold level for getting incentives is Rs 1 crore. If not financial benefits, the state government could spur growth in this sector by providing easy access to finance and technology (through venture capital fund and awareness about new technology), better infrastructure and help in marketing the goods
better"—
"We are the real drivers of growth. If we have to become globally competitive, it is imperative that we have a more enabling atmosphere for business. Though I laud the government for its success in attracting big ticket investors, much more needs to be done for the existing industry in the state to make it globally and regionally
competitive"—
"The casting industry is on the verge of closure because of the huge tax concessions being given to the similar industry in neighbouring hill states. We in Punjab have been rendered non-viable. The tax here is too high, leading to a cost difference of 10 per cent vis a vis castings made in tax-exempt states.The state should lobby for removing these tax disparities. In the meantime, it must lower its own tax slabs to enable us to remain
afloat"—
Amarjit Singh, who manufactures casting
"We welcome the initiative taken by the state government to attract investment and correct the state’s economy. But the reality is very different from what the Akali Government showcases. Industries in the state are fleeing to other states which offer better Infrastructure, a transparent regulatory environment/approval process and a more conducive environment for business. We need to take bold decisions and draw a transparent road map by installing methods to increase revenue resources and industrial
productivity"—Kewal Singh
Dhillon, businessman and Congress 
Talking to mediapersons here today, the Jathedar said he fully endorsed the demand raised by Gurbaksh Singh and the SGPC and the state government should make efforts to secure the release of Sikh detainees.