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E-trip server fails again, hits movement of goods
Govt posts: Two-fold rise in application fee draws flak
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Schools fail to buy winter uniform for Rs 400
2013 Review politics
Capt writes to PM on Jat quota
SAD to discuss issue today
Cong leader Khaira may turn Aam Aadmi
State not using Central grants properly: Union Health MoS
Stalemate over storage tariff at ICP continues
Industrial policy offers no hope to gasping steel units
3,000 cops to be deployed for Shaheedi Jor Mela
Sehajdhari Sikh Party ties up with Sanjha Morcha
Jakhar-deputed team inspects desilting of Abohar canals
MLA Sadique meets ETT teachers
cmc admission scam
Processing plants on the roll, finally
US Sikh council to check hate crime through PR
Rain brings cheer to farmers
Arrangements reviewed for hospital project
Farmers’ rally at Barnala on January 9
RinGside view
Seven get 10 years’ RI in robbery case
Illicit liquor seized from Fazilka village
SAD groups clash in Tarn Taran, 7 injured
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E-trip server fails again, hits movement of goods
Patiala, December 22 The server stopped responding at 11.17 am, following which the work of entry and exit of goods at the taxation barriers came to a halt across the state. The problem was rectified at 4.50 pm. "Business transactions worth crores were delayed", said a taxation official. He said: "The department's server gets almost 70,000 entries per day. It was installed five years ago when the e-trip system was not there. The server is incapable of holding the current load. The new server launch has been delayed by over a year by Wipro". Traders said hundreds of trucks loaded with goods were stranded at barriers across the state. If the department server was not upgraded, the e-trip scheme should be postponed as such problems caused ample loss to the trade, they said, adding that if they continued to face such problems, they would have to take to streets. Anurag Verma, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said the server had failed due to a technical snag. "We are expecting the new server to be made functional by June 30 next year. For goods transported without e-trip clearance today, we will not take any action. Such transactions were manually entered at the barriers," Verma said, adding that alternative arrangements were being worked out to ensure that such problems did not
recur. Nevertheless, an award for govt
Chandigarh: The government’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) has been awarded with the CSI Nihilent E-Governance Award 2012-13. G Ramesh Kumar, Secretary, Finance, and Director, Treasury & Accounts, received the award on behalf of the Punjab Government at the 48th Annual Convention of Computer Society of India (CSI-2013), held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, an official press release said here on Sunday. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister said the IFMS was an ambitious project to modernise the financial ecosystem of the state and monitor the state’s finances on a real-time basis. The IFMS spans across all the finance related processesbeginning with the plan and budget preparation to release of funds (to the concerned departments) About e-trip
The system was launched in August last year. Businessmen dealing in intra-state trade above a fixed price are required to make available information pertaining to their transported goods online to the Excise and Taxation Department. Traders are required to obtain their user ID and password from the local department offices to login to the website www.pextax.com. E-trip was launched as there was no provision for recording intrastate transactions. Taking undue advantage of this, many persons used to evade tax by deleting/destroying bills after goods reach the respective destination. The e-trip system was launched to check this practice. The problem
The server failure on Sunday lead to a halt in work at the taxation barriers across the stat. This is the fourth failure of the server in less than three months and second this month
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Govt posts: Two-fold rise in application fee draws flak
Patiala, December 22 Sources said the PPSC had advertised for 120 posts on December 9, inviting applications for 23 posts of executive magistrate, 10 of deputy superintendent of police, 16 of deputy superintendent of jail, 52 of excise and taxation officer and six of tehsildar. The PPSC has fixed the application fee of Rs 3,000 for the general category, almost double than what was charged last year. Ex-servicemen will have to shell out Rs 500, differently abled Rs 1,750 and SC category applicants Rs 1,125. The candidates will have to apply online and deposit Rs 3,000 in State Bank of Patiala after downloading the bank challan from the PPSC website. The fee paid by the candidate is not refundable, reads the noting on the website. A candidate said: "The government is out to pocket money from jobless youth. There would be many who would apply for the second or third time, which means every time they fail, they end up losing their money." Last year, the PPSC conducted recruitment test for 160 posts, for which around 44,000 candidates appeared. The PPSC thus earned over Rs 6 crore. Besides, the candidates who cleared the preliminary examination also deposited Rs 3,000 as fee for the main test. A senior PPSC functionary confirmed that the fee had been hiked by the government. "The PPSC merely executed the orders," he stated. Members of district unit of the Aam Aadmi Party, through a memorandum to the Secretary, Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), have urged the government to rollback the hike. Lt Gen (retd) MS Buttar, PPSC Chairman, too said the commission only followed the government orders on application fee.
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Schools fail to buy winter uniform for Rs 400
Four month ago while submitting quotations for winter uniform, district education officials had demanded Rs 1,000 per uniform which includes a salwar-kameez with dupatta, a pullover, a pair of shoes and socks for girls and for boys, a pair of trouser, a shirt, a cap, a pullover, a pair of shoes and socks. While the harsh winter season has already set in, the schools are finding it difficult to purchase the uniform for Rs 400 each. Anjali Bhawra, secretary, State Education Department, admitted that Rs 400 for a winter uniform was too low. "The Education Department had sent the recommendation to increase the prices but as the funds for these uniforms are issued by the Central Government under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), we have no say in the matter," she said. There has been no increase in the ceiling for winter uniform for the past four years. Quotations invited by the schools from suppliers to provide uniforms at Rs 400 per set have failed to evoke any response. The problem for the school management committees is acute since it is mandatory for them to provide uniform to the students before December 31. "We have to submit a report in the matter by December 31," said a district education official. A random check with uniform suppliers shows that an average quality pullover alone costs Rs 200 that too for smaller sizes. A pair of shoes and socks makes up for another Rs 200, leaving no scope for the purchase of trouser-shirt/suit-salwar. The price of a set of uniform thus comes out to be Rs 600 to Rs 700. The principal of a Patiala-based school said they had somehow managed to provide uniforms to the students last year, but the quality was very poor. He said: "There are a large number of students in government schools who cannot afford to even pay Rs 30 as their fee, forget about buying school uniform. The scheme is a blessing for them. The government must increase the money or tie up with suppliers on its own to buy uniforms in bulk". "Instead of giving uniforms on the basis of caste, the government should give such incentives on economic grounds," said another school principal.
Wait gets longer
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Another Sikh detainee’s parole papers ready
Mohali, December 22 “Today, the administration gave its nod to Gurmeet Singh’s furlough leave and sent the documents to the Chandigarh Administration for further orders,” the sources said. Harpal Singh Cheema, member of the organising committee of Sikh Bandi Rehai Lehar, said Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh and Lakhwinder Singh had applied for parole two months ago. “While Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh’s applications were turned down, that of Gurmeet Singh was pending with the Patiala authorities.” He said fresh parole applications for Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh would be sent to the Patiala administration tomorrow. Meanwhile, the file for premature release of Wariyam Singh is said to have reached the office of the Uttar Pradesh Governor after having been cleared by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Talking to The Tribune on the phone from Lucknow, Baghel Singh, member of a Sikh delegation pursuing Wariyam Singh’s case, said Wariyam Singh’s file was now with the Governor’s office. “We tried to meet the Governor today to expedite the matter but in vain. We have got a positive response from the UP Government.Hopefully,Wariyam Singh’s release orders will be issued soon,” said Baghel Singh. Gurdip Singh Khaira, lodged in a Karnataka jail, has also forwarded his parole application, said sources. Meanwhile, preparations are afoot for the Sikh convention at Gurdwara Amb Sahib tomorrow morning. “The gurdwara authorities are not allowing us to pitch a water-resistant tent inside the complex. “We expect a large gathering for the convention tomorrow. Let’s see what happens,” said the rather anxious-looking
organisers.
J&K Sikhs observe fast to show solidarity
Representatives of the Sikh community in Jand K observed a daylong fast in support of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa here on Sunday. “Sikhs have laid down their lives for the sake of the nation. But they are now being treated as second-class citizens and denied justice,” read a press statement.
— TNS
Surge of support at Gurdwara Amb Sahib
Punjabi actors and singers Nishawn Bhullar, Sarthi K and Balli Riar reached Gurdwara Amb Sahib on Sunday evening. “Bhai Khalsa has been struggling for a genuine cause and we are here to support him,” said Bhullar. The artistes were accompanied by their friends and supporters. More than 300 students of Panjab University have reached the protest site. — TNS
Badal praises Beant Singh’s family
Cautioning that ‘some forces’ were out to disturb peace and harmony in the state, the CM, in Ludhiana on Sunday, praised slain CM Beant Singh's family for not objecting to the release of detainees in the interest of peace.
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SAD dominates as Congress fails to pick up the gauntlet Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 22 The BJP, that knows it limitations, quietly played its card, compelling Sukhbir to dilute its proposals on property tax and e-trip. The domination of the Badal family, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, his wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, her brother Bikram Majithia and, to some extent, the CM’s son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon remained in focus throughout the year. Badal has yielded a lot of political and administrative space to Sukhbir, who was re-elected SAD president in September this year and has almost a complete command of the government. Following the win of three SAD candidates in the Delhi Assembly elections, the party is now talking of spreading wings in states such as UP and Haryana which have a sizeable Punjabi population. Interestingly, it showed no interest in the Rajasthan Assembly poll though a large number of Punjabis are settled in the Ganganagar-Bikaner belt. Earlier, the party won the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections against the Congress-backed Sarna group. Congress, the main Opposition party, remained busy in setting its own house in order instead of providing an aggressive opposition to the ruling alliance. But the role of some of its MLAs during the assembly’s winter session was impressive. They were successful in cornering the government on issues such as drugs, sand mining, property tax and water-logging. The Congress tried to pin down the SAD on the issue of drugs, alleging that some ruling party politicians were backing the drug and sand mafia. Earlier, the Congress had boycotted most part of the Budget session. On the issue of shamlat land, the SAD, especially Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, tried to entangle Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa. There was a leadership change in the Congress in March with Bajwa replacing Capt Amarinder Singh as PPCC chief. Much to the shock of the Congress, its former minister Avtar Singh Brar quit the party to join the SAD. Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain, who quit the Congress last year, won the Moga byelection on the SAD ticket. He was made Chairman of the Punjab Warehousing Corporation but had to quit later.The People’s Party Punjab, CPI, CPM, BSP and various Akali factions continue to be marginal players in the state’s political set-up. Towards the year-end, Sikh activist Gurbaksh Singh Khasla created a stir by starting an indefinite fast to seek the release of six Sikh detainees who have completed their jail term. He has become a rallying point for aggressive groups in Sikh politics. Taken aback at the surge of support for Gurbaksh Singh, the state government is now moving fast to get the issue resolved.
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Capt writes to PM on Jat quota
In a statement, he said
“The reservation should be based on caste and not religion as Sikh and Muslim Jats have been excluded from the benefit in several states.” Lashing out at the ruling SAD in Punjab for failing to provide reservation to the Jats in the state, as had been done by other states, he asked: “What stops the Akalis from giving the benefit of reservation to Jats within the state?” The former PPCC chief said that he would ensure that the Centre announced reservation for the Punjab Jats too, “ but let the Akalis not run away from their responsibility in the state.” Amarinder Singh said it wa surprising that Punjab had not communicated anything to the Centre on the issue so far”. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Capt Amarinder wrote: “ Jats have presence in 13 states of the country. While the Government of India in its last Cabinet decision approved reservation for Jats in nine states, those residing in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been left out. “This is unfair and discriminatory as national decisions cannot be applied selectively. This is arbitrary and will be viewed as partisan”. Maintaining that the decision must be applied uniformly across all states, he said, no national decision could be made for a part of the community in some parts of the country. “In this case, Jats, be they Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims ,have been divided on a national basis which is unjust and unfair,” Amarinder Singh argued. The Congress leader had earlier in November written to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, arguing in favour of reservation for the Jats across the country under the OBC category. He hoped that the matter would be handled with more sensitivity and the “genuine” demand of the Jats spread across several states was accepted without any discrimination. Ramoowalia warns Senior SAD leader BS Ramoowalia has warned if the Centre does not include Jat Sikhs in the OBC list, he will ask the community across the country to boycott the Congress for its discriminatory approach
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SAD to discuss issue today
Chandigarh, December 22 The Union Government has directed the National Commission of Backward Classes to consider the proposal to include Jats of nine states, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh in the list of OBCs for reservation in jobs. However, Punjab does not figure in the list. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, asking him to include the Jats of Punjab and those in certain other states in the OBC list. The issue seems to be taking a political hue.
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Cong leader Khaira may turn Aam Aadmi
When contacted, Khaira, official spokesperson of the Punjab Congress Congress Committee (PPCC) said: “ The Congress has nominated me as its candidate from the Bholath assembly segment four times in a row and I’m holding a prestigious post in the party even now. Why then should I quit the Congress?” Punjab convener of AAP Harjot Singh Bains told The Tribune that Khaira had not contacted any of the seven members on its state executive. However, sources close to Khaira insisted that the latter was in talks with AAP. “He is disillusioned with the state party leadership and its ambivalent stand on political and social issues" the sources said. According to the AAP constitution, anybody who has already been in electoral politics and wants to join the party needs to contact the AAP’s executive body for a final decision. Meanwhile, AAP has stepped up efforts to spread wings in Punjab with Bains claiming that the response was overwhelming with the party enrolling “300 members every hour.” The party’s Jalandhar district convener, Joginder Singh Multani, and executive member Kamaldeep Singh have already started agitation against the “irrational” taxes imposed by the SAD-BJP Government. The party is likely to start similar protests in other areas soon. Talking to The Tribune, AAP national working committee member Himanshu Pathak said: “We are targeting social media users. Over 30 lakh voters (35 per cent) in the state are on the social media. While 28.5 lakh are on Facebook, about two lakh use Twitter. We want to make them aware of social issues confronting Punjab, including unemployment and drug addiction.”
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State not using Central grants properly: Union Health MoS
Phagwara, December 22 Alleging that the health-care system had collapsed in the state and poor patients faced hardships, she said out of over
Rs 500 crore granted under the NRHM this year, the state had spent just Rs 152
crore. The minister said mobile labs would be provided in all important towns of Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency and the first such lab would be provided to Hoshiarpur on December 27. She said under paths near the Civil Hospital and the Rest House Chowk in Phagwara had been sanctioned as per the demands of people. She said this while addressing mediapersons at Phagwara after a meeting with National Highways Authority of India officials, headed by General Manager NH-1 Dev Raj. Chaudhary said the four-laning of the 44-km stretch between Bhogpur and Mukerian, which
was nearing completion, would be inaugurated in the first week of January next year. She said the road would benefit commuters going to Pathankot, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, especially pilgrims going to the Vaishno Devi shrine. The minister said work on the Central government's project of six-laning of the 20-km stretch between Bidhipur and Dhilwan would start
in January. “The project will cost Rs 430 crore,” she said, adding, “Its biddings have been done." While replying to a query, she said there was nothing wrong in conducting a CBI probe into the drug racket, which had come to the fore recently, to unravel the truth. She was commenting on drug mafia Jagdish Bhola's recent remark that he would disclose names of three Akali cabinet ministers involved in the international racket only if CBI probe was held into
the matter.
'NRHM funds underutilised'
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Temple row: Hindu groups form body to fight cases
Amritsar, December 22 At a meeting held at Durgiana Temple here, representatives of the organisations gave a go ahead for creating a corpus fund for fighting such cases in which Hindu leaders were “falsely implicated”, including the Ram Tirath dispute. Ramesh Sharma said the Hindu organisations would file an application with the Peeth to get its approval in this regard. “The council will only fight cases which would be approved by its members,” he said. The meeting was held after the controversy erupted following the suicide committed by a youth belonging to the Valmiki Community in Patti a few days ago. The Patti police had registered an abetment to suicide case against Mahant Baldev Giri and Ramesh Sharma. The community leaders had alleged that Hato Dravid had committed suicide as he was perturbed over the court’s decision to handover the possession of Dhuna Sahib in Ram Tirath Temple to the Mahant Baldev Giri faction. The Valmiki community headed by Valimiki leader OP Gabbar had yesterday given an ultimatum to arrest the duo within 72 hours. They had also sought Rs 50 lakh as compensation and government job for the kin of the deceased. The leaders said they would not allow the police to arrest the Mahant and Sharma. They claimed that the youth had committed suicide over a family dispute and it was being given a different hue only to take political advantage by those having vested interests. Sharma said the district administration had assured them to hold an impartial probe into the suicide and deputed a top policeman
for investigations.
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Stalemate over storage tariff at ICP continues
Sources said repeated pleas of the traders to the LPAI as also the Union Home Ministry had failed to elicit any positive reply. The traders are still hoping that the tariff hike will be withdrawn in the interest of the bilateral trade. They said the traders were now hoping for some development over the issue in the coming coordination committee meeting at the ICP. The storage tariff was Rs 4 per metric tonne (MT) for the first three days and Rs 20 per MT for the next four days. After a revision, the storage tariff is Rs 4 per MT for the first two days and Rs 150 per MT for the next three days, almost an eight-time increase. The traders have termed the tariff hike as “totally unwarranted as it was implemented without consulting the trade and industry, a major stakeholder”. They lamented that the Land Port Authority of India had failed to provide proper platforms and covered sheds for all season import of gypsum, cement, loose cargo, rock salt, dry fruits, onions etc. “Unloading of gypsum in the open during rains had resulted in huge losses to the importers and the LPAI had failed to compensate the damages”.
No hope in sight
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Industrial policy offers no hope to gasping steel units
Chandigarh, December 22 Iron and steel furnaces and rolling mills are among the eight sectors chosen by the state government to be kept under the negative list in the new policy. Faced with high power and labour cost, distance from ports and high VAT, a number of iron and steel units in the state have closed down in the past two years. Industry sources say though steel is the most important industry after textiles in Punjab, it has now become unviable. Many units have shifted their base to other states having access to ports and offering much lower power tariff. With the government excluding this category of industry from fiscal concessions being offered to all prospective investors, presumably because of fraudulent VAT refunds obtained by certain iron and steel unit owners, the industrialists feel that they will not be able to expand their units here. This denial of concessions would also have a cascading effect on engineering goods and auto parts industry in the state. Mahinder Gupta, president, Induction Furnace Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, said it was unfair that because of some units indulging in unfair means to get VAT refunds, the entire industry had been excluded from availing benefits like VAT retention and electricity duty exemption. “In the past one year, 120 units in Mandi Gobindgarh have closed down,” he said. Sandeep Duggal, another steel manufacturer, said it had become difficult for the industry to stay afloat.
End of the road?
Other left out units
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89-year-old man seeks justice for his son’s murder
Kartarpur (Jalandhar), December 22 Kamboj’s son Brij Mohan (40) was found murdered in his rented accommodation in Haryana’s Karnal city on March 2, 2001. “My son had good returns from his business of extracting molasses from sugar. The accused broke into his house, murdered him and decamped with cash and other valuables. How much cash or valuables were stolen could not be ascertained as he was staying alone,” Kamboj remembers with his voice choking. “The police had found Brij’s mutilated body dumped in a bed box. The post-mortem examination report had confirmed that Brij was strangled to death,” Kamboj says. He alleges that one of the suspects was a relative of then Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana. “It’s been close to 13 years since my son’s murder, but the Haryana Police have failed to arrest the culprits,” Kamboj told The Tribune with his voice choking. Kamboj alleged that a few days after the murder, officers investigating into the murder were transferred, making it clear that the “police were trying to shield someone”. “With the case making no headway, I had moved an application in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to seek a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a few years ago,” he said, adding that earlier this month, he had sent a letter to the High Court Chief Justice, requesting for CBI investigation into the matter. The letter reads, “In a similar case (Rama Devi versus State of Haryana), the petitioner had pleaded before the High Court for a CBI investigation into her husband’s murder. The HC had ordered the CBI probe on November 27, 2012.” “A similar decision should be taken in the case of my son’s death to bring the accused to book,” is all Kamboj demands.
Case background
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3,000 cops to be deployed for Shaheedi Jor Mela
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 22 More than 10 lakh devotees are expected to pay obeisance during the three-day Shaheedi Jor Mela, which is observed as the martyrdom day of the Guru Gobind Singh’s sons who were bricked alive in Fatehgarh Sahib. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said the town had been divided into five sectors and each sector would be headed by a Superintendent of Police. He said there would be 10 check barriers and 46 naka points. Besides, he said, 19 parking lots had been identified to check traffic chaos. The SSP said 12 Assistant Superintendents of Police and 28 Deputy Superintendents of Police would be deputed for the security of devotees. He said 250 NCC cadets of Mata Gujri College would assist the police. He said closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed at strategic places to keep a vigil in the area. The SSP said seven police help centres and five information and medical aid centres were being set by the district administration, where officials would be on duty round the clock.
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Sehajdhari Sikh Party ties up with Sanjha Morcha
Sangrur, December 22 An announcement to this effect was made by Dr Ranu at a public meeting of the SAD (Longowal), held at the residence of party general secretary Gaganjit Singh Barnala at Dhuri. The meeting was convened to mobilise party workers for the ensuing elections. The meeting was attended among others by patron of the Sanjha Morcha Surjit Singh Barnala, president of SAD (Longowal) Surjit Kaur Barnala, secretary general of SAD (Longowal) Baldev Singh Mann, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary and former SAD MLA Surinder Singh Dhuri, Dr Paramjit Singh Ranu and Gaganjit Singh Barnala.
Wanted ex-MLA at meeting
Interestingly, Surinder Singh Dhuri, who attended the meeting, is wanted in a case registered against him on December 5 under the Excise Act at Dhuri. His anticipatory bail application was dismissed in the case a few days ago by a Sangrur court. Dhuri DSP Krishan Kumar Panthey said they had no information that Dhuri had attended the meeting.
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Jakhar-deputed team inspects desilting of Abohar canals
Abohar, December 22 Jakhar, who was the CPS (Irrigation) in the Congress Government from 1997 to 2002, had then raised a demand for cleaning and repairing the canals. Irrigation Department Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) Pritam Singh and Junior Engineer (JE) Devi Lal briefed the team about the work. As villagers pointed out discrepancies in the work at the Daulatpura minor, the team told irrigation officials to pull up the contractors and get the grievances redressed. Since the government had not been releasing funds since 2011 to repair the canals, the team requested Jakhar to approach the CM to provide money to take up repair before wheat-sowing season.
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MLA Sadique meets ETT teachers
Barnala, December 22 More than 10 ETT teachers have climbed the water works, demanding regular appointments. On an appeal by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Bhadaur area in-charge Darbara Singh Guru Guru, the protesters came down to 10th stair of water works from the top. Sadique said he would take up the matter with Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa. “The Parkash Singh Badal government had promised ETT teachers regular jobs on the completion of their ETT course. They have cleared the course, but the government is shying away from fulfilling its promise,” the MLA, who is a singer, said. A meeting between the Chief Minister and leaders of the protesters has been fixed in Chandigarh on December 25. Earlier, the meeting was fixed for January 8, but the date was not acceptable to the protesters. A member of state executive of the EGS (ETT) Unemployed Teachers’ Union Buta Khan said they would protest on December 24 in Cheema village.
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Police under pressure, says complainant
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, December 22 He alleged that the principal, SM Bhatti, used his political links to evade police action. "Both Valentine and Bhatti are accused in the case. While the police has arrested Valentine, no action was taken against Bhatti. They only questioned him. I have learnt that Bhatti made them speak to a high rank police officer," said Panwar. Valentine was today produced before a local court which sent him on judicial remand.
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Processing plants on the roll, finally
Chandigarh, December 22 “We have got an order from Hindustan Lever Limited(HLL) to process 1,200 tonnes of kinnow.The Dabur company is in the queue for getting kinnow processed at the Hoshiarpur plant,” said KS Pannu, Managing Director, Punjab Agro. “In addition, Cremica Limited has signed a contract for processing of 7,500 tonnes of tomato at Hoshiarpur,” said Pannu. Hindustan Lever Limited has already signed an agreement for processing of about 10,000 tonnes of tomato at Abohar in May and June next year. Cremica, Field Fresh and Mother Dairy have come forward to get chillies, ginger, garlic, onion and tomato processed at these plants. Pannu said besides kinnow, the plants would process guava, mango, galgal and black carrot. He said this was a big step forward to promote the cultivation of fruit and vegetables in the state. The plants process kinnow and carrot for food concentrates. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had given a grant of Rs 2 crore for upgradation of these plants, said Pannu. As a part of its diversification plan, the state government is keen to promote agro-processing industry in a systematic manner.
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US Sikh council to check hate crime through PR
Chandigarh, December 22 US-based social activist and SCORE chairman Rajwant Singh said the PR agency had handled the election campaign of US President Barack Obama. He said the move was aimed at preventing hate crime against Sikhs in America. "Even now, two-third of Americans can’t make out the difference between Sikhs and Muslims. The idea is to launch an effective campaign," he added. He also felt that the SGPC and DSGPC should play a proactive role in this regard. Rajwant, who is visiting India from Washington DC, said he was taking the help of teachings of the seventh Sikh master, Guru Har Rai, to sensitise Punjabis, especially Sikhs, about ecological issues. His organisation had declared March 14 (the enthronement day of Guru Har Rai) as the Sikh Environment Day. He has been working on a project which aims at making Amritsar and Nanded Sahib eco-friendly and green cities. He is roping in residents, besides religious and education institutes of the two cities for the project. He said both the cities had been brought under a global organisation, Green Pilgrimage Network, which was founded in Italy in 2011. He they would also observe a special day, "Amritsar Foundation Day", on July 6.
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Rain brings cheer to farmers
Chandigarh, December 22 Dr KK Gill, agro-meteorologist of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, said the rain was excellent for the rabi crops. Havildar (retd) Harjeet Singh of Moga district said that foggy weather conditions had made it hard for the labourers working in the fields. Amritsar recorded a rainfall of 2.4 mm, Ludhiana 14.1 mm and Patiala 1.5 mm, according to the Met office that has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hours. Warning commuters, the weatherman says the region is expected to be enveloped in a thick blanket of fog in the evening and morning hours.
Rainfall recorded
Amritsar: 2.4 mm Ludhiana: 14.1 mm Patiala: 1.5 mm
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Arrangements reviewed for hospital project
Chandiagrh, December 22 The hospital and research centre would be developed by Bhaba Atomic Research Centre
(BARC) at the cost of Rs 450 crore. A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's office said Badal had convened a meeting of senior leaders of the
SAD-BJP from Patiala, Fathegarh Sahib, Mohali and Ropar districts to monitor the preparations for the ceremony.
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Villagers protest against dilapidated roads
Ropar, December 22 They said the government was busy in organising "sangat darshan" programmes, but a major problem of people, pertaining to pot-holed roads, was yet to be addressed. They said a majority of roads were in a bad state for the past many years. RTI activist Dinesh Chadha, who led the protest, said, "Politicians always put big foundation stones to take credit even if they construct a small street. So in order to fix the responsibility of the government for these damaged roads, we will also put up boards saying these roads have not been repaired for past 13 years." He said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had been claiming that he would develop Punjab like California but not much had been done on ground. He said the link roads in the state were in a bad state for the past 13 years though these were supposed to be repaired after every 5-6 years. In Ropar district itself, there were 225 link roads whose repair was pending for 7-13
years, Chadha said.
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Farmers’ rally at Barnala on January 9
Moga, December 22 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of different organisations under the leadership of Bharti Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta) general secretary Sukhdev Singh here today. The leader told mediapersons that the Punjab Government had failed to honour its commitment in this regard. He demanded a government job for the kin of the deceased farmers. He claimed a government survey had revealed that more than 7,000 debt-ridden farmers had committed suicide in the past five years due. — PTI
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King of hearts
Capt Amarinder Singh may not be often visiting his ancestral village Mehraj in Bathinda district, but that has surely not diminished his popularity among the residents. That he is still reigns their hearts was evident during his visit to the village this week. Eager residents sat on mats spread over the cold floor of the grain market for hours, waiting for him. As he arrived, they craned their necks to have a better view of Maharaj Sahib, as they like to address him. Some approached him for an autograph on old pictures of his ancestors. Overcome by the warmth, the former CM urged the residents to bring back the Congress to power for a better future while pointing out that the Badals were concentrating only on their ancestral village, Badal. The trap
Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s opponents within the party are trying to convince the high command to field him against Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency. Aware of the trap, Amarinder Singh has made it clear that he has no ambition of being an MP. It is learnt that former Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi is keen to be fielded from Bathinda. Former Finance Minister Surinder Singla too is not averse to trying his luck from the constituency. Much to the discomfort of his detractors, Amarinder Singh has made it clear that he is going nowhere and will continue to play a role in Punjab politics.
In poll gear
The ruling SAD appears to have already begun campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. Immediately after the investors’ summit and visit of Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal spent several days in Bathinda, announcing new projects and reviewing old ones. There are reports that Harsimrat Kaur may see a tough contest in Bathinda this time. The SAD has begun short-listing candidates for various seats. Prem Singh Chanduamjra is said to be frontrunner for the Anandpur Sahib seat. There are reports that Paramjit Kuar Gulshan may be shifted from Faridkot to Fatehgarh Sahib and Ajit Singh Shant, who recently joined the SAD, may be fielded from Faridkot. Sangrur may be allotted to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Ludhiana to Deep Malhotra, MLA from Faridkot.
On backfoot
Former Congress minister Amarjit Singh Samra is a successful banker. His Capital Local Area bank recently expanded its network to Amritsar. The inauguration by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia created tremors in the Congress rank and file. Clearly on the backfoot, Samra was forced to clarify that he would never desert his party and that he had explained his position to Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa.
Food for thought At a recent farmers’ agitation outside the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner’s office, an enthusiastic leader would halt his speech every now and then to guide volunteers to serve one food item or the other to the protesters seated in a particular section of the pandal. He would also update the listeners on more eatables coming in for them. As he announced that a large quantity of milk had arrived for them from
a neighbouring village, the audience broke into a laughter.
Awkward moments
The HDFC Bank management could not have anticipated that a press conference called to launch its 400th branch in Punjab could turn into an exercise in self-defence. As the chief guest, CEO of Punjab Bureau of Investment promotion Anirudh Tiwari, was late by more than an hour, the bank's North region head Gobind Panday initiated a media dialogue on the banks performance. As the scribes spoke of the inconveniences faced by them as bank customers, Panday was seen fumbling for answers. He let out a sigh of relief when Tiwari
finally arrived — Contributed by Jupinderjit Singh, Sarbjit Dhaliwal, Perneet Singh
and Ruchika Khanna
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Seven get 10 years’ RI in robbery case
Abohar, December 22 The court yesterday convicted Sahil Sonu, Harpal Singh Bobby, Aman Singh Goga, Devinderpal Singh Rocky, Gursewak Singh, Lakhbir Singh (all from Patiala) and Tirath Singh Soni of Bathinda under Sections 395 (dacoity) read with 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 450 (house trespass to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life) of the IPC. The prosecution alleged that on April 19, 2010, convicts entered jeweller Sher Amar Singh’s house on the pretext of seeking donation to organise ‘langar’ for devotees. They held all members of the family, including the jeweller, captive at gunpoint, and decamped with Rs 2.5 lakh, diamond rings, and gold and silver ornaments.
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Illicit liquor seized from Fazilka village
Fazilka, December 22 A team of the district police led by Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Balbir Singh and Excise Department officials cordoned off the village before carrying out door-to-door search. All but four accused managed to flee. Those arrested have been identified as Pritam Singh, Chan Singh, Manjit Singh and Kuldeep Singh. The police said they were making efforts to arrest the other accused. Apart from 24, 800 liters of illicit liquor stored in drums, the police seized 50 bottles of hooch and raw material from 18 houses. The police found distillery units in a field. The police destroyed the seizures since it did not space keep them. The village is notorious for distillation of illicit liquor. Official sources said that more than 1,400 cases had been registered against the villagers under the Excise Act during the past about two decades. The village has a population of nearly 2,400. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rupinder Bhardwaj said the authorities were concerned about unabated distillation of illicit liquor in the village in spite of several raids. On July 22, the police had seized about 65,000 liters of ‘lahan’. Villagers have made trenches having a capacity to store 1,000 to 5,000 liters of ‘lahan’. “The police will put an end to the distillation of illicit liquor in the village. At first, villagers will be asked to stop the distillation of illicit liquor. If they don’t stop, strict action will follow,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashok Baath.
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SAD groups clash in Tarn Taran, 7 injured
Tarn Taran, December 22 The police have booked 30 workers under Sections 307, 452, 323, 324, 506, 427, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code. The injured have been identified as Salwant Singh, his son Sukhdeep Singh nephew Balwinder Singh (one group), Jassa Singh and Lakhwinder Singh, who are brothers, Daler Singh and Jagtar Singh (from the rival group) . While one group was reportedly led by Gurmej Singh, the other was headed by village sarpanch Balbir Singh. There has been tension in the village ever since the panchayat elections when Balbir Singh’s relative was elected sarpanch unopposed even as the rival group, reportedly patronised by Tarn Taran legislator HS Sandhu, won a majority of seats. This has created a piquant situation with no panchayat reolution being passed, adversely affecting the panchayat functioning. The matters turned even worse two months ago with one of the panchayat members shifting his loyalty to the other group, triggering a clash. Then too, the police had booked SAd workers from both groups.
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Faridkot/Patiala, December 22
Chandigarh, December 22
Jalandhar, December 22
Amritsar, December 22