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Alarmed, Congress high command seeks feedback
Senior leaders Birmi, Pandey quit PPCC
Former MLA Jalalpur revolts too
Property tax deadline extended till March 31 |
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PPP to begin membership campaign
Extension in joining time to Medical Officers arbitrary: HC
Muktsar dons festive look ahead of Maghi Mela
Stamp duty revenue dips for second year in row
Attack on student: Oz teen gets bail
Sikh family injured in accident in
NZ
Bajwa aide Darshi leaves Congress
Villagers told to deposit part of land acquisition money
Members of the Sangharsh Committee hold a meeting in Rajpura on Friday. Tribune photo: JS Virdi
Charge-sheeted officer seeks Guv’s intervention
Home Dept told to step up vigil on jailed militant
Docs resent govt’s move to close AYUSH dispensaries
PIMS fiasco: Charity hospital
owner to go on fast today
2 die in house collapse
Changes sought in medical college MoU
NGO spreads awareness about eye donation
Rights body seeks report on poor state of bus stand
Takht, SGPC object to online ‘parshad’
30,000 apply for 120 posts
Anganwadi centres to get food items
worth
Rs 1.29 crore
Woman takes charge as Fazilka Zila Parishad chief
No Sangat Darshan in SC villages so far
Vidhu Jain case with CBI, says Dhindsa
e-panchayat staff not paid salary for 18 months
Youth found dead in Lambi, kin allege honour killing
2 arrested with heroin worth
Rs 40 crore
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Alarmed, Congress high command seeks feedback
New Delhi, January 3 Already the Congress general secretary, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, Shakeel Ahmed, has met three top leaders of the state - MoS External Affairs and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and former state Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. All three met Ahmed separately and raised issues concerning the list. Bhattal met the Congress general secretary this evening. Congress sources said responses from Punjab leaders had been invited to gauge the level of angst in the state over the new 292-member list. “There are varied opinions. Some are welcoming the list and some are unhappy. You can’t have a list that pleases everybody. Still, we are seeking a feedback and will analyse the reactions before deciding on the future course,” a Congress leader said, admitting that senior leaders of the state were upset. Ashwani Kumar said: “There is unprecedented opposition to the PPCC list from almost every corner. The matter will soon be brought to the notice of the Congress High Command for remedial action. “The high command is aware of the issue and I have no doubt that suitable action will be taken.” The PPCC list was announced on December 27, barely months from the 2014 General Election.
In damage control mode
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Senior leaders Birmi, Pandey quit PPCC
Ludhiana, January 3 They have shot off letters to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, expressing their “dismay” at the new PPCC list, alleging that it “smacks of a distinct lack of foresight” on the PPCC chief’s part. Birmi said senior leaders had been ignored in the newly-constituted PPCC executive committee and newcomers given important posts. Alleging that the state party chief had been unfair in his recommendations, Birmi claimed that those who had supported militants had been inducted in the executive committee. Even those who had worked against the interests of the Congress during the elections had been rewarded with posts in the PPCC executive, he said. Training his guns on Bajwa, the former minister, addressing mediapersons here, complained of inadequate representation to the Ramgarhias, Aggarwals and the Pandit community. The leaders warned that if loyal workers were not given their due, they would be demoralised and this could have a disastrous effect on the party’s poll prospects in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. The leaders reiterated their loyalty to the party. Beri backs Bajwa Former Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Jagbir Brar and Rajinder Beri, newly appointed presidents of the DCC, Jalandhar (Rural and Urban), have vowed to strengthen the hands of PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa. “We will leave no stone unturned to highlight the policies of the Congress-led UPA Government and to ensure the party’s victory in the coming Lok Sabha poll in the state under the leadership of Partap Singh Bajwa,” said Brar, Beri, Jagdish Raj Raja and Tirath Ram Sandhu.
— TNS
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Former MLA Jalalpur revolts too
Patiala, January 3 Jalalpur has shot off a letter to the PPCC president, alleging that certain leaders in the new PPCC list had not only opposed official Congress candidates but also contested as Independents. "Completely ignoring seniority and merit, the list has names of kith and kins of a few leaders. Therefore, I have decided to resign from the new PPCC executive committee and instead be a party worker," the letter reads. Mohi has urged party president to reconsider the PPCC list and give due representation to the Schedule Castes.
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Property tax deadline extended till March 31
Jalandhar, January 3 The minister said the party was of the opinion that the collector rate for commercial properties should be reduced. Local traders have been holding protests for the past fortnight in this regard. Shopkeepers, supported by Congress leaders, have been keeping their
markets shut for the past two weeks. “We want the collected rate to be reduced so that owners of small shops get relief. We will meet Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the matter soon," the minister said. He said the issue of delay in VAT refunds would be taken up with the Deputy CM. The meeting was attended by state president Kamal Sharma, minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary KD Bhandari, state general secretaries Rakesh Rathour and Tarun Chugh and Jalandhar Mayor Sunil Jyoti. Fissures within:
Jalandhar Central MLA Manoranjan Kalia skipped a meeting on property tax held at the residence of Bhagat Chunni Lal at Chandigarh this evening. He said he was informed about the meeting rather late. “Had I been informed well in time, I would have surely attended the meeting,” he added.
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Washed away 25 yrs ago, village continues to get grants
Ferozepur, January 3 Manu Macchi under Makhu block of Zira, a subdivision of Ferozepur district, was washed away during the 1988 floods. Its 100-odd families migrated permanently to the adjoining Tibbi Tybya village. With no sign of human existence in the village, its panchayat has remained defunct. Records show that a few years ago, a “panchayat” of this non-existent village sprung up and was facilitated with a grant of Rs 18,14,309. Another grant of Rs 4.50 lakh is in the pipeline. The records also show that since 2008, the village had been given grants for various development works, including carpeting of streets, cremation ground and salaries of sweepers. In 2008, the village received Rs 89,379, in 2009 Rs 2 lakh, in 2010 Rs 1.75 lakh, in 2011 Rs 8 lakh and in 2012 a sum of Rs 5 lakh. In 2013, a sum of Rs 4.50 lakh was sanctioned for the village. The money has not been withdrawn so far, it is learnt. Kulwant Sharma, DSP, Vigilance, said a probe was on and the guilty would be taken to task. The records show one Virsa Singh enjoying the perks of ‘sarpanch’ of the non-existent village, reportedly in connivance with a prominent leader of the ruling alliance. Sources said some residents of Manu Macchi village had even filed a complaint in this regard but to no avail. Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang, when contacted, expressed ignorance over the issue but promised to seek a report from District Development and Panchayat Officer. Bhajan Singh, Gurjant Singh, Harbans Singh and Sukhwinder, natives of Tibbi Taiyba village, have demanded stern action against those involved in the scam.
Non-existent village receives funds
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Extension in joining time to Medical Officers arbitrary: HC
Chandigarh, January 3 Taking contrary stand, the government had offered extension up to three years to the newly appointed medical officers and had kept the posts vacant, while insisting it had no intentions of not filling the posts. Admonishing the state government, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa observed that the authorities concerned had taken a categorical stand that doctors granted extension in joining time beyond one year would be accommodated on their return against vacancies arising due to retirements and promotions during the intervening period. “As such, it is difficult to fathom as to why candidates next in order of merit have not been offered appointment against the vacant posts of Medical Officer (Dental) that were advertised in pursuance to the public notice dated July 26, 2011. The action smacks of arbitrariness”. The ruling came on a petition filed by Dr Varun Nayyar and other petitioners against the State of Punjab and other respondents. They had challenged the order dated October 25, 2012, whereby general category candidates duly selected and appointed as Medical Officers (Dental) under the Department of Health and Family Welfare were granted extension in joining time to enable them to complete postgraduation. The petitioners had contended eight candidates duly selected for the post were granted extension in joining time from nine months to three years. They added the action of granting extension and deliberately keeping the posts vacant was contrary to public interest. The state was facing an acute shortage of doctors and the denial of appointment to the candidates next in the order of merit was arbitrary and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. Allowing the petition, Justice Dhindsa asserted: “The impugned order is set aside to the extent of grant of extension in joining time…. It is directed that the petitioners be offered appointment to the post of Medical Officer (Dental) against the vacant posts earmarked for the general category. Such offer would be made strictly as per merit determined in the selection process and if any other candidate has secured a higher merit position than the petitioners, then, such candidate would have a prior claim”.
Tracking the case
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Muktsar dons festive look ahead of Maghi Mela
Muktsar, January 3 All the political parties organise rallies during the fair. Most of them have already finalised their rally venue. Huge hoardings and posters of political parties have been installed in every nook and corner of the city. The Congress has changed its rally venue from the Dera Bhai Mastan Singh road to the Malout road near Rajpal cinema as the previous venue has been converted into a plant nursery. The ruling SAD will hold its political conference at the same location along the Malout road near bypass. The PPP will also hold a rally at its last year’s venue on the Bathinda road opposite the district police lines. Leaders of all parties have been regularly holding meetings with their supporters to mobilise maximum number of people for their rallies. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, district Congress president, said: “Our state general secretary Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa will hold a meeting tomorrow to chalk out a strategy for the event.” About the SAD’s political conference, its Muktsar constituency in charge Kanwarjeet Singh Rosy Barkandi said: “National BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj, are expected to participate in our political conference.” PPP’s district president Jagjeet Singh Honey Fattanwala said: “We are expecting more crowd at our conference than last year. After the victory of the AAP in Delhi, people have realised that the third front too can come to power.” The administration has started repairing roads ahead of the annual fair. The SGPC is making arrangements for the boarding, lodging and langar for the devotees. Preparations for the annual National Livestock Championship too have begun. The event will be held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium from January 8 to 12.
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Stamp duty revenue dips for second year in row
Chandigarh, January 3 Figures available with The Tribune suggest the total stamp duty collection till November 30 was Rs 1,720.09 crore even as the annual target is Rs 3,450 crore. With the last quarter of the year beginning in January, it seems unlikely that the state will be able to meet the target. The figures also show that the stamp duty collection till November (Rs 1,720.09 crore) was much less than the total stamp duty collected in the corresponding period last year. Between April and November 2012, Punjab’s total stamp duty collection was Rs 1,963 crore. In fact, during the entire 2012-13 fiscal, the collection was Rs 2,920.16 crore. This is the second year in a row that Punjab’s stamp duty collections have taken a dip because of the slowdown in the real estate sector. Last year, against the target of Rs 3,335 crore, the stamp duty collected was just Rs 2,920.16 crore. In 2011-12, the state collected Rs 3,090 crore, surpassing the target of Rs 2,900 crore. In 2010-11, the total stamp duty collection was Rs 2,327 crore and in 2009-10, it stood at Rs 1,562 crore. Officials in the Revenue Department said the sale of property was at an all-time low and people were waiting for the economic sentiment to turn positive before making any property transactions.
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Attack on student: Oz teen gets bail
Melbourne, January 3 Manriajwinder (20), who is pursuing the bachelor of commerce degree at a Melbourne university, is in an induced coma at The Alfred Hospital after he was viciously attacked by a group of eight boys
and a woman. His friend was also punched as he lay on the ground and suffered a scratched face. The court heard on Friday that the 16-year-old was the first of three boys arrested, and was cooperating with the police and that was why he was not popular with his co-accused. Five other youths, including two brothers of the 17-year-old, are still wanted for questioning. A children's court heard on Thursday that the 17-year-old was part of a gang called the KYR, which particularly targets people of Indian appearance. A detective on Thursday told the court that though she did not know what the KYR stood for, reports of other gang offences last year stated that the KYR stood for Kill Your Rivals. The 16-year-old, who is charged with intentionally causing serious injury and robbery, was granted bail on the conditions that
he does not associate himself with the other accused and abides by a night
curfew at home with his parents. According to CCTV footage released by the police, Manriajwinder Singh and one of his friends were standing near a footpath at the Birrarung Marr park in Melbourne when they were approached by eight boys of African appearance
and one fair-skinned woman and attacked on December 29. The youngest accused, a 15-year-old, is scheduled to return to court later this month.
— IANS
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Sikh family injured in accident in NZ
Melbourne, January 3 Jagtar Singh, who is in his 30s, was in the intensive care unit at Hawke's Bay Hospital. His wife Sukhwinder Kaur, their two daughters aged 9 and 8, and baby Manmeet from Melbourne were also hurt. The family was celebrating the “birth of the first son in the family”. The baby's condition has, however, improved overnight and he is in a serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit. Jagtar's brother Sandeep, who was driving the van, is understood to have been thrown from the vehicle with the baby and a passing motorist found them on the roadside. Two other men of the family were said to be in a stable condition. All the eight persons in the van have been hospitalised. — PTI
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Bajwa aide Darshi leaves Congress
Pathankot, January 3 Darshi, who was secretary in the newly constituted body, is a strong Rajput leader from the Sujanpur assembly seat falling in Pathankot district which is a part of the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency that is represented by PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa. With about 45 per cent of the voters in the constituency being Rajputs, the resignation is seen as a major setback to Bajwa. Darshi is the third senior leader from the district to have revolted. Fatehgarh Churian sitting Congress MLA Tripit Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Bajwa's political rival, has already tendered his resignation from the PPCC executive. Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ashwani Kumar has gone on record saying that he will get the list ‘amended’. Bajwa has already aired his intentions of re-contesting the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat for the second successive time. The resignation of Tripit Bajwa and Darshi, who was remained the Gurdaspur District Youth Congress president from 1992 till 1996, has put the PPCC chief in a tight spot. Darshi was a known Bajwa loyalist. His resignation has set off speculation that more Congress leaders of the newly carved out Pathankot district may follow suit. He was a ticket contender for the Sujanpur Vidhan Sabha seat till Vinay Mahajan, another Bajwa supporter, was given the party nomination. In his resignation letter, Darshi wrote: “I have served the party for 37 long years. The new list has no regard for senior party leaders and this development is sure to cost the party dear in the coming General Election.”
About ex-DCC chief
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Villagers told to deposit part of land acquisition money
(Nalas) Rajpura, January 3 Residents of more than six villages in Rajpura have formed a Sangharsh Committee and refused to deposit the money. These villages are headed by Akali sarpanches. According to an official letter by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Rajpura, the panchayats of Sural Kalan, Nalas, Sural Khurd, Rangiyan, Nalas Kalan, Sadror and Raimajra have been told to deposit the "fee" at the earliest. “Please deposit 20 per cent of the acquisition money with the department. Also add 2 per cent of the money for cancer funds,” reads the letter. Villagers say the money received as capital gain should not invite any sort of tax. “The plant was inaugurated by the CM on his birthday. Is this a return gift that we have to pay,” asked the villagers, who held a meeting today to discuss their future course of action. “We gave our land for the thermal plant which will benefit the whole state. Instead of providing us the facilities promised during land acquisition, the government is trying various ways to retreive a portion of the money given to us,” said Nalas Khurd resident Bhagwan Das. Swaran Singh, member of the Shamlat Bachao Committee from Nalas Kalan village said the government intended to gather roughly Rs 200 crore from our villages. Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said he was aware of the resentment in these villages and would sort out the matter amicably.
Notices issued
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Charge-sheeted officer seeks Guv’s intervention
Chandigarh, January 3 A 1979-batch officer, Himmat Singh held the charge of Punjab Agro Industries and its subsidiaries during the Capt Amarinder Singh regime. He was charge-sheeted on October 17, 2013. Instead of replying to the state government, he preferred to adopt the "proper channel" of the office of the Governor. He has said that the charge-sheet was issued without giving him any opportunity to explain his position. But government sources maintain that he was asked to give his side of the story to a special investigating team (SIT) headed by an Inspector-General of Police. He, however, did not cooperate and refused to appear before the SIT. The SIT was constituted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to probe allegations of financial irregularities in the “Citrus Council.” Sources said the officer should have replied within the stipulated period of 21 days from the date of issuance of the charge-sheet. Having served as MD, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, Himmat Singh ran into trouble after the SAD-BJP alliance came to power in 2007. As per the charge-sheet, Himmat Singh spent government money running into lakhs on hotel expenses while on special leave. Himmat Singh is now posted as member secretary of the Punjab Women’s Commission. When contacted, he refused to comment on the matter at this juncture.
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Home Dept told to step up vigil on jailed militant
Amritsar, January 3 A highly placed source in the Counter Intelligence wing said they had “confirmed inputs” that the terrorist, who is the founder of the Akal Federation, was contemplating the move. He said they had shot a letter to higher officials of the department so that they could take up the matter with the Home Department and take appropriate steps to tighten vigil in this regard. A Youth Akali leader Ranjit Singh Rana, who had killed Punjab Police Assistant Sub Inspector Ravinderpal Singh in Chheharta in December 2012 and currently lodged in Amritsar Central Jail, had recently made an unsuccessful bid to escape by slitting the iron bars of his barrack. The incident has raised a question mark on the security arrangements at the jail. The sources said Chaura’s name also figured in a Burail Jailbreak case. Chaura was arrested from Jalalabad village in Tarn Taran following a joint operation of the Amritsar and Tarn Taran police in February last year. He was wanted in connection with the seizure of explosives from a Maruti car near the Amritsar railway station in May 2010. Deputy Superintendent of Police (jails), BS Bhullar, however, said the Amritsar Central Jail had not received any such inputs. About the militant A highly placed source in the Counter Intelligence wing said they had “confirmed inputs” that a terrorist lodged at Amritsar Central Jail, Narain Singh Chaura, who is the founder of the Akal Federation, was contemplating to escape.
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Docs resent govt’s move to close AYUSH dispensaries
Nawanshahr, January 3 The state government is going to depute the AYUSH doctors and paramedical staff on field duty under the National Rural Health Mission’s RBSK that requires them to organise medical camps for people in the 0-18 age group in villages. “In other states, the AYUSH doctors and paramedical staff have been recruited only to execute the
programme, but the Punjab Government is adamant on deputing the existing staff in spite of having sufficient funds for the purpose,” said Dr Hardeep Singh, Homoeopathic Medical Officer (HMO),
Nawanshahr. At present, 245 AYUSH doctors are providing homeopathic and ayurvedic treatment to patients at civil hospitals and dispensaries in the state. “Every AYUSH doctor is attending 50 to 60 OPDs (outdoor-patient departments) at the civil hospitals and dispensaries every day. By deputing AYUSH doctors and the paramedical staff under the
programme, patients would suffer and funds spent on medicines and infrastructure for setting up dispensaries would go waste,” Dr Hardeep said, adding that he had been deputed at homeopathic dispensaries in Civil
Hospital, Nawanshahr, and Mirpur Jattan village and had examined nearly 20,000 patients the previous year. The village gram panchayats have started submitting memorandums
to the authorities concerned against the proposed move to close the AYUSH dispensaries.
In nutshell
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PIMS fiasco: Charity hospital
owner to go on fast today
Jalandhar, January 3 Showing solidarity with the striking doctors at PIMS, he accused the state government of making healthcare too costly for the poor man. Singh hinted at running PIMS and demanded that the Mullanpur cancer institute be shifted to Jalandhar. “The Mullanpur institute is inaccessible for the poor as it is not connected via rail, while the roads in the area are in a bad state. The government is handing over prime land bought with public money to the Tatas. Instead, the institute should be shifted to Jalandhar where infrastructure is well developed,” he said. Singh alleged the PIMS controversy arose as the government had diverted funds to the tune of Rs 300 crore from PIMS to other institutes. “The properties of defaulters should be confiscated and FIRs registered against them. I will also back doctors and direct my lawyers to fight their case,” he said. He claimed if given the permission, he would pledge his 300 acre property to run PIMS. Singh said he would provide free food and accommodation to patients and their families near the hospital.
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2 die in house collapse
Faridkot, January 3 The condition of Singh’s wife is said to be critical as she suferred a head injury. She is admitted to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here, while others are admitted to Civil Hospital, Kotkapura. The cause of collapse is said to be loose soil at the base of the house. After heavy rain had lashed the town recently, water seeped through the base of some houses. The district administration had announced ~1,900 for repair for every household. Since the amount was meagre and most of the damaged houses were of the poor, repair could not be carried out. Faridkot Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayyab and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mantar Singh Brar reached the spot and announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh on the account of deceased and Rs 25,000 each for the injured.
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Changes sought in medical college MoU
Abohar, January 3 BJP state vice-president Dr Digamber Singh, former union minister Subhash Maheria and Sriganganagar former MLA Radheyshyam yesterday said the government would review the
MoU. They hinted that “guar king” Bajrang Dass Aggarwal’s name might be deleted from the title of medical college. The previous Congress government had signed the agreement with a trust headed by Aggarwal as he donated Rs 100 crore for the project.
BJP workers had during the assembly elections reportedly said the “guar king” might have to face the music for criticising Vasundhra
Raje, who had turned down the proposal for the medical college during her tenure as the CM from 2003 to 2008. During election rallies last year, she had promised to set up a guar gum unit in
Sriganganagar.
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NGO spreads awareness about eye donation
Abohar, January 3 NGO president Rachna Aggarwal said several people turned up to fill the pledge forms. “The campaign on eye donation launched by other service clubs and societies has shown result. We, too, want to make a contribution to the noble cause,” she said. The NGO volunteers distributed pamphlets to bring awareness about eye care. Cornea implant for
82-year-old man
Hoshiarpur: The Rotary Eye Bank Cornea Transplantation Society funded the cornea implant of 82-year-old Bikker Singh of Dada village. He was blind for 10 years. Eye bank presidents JB Behal and Sanjiv Arora said the Singh’s implant was the 90th operation of the eye bank.
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Rights body seeks report on poor state of bus stand
Sangrur, January 3 The commission has sought a report in this regard from the managing director of the PRTC before April 10. It has also asked the authorities concerned to associate with the complainant during inquiry proceedings. The next date in this case has been fixed by the commission as April 10. Kalra had sent the complaint along with copy of inspection note of a former member of the PSHRC, Avinash Rai Khanna, dated August 27, 2009, indicating poor condition of toilets and other shortcomings at the Sangrur bus stand. Addressing a press conference here today, Jatinder Kalra said the authorities had been misleading residents of the city for the past three years on the pretext of constructing a new bus stand in Sangrur. Due to this, they had not sought improvement in the condition of the bus stand before, he said. Kalra said neither the state government had improved the existing infrastructure nor constructed a new bus stand despite floating tenders three times. He said the BJP had organised a protest march on December 11 but to no avail.
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Takht, SGPC object to online ‘parshad’
Amritsar, January 3 For the past three months, a Bangalore-based entrepreneur has been offering to arrange the ‘parshad’ through courier. Even as the owner of this venture, Goonjan Mal, claimed to have catered to around 500 devotees from Canada, Australia, Dubai and Singapore, but the Jathedar has termed it as a violation of ‘maryada’ (Sikh code of conduct). “Devotees should discourage this practice,” he said. Chadha said though ‘pinni parshad’ is through a different recipe, it too was sacred. The SGPC president said it would be his priority to discuss the issue with the Akal Takht Jathedar as soon as the former returned to the city. “This issue pertains to religious sentiments, which are defeated if the ‘parshad’ is sent like this.”
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30,000 apply for 120 posts
Patiala, January 3 Among the posts are 23 of Executive Magistrate, 10 Deputy Superintendent of Police, 16 Deputy Superintendent of Jail, 52 Excise and Taxation Officer, six Tehsildar, 11 Block Development and Panchayat Officer and two Labour and Conciliation Officer. The last date for receiving applications was December 30 (2013). The exams are to be held within a few months. Senior PPSC officials said a little over 30,000 applications had already been counted even as the scrutiny of documents was yet to be completed. “The last date to pay fee online was January 2. Therefore, we are yet to receive the exact details from the bank as to how many have actually deposited their fee,” they said.
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Anganwadi centres to get food items
worth
Rs 1.29 crore
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 3 Zila Parishad chairman Baljit Singh Bhutta said this while distributing weighing machines worth Rs 5.70 lakh to 114 anganwari centres of the district. He said the machines were being provided as it was necessary to record the weight of pregnant women and their babies from time to time. Bhutta directed the district programme officer to provide a detailed report about requirements of the 114 anganwadi centres so that these could be fulfilled as soon as possible. He said the state government had provided Rs 1.29 crore for the purchase of rice, wheat, ghee, and other high nutritional products to be offered to
students of these anganwari centres.
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Woman takes charge as Fazilka Zila Parishad chief
Fazilka, January 3 Jalalabad constituency in-charge Satinderjeet Singh Manta said, “The SAD has given a special place to youth in the panchayati raj institutions.” Planning Board Chairperson Prem
Valecha, Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar, and Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank Managing Director Gurpal Singh were present.
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No Sangat Darshan in SC villages so far
Bathinda, January 3 “This shocking omission means that the CM is either prejudiced or only pays lip service to the deprived classes. To add insult to injury, all his magnanimity has been for non-SC dominated villages,” alleges Paramjit Singh Kainth, president of the National Scheduled Castes Alliance (NSCA). He pointed out that most of these areas had yet to see any development. There are 34 SC legislators in the SAD and the Congress. The ruling alliance alone has 25 such
MLAs.
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Youth found dead in Lambi, kin allege honour killing
Muktsar, January 3 Navjot Singh alias Bittu (23), a resident of Abohar, had recently completed his B.Tech from a Talwandi Sabo college and had got a job in the Navy. Sources said he went missing on December 25 last year. A few days ago, his partially torn clothes were recovered from near the canal in Fakkarsar village of Gidderbaha. Major Singh, victim’s father, alleged that his son had an affair with the girl, a resident of Ghumiara village who also used to study in a Talwandi Sabo college. The victim’s family members alleged that Navjot had gone to meet his relatives on December 24 in Talwandi Sabo, and that he also visited the girl’s college where the duo reportedly argued over some issue. “The next day, the girl got my son thrashed to death by her relatives. They dumped his body in the canal,” said Major Singh. A case under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 364 and 34 has been registered against the accused even though the police have also not ruled out suicide angle. “The exact cause of the death will only be known after a post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigations suggest the girl had stopped responding to the SMSes of the deceased since long, which shows she had discontinued the affair,” a police officer investigating the case said. The Lambi police are investigating the matter along with their counterparts from Talwandi Sabo. Both the families belong to the Dalit community.
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2 arrested with heroin worth
Rs 40 crore
Tarn Taran, January 3 Addressing the media, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajjit Singh Hundal said the accused were arrested following a tip-off from Thathi Khara village, located on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road. Preliminary investigations suggested the heroin had been smuggled allegedly on the directions of Harinder Singh (alias Dimple) and Sanjiv Kumar (alias Sanjay), both residents of Jammu and currently lodged in Amritsar and Kapurthala Jail, respectively. They have been facing trial in some other cases. “Dimple and Sanjay continued their nefarious activities even behind bars. They probably used to operate through mobile phones,” said Hundal. The police claimed the accused had so far smuggled 25 kg of heroin through Ferozepur border. A case has been registered under various sections of the NDPS Act. Today’s heroin seizure is just another incident in the series of recoveries made by the Punjab Police in borders areas in recent past. Even the BSF has foiled several several smuggling attempts.
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Chandigarh, January 3
Instead of providing relief to farmers whose land was acquired for the Rajpura thermal plant, the Punjab Government has issued them notices through the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, asking them to deposit 20 per cent of the land acquisition money with the department.
The stamp duty collections — realised through sale and purchase of property — so far are just 50 per cent of the target that the government had set for the current financial year (2013-14). 
