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Rebellion in state Cong grows, more quit PCC posts
Three more Doaba leaders resign
3 expelled in Faridkot
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Child-sale racket busted in Patiala, 5 arrested
District hospitals to get modern devices, says Union Minister
Puppet office-bearers won’t do, says Rinwa
BJP to chalk out strategy for 3 LS seats
13 years on, Amritsar-Pathankot four-laning stuck midway
Cases of 54 convicts sent to Guv
Turkey farming comes a cropper
Floriculture takes a hit as temperature dips
Rice millers demand security fee refund
Former Mayor Sharma’s aides skip Preneet’s tea party
MP announces project to boost biogas power generation
Rs 10 lakh aid for acid attack victim’s kin, job for brother
Depot holders to protest in Chandigarh on Jan 8
Residential complex inaugurated for Armymen
Cancel food inspector test, says Khaira
RINGSIDE VIEW
Pension fund embezzled, two suspended
Harassed by ‘transport mafia’, BJP leader attempts suicide
ASI killed, three injured in accident
Six arrested with narcotics
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Rebellion in state Cong grows, more quit PCC posts
Senior Congress leader Vijay Sathi said there was no point in attending the meeting ashe had already submitted his resignation from the PPCC to the party leadership. To a question, he said disgruntled, including SGPC member Kaka Sukhjit Singh Lohgarh, Inderjit Singh Bir Charik, Dr Tara Singh Sandhu, Jagdarshan Kaur and Colonel Babu Singh (retd) stood united and would not attend the meeting. “I appeal to all the senior party leaders of the state who have not been given their due respect in the PCC to boycott the office-bearers’ meeting to give out a strong message against favouritism and nepotism adopted by Partap Singh Bajwa while constituting the PPCC”, he said. Sathi said former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was a far better leader than Bajwa and that he (Amarinder) had been “wrongly” replaced by Bajwa after the Congress lost the Moga byelection. “Amarinder Singh can’t be blamed for my defeat because the Badals won the byelection purely on money and muscle power,” he claimed. He said he would soon meet Amarinder Singh and Jagmeet Brar to discuss the intra-party crisis.
Malti meets Ahmed
President of Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar met senior party leader Shakil Ahmed, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, in Delhi yesterday and expressed dismay on poor representation to women leaders in the PPCC. Thapar submitted a list of names to be included in the office-bearers’ list in the re-constituted PPCC.
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Three more Doaba leaders resign
Jalandhar, January 5 They alleged that instead of bringing warring factions on one platform, the new PPCC had divided the party. “Those who worked against the interests of the party’s official candidates in the assembly elections have been bestowed with positions of prime responsibilities. Persons with no political credibility have been anointed with responsible positions. Senior Dalit leaders with unflinching loyalty to the party have been sidelined. The Christian community has also been ignored and so have women,” said the three leaders in their letter to PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa. All three were permanent invitees to the newly constituted PPCC executive.
The three are reportedly unhappy over the elevation of Jagbir Singh Brar as District Congress Committee, Jalandhar (Rural). Samra and Chaudhary Santokh Singh are ‘hurt’ over the induction of former Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Gurvinder Singh Atwal in the party executive. They had lodged a complaint with the party high command in September last, alleging that Atwal had worked to ensure their defeat from Nakodar and Phillaur in the last assembly poll. The three leaders however, vowed Bajwa unconditional faith to the Congress and its ideology.
Accommodate senior partymen: Cheema
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader from Punjab MM Singh Cheema, permanent invitee to the PPCC, has written to party president Sonia Gandhi, stating that senior Congress men with a proven track record must be accommodated at all levels in the new committee. Expressing surprise that despite the jumbo list announced on December 27, party workers and leaders remained concerned, Cheema wrote: “Representation to different sections of society, particularly the Ramgarhias, Aggarwals and OBCs must be given.” Pointing out that turncoats had got a lion’s share in the PPCC appointments, Cheema requested the high command to reconsider the list to avoid a further rift in the party rank and file in Punjab.
— TNS
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3 expelled in Faridkot
Faridkot, January 5 Joginder Singh, district Congress president and Jaitu MLA, said Ginderjit Singh Sekhon, block president, rural Kotkapura, Sukhmander Singh, Sadiq circle president, and Jagir Singh, district president, Congress Sewa Dal, were expelled on directions of the PPCC chief for their alleged anti-party activities and for having "tactical understanding with Akalis". Joginder Singh alleged these leaders had been working for the Akali Dal ever since former minister Avtar Singh Brar joined the SAD two months ago. "We have information that these leaders are also joining the SAD on January 13," he claimed.
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Child-sale racket busted in Patiala, 5 arrested Patiala, January 5 Brar said she had been after this gang for over a month after getting information from her sources that such a racket was operating in Punjab. She said she contacted Usha from Amritsar, who initially introduced herself as Taranpreet, in the last week of November and told her she wanted to ‘buy’ a child, and that she was a US resident. “After a few phone calls, Usha finally agreed to meet me. On December 3, I visited Amritsar to meet her. However, she told me that I would have to drive down to Dehradun where Usha’s partner was waiting with the child. She demanded Rs 3 lakh. I told her I would need at least a day to arrange money. Obviously I wanted to trap her. Then I informed Uttrakhand DGP BS Sidhu about it, who assured me of help. However, Usha got suspicious and did not take my calls the next day following which the deal was cancelled,” she said. “However, I did not give up and again called her on December 7 and pleaded for a child. She then made many enquiries and said she would visit my paternal house in Patiala for her satisfaction. Then I informed the police about this. On December 16, they not only arranged a house for me but even posed as my brother and sister-in-law when Usha visited me. She was convinced,” said Brar. She added: “We continued to be in touch for some days and then I received a call from Usha at 6 am on January 1 saying that she had arranged a child from Ludhiana and would hand him over to me for Rs 5 lakh. Brar said she again cancelled the deal since she had got better price from some other party. “However, she promised me that she would give me a child as her partner had already purchased another child from Muzaffarnagar. Then on January 3, Usha called me and said I will have to go to Muzaffarnagar to collect the child and will have to pay Rs 6 lakh this time. However, I offered her Rs 50,000 extra if she could deliver the child at Patiala to which she agreed. “She finally reached Patiala in a Tata Indigo taxi at around 10 pm at the parking of Gurdwara Moti Bagh Palace where Harmeet waited with the police in plain clothes. When Usha handed me the baby, the police nabbed the midwife and taxi driver Charanjeet Singh.” Patiala SSP HS Mann said during preliminary investigation, it had been found that the racket has been in operation for long. Similar case has been registered against them in Ludhiana. He said during investigation, Usha admitted that she had bought the child from Muzaffarnagar through a broker for Rs 1.30 lakh. He said the police were also investigating whether the child was brought from a Muzaffarnagar riot camp. A case has been registered at the Civil Lines police station under various provisions of the IPC. Haridwar police to probe trafficking After the arrest of three women from Uttarakhand, the Haridwar police have also started investigations about the possibility of any such racket being operated from the pilgrim city. Haridwar SP Surjeet Singh Pawar said a police team from Patiala had informed the city police about their visit and arrest of three women involved in this case. — TNS
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Villagers protest laying of high-voltage wires in fields
Nawanshahr, January 5 Rajesh Gill of Panjab University, Chandigarh - who hails from Rail Mazra village accused the district administration of being hand in glove with the private company. She said despite her repeated requests to the Deputy Commissioner and the private company, she had not been provided the copy of the document permitting the company to lay these wires. "The company has been laying underground high voltage wires from Himachal Pardesh to Ludhiana. However, the villages falling in Nawanshahr district are not included in the notified route but the company with the help of the district administration has been forcibly laying the underground wires in these villages," she said. She alleged that the civil and police officials had not been paying heed to villagers' complaints in this regard. She said instead of showing the relevant documents, they had been “virtually threatening” them and asking them to get a stay order against the private company. "The company has been exploiting small, poor and ignorant farmers by saying that they possess documents pertaining to orders of the government for using their land for laying high voltage wires," she said. Sukhdev Singh Cheema and Jagdish Singh, residents of Bela Tajowal, also accused the private company of “befooling” people of these villages. Station House Officer, Kathgarh, Ranjit Singh Badesha, said these villagers had been given time till January 15 to get stay orders for prohibiting the company to lay the high tension wires.
Villagers’ woes
Residents of Rail Majra, Tonsa, Bela Tajowal, Aiman Chahal and ADV Bela Tajowal villages alleged that Parbati Kaoldam Power Transmission Company was laying high voltage wires through their fields “without any notification to this effect”.
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District hospitals to get modern devices, says Union Minister
Hoshiarpur, January 5 Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Santosh Chowdhary said this while addressing a meeting of health
officials of Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur districts here at the Civil Surgeon’s office today. “The Union Government has numerous plans for the development of health services in the state. The Punjab Government should send details on the utilisation of the funds issued to them for health services and a report about the requirements in the state’s hospitals so that funds can be released accordingly,” she said. Talking about the AYUSH system of treatment, she said the OPD of AYUSH would be run along with the normal OPD in Civil Hospitals so that people may get larger benefit of it. She said funds for the AYUSH department would be issued along with the National Rural Health Mission funds. The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare also reviewed
the mobile laboratory-cum-medical unit project, under which she has provided nine such units out of her MPLAD Fund in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur districts. The Civil Surgeons of the three districts and
other health officials present at the meeting apprised her of the progress and problems faced in implementation of the project. The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare also visited the emergency ward of the hospital.
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Amend rent Act, demands NRI body Says only then can the community members expect speedy resolution of their property disputes Umesh Dewan Tribune News Service On the eve of the two-day NRI Sammelan being organised by the Punjab Government on January 10 and 11, The Tribune takes a look at some of the issues concerning the NRIs from the region. The Tribune reporters find out if the promises made by the government last year have been fulfilled. Here is the first report of the series.
Sabha president Jasvir Singh Gill said the NRIs in Punjab often give the possession of their properties to caretakers, who are usually distant relatives or family friends. But disputes arise when the NRIs seek possession of their property, which leads to unnecessary harassment, he said. Gill said, “There is need for a reliable contract system between NRIs and the caretakers of their properties. This can be done either through an amendment in the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (rent Act) or through enactment of a fresh Act.” The sabha chief lauded the Rent Act, which gives an NRI the right to possession of his residential or non-residential property in a manner that is not available to others under the Act. The NRI Sabha, an NGO recognised by the Punjab Government, aims to strengthen ties between the NRIs and the government. He said more fast-track courts (there is one in Jalandhar) should be set up to try NRI-related cases.
"The NRIs can purchase residential and commercial property but no agricultural land. The community has the potential money power to bring in modernised agricultural equipment for farming. Allowing them to purchase land will only bring prosperity in the farm sector. The government should take up the matter with the RBI,” he said. The RBI governs the sale of property by NRIs as per the Foreign Exchange Management Act. About poor response from the NRIs to investment in Punjab, he said it was due to the lack of investor-friendly environment in the state. “Under the prevailing red-tapism, getting clearances for new industrial projects is an uphill task, something that is keeping investors away. The power tariff for the industry should also be reduced to encourage investment,” he said. On marital disputes, he said, “Lured by the ‘dollar dream’, youth solemnise marriages without verifying the antecedents of their spouse, which is wrong. There is a need for greater awareness.” He said the state government was in the process of framing a law to check the menace. To be concluded
On wings of fancy
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Leadership vacuum in Cong: CM
Bathinda, January 5 Taking a dig at Rahul, he said one could imagine the “fate of the bus being driven by a novice who has no practical experience in state affairs”. Badal said the Prime Minister’s decision to “hang up his boots” at this juncture was a clear admission of his party’s “imminent defeat” in the General Election. “I personally hold the Prime Minister in the highest esteem, but the UPA Government led by him has failed miserably on various fronts. I have never seen any PM doing so during my entire political career,” he said. In fact, the Centre had nothing to show for in the second innings to seek votes and that was why they were taking irrational decisions, he alleged. “This government will go down in the annals of the history as one that was controlled by extra-constitutional authorities,” he said. The Chief Minister said once the NDA government was in the saddle, “step-motherly” treatment meted out by the Centre to certain states would stop and the country would witness unprecedented growth. He was accompanied by local MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, several senior party leaders and officers of the administration.
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Former DCC chief quits post
Amritsar, January 5 He mentioned Joginder Pal
Dhingra, who has been nominated general secretary, in this regard. He said the PPCC was meant to strengthen the party and “not appease near and dear ones without any mass base.” At least 24 Congress leaders had yesterday expressed unhappinness for inadequate representation to Hindus, SCs and women. They had met Ashwani
Sekhri, AICC secretary, in this connection. They had alleged that those who had contested elections against party candidates during the Vidhan Sabha poll and those who had defected from other parties had been given plum
positions.
More turn rebel
Ferozepur: Three-time DCC president Anoop Singh on Sunday tendered his resignation from the PPCC executive. In a letter sent to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and PPCC chief Pratap Singh Bajwa, he stated that he was upset with the manner in which “loyal soldiers” of the party were being treated. Anoop Singh joined the Congress in 1964 and has occupied key positions in the party hierarchy.
— TNS Bathinda: Former MLA Makhan Singh and Narinder Bhaleria, former president of the DCC-Rural today, tendered their resignation from the PPCC to the party high command. At a press conference here, they alleged that PPCC chief Partap Bajwa had given key posts to his favourites. General secretary, PPCC, Tahal Singh Sandhu, said: “The list includes leaders who have no connection with Bathinda district.”
— TNS
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Puppet office-bearers won’t do, says Rinwa
Fazilka, January 5 Rinwa, addressing a press conference, released a copy of his resignation letter, stating that PPCC general secretary-designate Hans Raj Josan and three-time legislator Mehtab Singh and Kaushal Kumar, who had opposed him during the assembly poll, had been appointed on key posts while senior party workers had been ignored. He alleged that PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa had reduced the party in the state to “Partap Congress”by nominating his “puppets” as office-bearers while ignoring loyal party workers. Rinwa said the state unit had failed to raise issues confronting the common man, especially property tax. Former Chairman of the Zila Parishad Rajinder Kumar Rinwa, president of the block Congress committee, Urban and Rural, Surinder Kalra, and Des Rasj Jandwalia alleged that party observers seldom interacted with party workers at the grassroots level. Hence, the workers felt dejected. During the press conference, Malkeet Singh Hira, Congress candidate from the Jalalabad assembly segment, who lost to Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in 2012, also resigned from the PPCC executive. He declared that along with his supporters, he would sit on an indefinite fast in front of the PPCC office at Chandigarh from January 10. Trouble in Sangrur too Sangrur: Two PPCC executive members from Sangrur district have resigned from their posts. One of them is a two-time former MLA from Dirba while the other is area in charge of the Congress for the Dirba assembly constituency. Surjit Singh Dhiman, who had won from the Dirba assembly constituency in 2002 as an Independent and again in 2007 as the Congress candidate, sent his resignation to Shakeel Ahmed on Sunday, alleging that “seniority in the party has been ignored.” Area in charge of the Congress for Dirba Ajaib Singh Ratolan also sent his resignation as executive member to Shakeel Ahmed. Congress leader Rajwant Singh Ghulli, former vice-chairman of the Congress sports and cultural cell, Punjab, has resigned from the party. He joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at Dhuri on Sunday. He said as a loyal worker, he had been denied his due by the Congress leadership. — TNS
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BJP to chalk out strategy for 3 LS seats
New Delhi, January 5 If the BJP leaves the seat for its ally (SAD), Sidhu may have to be fielded from another seat. In Gurdaspur, the BJP will be fielding cinestar Vinod Khanna once again. In Hoshiarpur, senior leader Vijay Sampla is among the front- runners. Som Prakash, a retired IAS officer, had contested the 2009 elections from Hoshiarpur and lost. He is now Phagwara MLA. Though senior BJP leader JP Nadda refused to comment on the possible seat swap with the SAD, he said Sidhu remained the party’s first choice. “With a clean and honest image, he is an asset for the party and someone who commands respect among the youth,” he said. The party’s state leaders and workers will meet on January 9, 10 and 11 to take stock of the situation and evolve strategies for its three Lok Sabha constituencies. The meeting for the Gurdaspur constituency will be held at Pathankot. The other meetings will be held in Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, say sources.
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13 years on, Amritsar-Pathankot four-laning stuck midway
Gurdaspur, January 5 Former Union Surface Transport Minister BC Khanduri had laid the stone for the project in 2001. It was to be four-laned at a cost of Rs 705 crore. The project envisages five railway under-bridges, 14 vehicle underpasses, five flyovers and 10 bridges (four large and six small). Experts claimed the project plan was faulty, and that accidents were bound to happen once traffic entered Gurdaspur from Pathankot. “No provision for vehicle underpasses has been made in front of Beant College of Engineering and Technology, Institute of Hotel Management, Paniyar sugar mill and the Gurdaspur polytechnic. All these places will be highly accident-prone due to lack of proper planning on the part of the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India),” said an official. The NHAI has handed over the contract for the project to Indian Roads and Bridges, a private construction firm, which has further sublet the work to smaller players. But 13 years down the line, not much headway has been achieved. The highway is full of potholes, something that often leads to accidents as heavy vehicles trying to avoid rough stretches often end up hitting other vehicles. The project was to be completed in July last but the authorities have now ordered its completion by July this year. “Seeing the pace of work, even this deadline is unlikely to be met,” an official associated with the project said. Sources said the NHAI and the Pathankot district administration were always at loggerheads even if issues were trivial. An official said the police and the administration were not co-operating with the NHAI as far as the demolition of structures, coming in the way of road-widening, was concerned. Hanging fire
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Cases of 54 convicts sent to Guv
In all, there were 208 cases of life term convicts, which were under consideration for a premature release. Of these, 58 were rejected and 145 were taken up. The remaining five cases are of TADA convicts who have not completed the mandatory jail term. Under the state government's policy, the Governor, as per 161 Article of the Constitution, is empowered to order the premature release of life term convicts who have completed actual 10 years in jail in murder and other cases. The Chief Minister is empowered to order a premature release under Sections 432 and 433 of the CrPC of convicts who have completed their actual jail term of 14 years. Under the government's policy, life term is considered imprisonment for 20 years. Usually, all the convicts undergoing jail term apply through jail superintendents or send a direct appeal to the Governor and Chief Minister for a premature release on the completion of the actual 10 years of their term. There cannot be premature release in rape and NDPS cases. Sources said the Home Department, which had processed the 54 case files separately, had recommended a premature release of only those convicts whose conduct remained satisfactory while in jail and on parole. In certain cases sent to the Governor, the Home Department has not recommended the premature release of the convicts concerned. It is mandatory for the Home Department to give its opinion that whether the convict who has completed the mandatory jail term should be released or not. Normally, sources said, the Governors in past had been following recommendations of the Home Department except in cases of extraordinary nature. The issue came into focus following an indefinite fast started by Gurbakash Singh Khalsa to seek the premature release of six Sikh detainees from various jails. Khalsa ended his fast on December 27 after these detainees were released on parole for some weeks.
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Turkey farming comes a cropper
Even after nine years of the launch of this project from Patiala and Ropar districts where 10 birds each were given to many farmers, the government has failed to motivate the agriculturists to opt for turkey farming in a big way. The Punjabis have also failed to develop taste for turkey meat. The birds are reared either by NRIs or owners of huge landholdings mostly as a hobby and to relish turkey meat on Christmas, New Year’s Eve and certain other occasions celebrated in Punjab. Poultry experts claim the project failed as in the absence of its own hatchery, the Punjab Government was procuring chicks from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatpur, Uttar Pradesh. A turkey chick does not feed on its own, which leads to high mortality rate. The farmers have to feed them manually for initial three weeks. The marketing of turkey meat is another problem, claims Gunraj Singh, a Hoshiarpur-based progressive farmer who owns over two dozen turkeys. But, the farming is commercially more rewarding than conventional poultry as its food conversion ratio is 4:1. This means after gulping 4 kg of feed, it gains 1 kg weight, says Paramjit Singh Maan, Inspector (poultry division) at the Animal Husbandry Department, Jalandhar. The bird is ready for sale in the market at the age of 12 weeks as it gains a weight of 6 kg (cock) and 4 kg (hen). A bird weighing 5 kg to 6 kg is in high demand in star-rated hotels in metro cities as turkey meat (white) is healthier than chicken and red meat. The protein content is higher, fat content low and it contains high good cholesterol, says Maan. Having a life span of 10 years, a hen lays a clutch of 75 to 80 eggs (weighing 85 gm to 90 gm) in a year. Dr Iqbal Singh Josan, Assistant Director, Poultry, Jalandhar, claims there has been no supply of chicks from Izzatpur in the last two years due to technical reasons, which hampered the turkey farming project in Punjab.
About the project
Rearing a problem
Healthy alternative
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Floriculture takes a hit as temperature dips
Bathinda, January 5 A shortage of flowers had led to a rise in the prices. While growers and buyers suffered, the middlemen made the most of the prevailing conditions, they said Karnail Singh, Director, Horticulture Department, said rain in certain parts of the state had brought some respite from frost. He said the progressive farmers who ventured into floriculture on a commercial scale had sown flower under net farming or in polyhouses where the crop was not affected much. Marigold growers said the flower which was available for Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg few days ago was now being sold at Rs 100 per kg. Out of the total 2110 hectares under floriculture in Punjab, 315 hectares is in Patiala district and 17 hectares in Bathinda. Both the districts produce 125 tonnes seed every year. “Though frost affects the tender crop every year, the effect is severe this year. Farmers who adopted net farming have managed to save their produce,” said Kanwarpal Singh Lali of Bathinda. Lali has been growing flowers for two years. His crop in over two acres has been damaged due to frost. Dev Satya, who has a farm on the Dabwali road, said his flowers worth more than Rs 1 lakh had been damaged. The state produces 10,377 tonnes of different flower seed every year. Besides marigold, gladiolus, chrysanthemum, rose, gerbera, tuberose and motia are also grown in various districts.
Prices of marigold soar as demand rises
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Rice millers demand security fee refund
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 5 Nakesh Jindal, press secretary of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, said despite the standing instructions of Director, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, the procurement agencies have failed to refund the amount deposited with them. Even though it has been agreed in principle that the procurement agencies should not retain the security fee of more than two years, the agencies had not refunded the money for the last five years, he said. Jindal said the rice millers had deposited Rs 1.5 lakh per tonne with the total capacity of millers in the state being 10,000 metric tonnes. He said the millers were in a financial crunch as the agencies had rejected their consignments due to the rice being damaged. Jindal said the millers were also facing difficulties in paying their employees. He said since the staff was moving to other rice producing states, the millers would not be able to supply the rice by the deadline of March 31.
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Former Mayor Sharma’s aides skip Preneet’s tea party
Sources said the local MP had invited most party leaders to the tea party “ to discuss the party scenario in the district” ahead of the parliamentary elections. At least 20 former councillors and Congress leaders decided not to attend the tea party and held a meeting with Sharma. It is learnt that the MP had personally invited Sharma and former Senior Deputy Mayor Kabir Dass over the phone along with 16 other local leaders. Sharma has reportedly become a rallying figure for all those disgruntled with Capt Amarinder Singh or Preneet Kaur. “Local Congress leaders have been feeling sidelined ever since the last municipal corporation elections,” Vishnu told The Tribune. “We decided to skip the MP’s tea
party as there were several issues that needed to be discussed in detail,” he said. Some ex-councillors complained that many “juniors” were being given undue importance while senior leaders were being “ignored”. When contacted, Preneet Kaur said those who had not turned up for the tea party should introspect as “they were the ones to derive the maximum benefit during the Congress regime” She said with parliamentary elections round the corner, all Congress men should unite and ensure the party’s win instead of raising a banner of revolt. “ I hold ill-feelings against none and all matters can be resolved within the party amicably, “ she added.
Rumblings within
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Abandoned elderly find solace at Sangrur old age home
Sangrur, January 5 These elderly people were either abandoned by their children/relatives or they have no one to look after them. Gurcharan Singh (70) and Gurdial Singh (75) are all praise for the Pingalwara authorities. “They provide us with the care and comfort that we need at this stage of our life,” said Mata Jaswant Kaur (85) from Haryana. Rajesh Kumar, in charge of the home, says some of these elderly persons may have relatives but no one comes here to meet them. “They consider this as their home. We provide them bed tea, breakfast, lunch and dinner, besides milk daily. They are also examined and treated by the medical staff periodically.” Until now, over 40 elderly persons have stayed here before shifting to other places. Out of them, seven elderly persons were shifted to Pingalwara’s old-age home at Amritsar while the remaining went back to their homes. The old age home was built at a cost of Rs 30 lakh and inaugurated by Sunder Lal Bahuguna, founder of ‘Chipko Andolan’, on March 29, 2003. The home has 14 single-bed rooms and 10 double-bed rooms. About the home
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MP announces project to boost biogas power generation
Nawanshahr, January 5 He said this while addressing a public gathering at Gau Dhaam village, Chandpur Rurki, after inaugurating the first biogas power generation plant there. The 25-KV plant has been set up at a cost of Rs 23.50 lakh. Khanna released a sum of Rs 15.10 lakh from his MP Local Area Development Fund and the remaining amount was spent by PEDA. Two more biogas power generation plants - one each at Garshanker and Hoshiarpur - were being set up, said Khanna. He said cowdung was available at gaushalas in abundance and biogas power generation plants would ensure its optimum utilisation. Swami Krishna Nand, president, All-India Gau Sewa Mission, while lauding the initiative of the MP, assured full cooperation in setting up of the projects at
gaushalas. Power unit launched
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Rs 10 lakh aid for acid attack victim’s kin, job for brother
Barnala, January 5 Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa gave a cheque for Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the Punjab Government as financial assistance to the deceased’s family. Commissioner Police, Ludhiana, Nirmal Singh Dhillon also handed over a draft for Rs 5 lakh to the family. Dhindsa also announced a job for Harpreet’s brother at the Suwidha Centre in Barnala. He assured the bereaved family that the government would do the needful for getting justice in the case. Among others present at the bhog ceremony were Chief Parliamentary Secretary Balbir Singh Ghunas, Deputy Commissioner Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu, Barnala Senior Superintendent of Police Upinderjit Singh Ghuman SGPC member Paramjit Singh Khalsa and state president of Inqulabi Kendra Narayan Dutt. Harpreet was attacked allegedly at the intance of the estranged wife of the groom’s elder brother.
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Depot holders to protest in Chandigarh on Jan 8
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 5 He said they had decided to continue their strike till the government conceded to their “genuine” demands. He said due to implementation of the Food Security Bill, they were supposed to supply ration to a vast number of people. This, he said, would mean higher overhead expenditure. They were thus demanding the reimbursement of shop rent, stationery, power bills and salary of helper, besides an increase in commission.
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Residential complex inaugurated for Armymen
Fazilka, January 5 Major General YT Jain, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Amogh Division, and Brigadier RS Dadwal, Commander, Fazilka military station, besides family members of 300 officers and jawans were also present on the occasion. Sources said 247 residential quarters for families had been constructed at the cost of Rs 38 crore in the past two years. The newly constructed accommodation complex has been named after Vir Chakra Havildar Gangadhar of 4 Jat Regiment, who attained martyrdom during the 1971 Indo-Pak war in Fazilka sector. Gangadhar was conferred with gallantry award posthumously for his heroic act of bravery during the war. The corps commander also inspected the quality of the new complex and dedicated it to the jawans and families residing in Fazilka military station.
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Cancel food inspector test, says Khaira
Jalandhar, January 5 As many as 1.93 lakh unemployed youth had applied by paying a “hefty” application fee, he said. “A large number of candidates could not appear due to mismanagement on part of the government,” he alleged.
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The broom effect
The broom, which is the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) poll symbol, seems to be on every politician’s mind these days. A Congress leader, known to be a rabble-rouser, was heard saying at a press conference in Ludhiana that the broom swept away Congress seats in Delhi. However, in the very next breath, he credited God for scripting AAP’s win, alluding that AAP won the polls by fluke. Another Congress leader, in his offensive against the state Congress leadership, referred to AAP’s success while buttressing his argument. “If we are to give a befitting fight to AAP, we have to bring in leaders with a clean image.” However, a senior BJP leader and former minister chose to dismiss AAP and said this was a transitional phase in the Indian polity. Razor sharp wit
Around a week ago, an NGO held a protest against an officer at the zonal meeting of a government department at Circuit House in Ludhiana. It was attended by state-level officers and a minister. As the vehicle of the minister stopped, the NGO activists began raising slogans against the officer concerned while holding his effigy. The politician immediately quipped, “The officer against whom you are protesting is very handsome. At least, you should have made a better effigy of him.” Hearing this, the activists couldn’t help but burst out into laughter.
Prominent Ludhiana dentist Vivek Saggar has made the state proud by winning the all-India Famdent “Outstanding Dentist of the year” Award. Dr Saggar’s claim of a strong correlation between gum health and hearth attacks on account of inflammation of blood vessels has been vindicated through medical research. Out of nine finalists, shortlisted from over 500 dentists from across the country, Dr Saggar was the only finalist from north of Delhi. Saggar added another feather in his cap by bagging the Special Jury Award on having the Clinic Of The Year. These national awards were adjudicated by a jury of 13 well-known dentists of India.
Setting an example
Politicians are often seen vying to get red beacons but Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rahul Tewari couldn’t care less. He can often be seen on the streets either on foot or on a bicycle. Known to be a fitness freak, he says, “I don't make a fuss about security arrangements. I love to take a brisk walk on the streets to keep myself fit. Besides, it also helps me get a firsthand account of the problems being faced by city residents.” He further took a dig at politicians, adding they too should follow suit and get closer to the people, whom they represent.
Balancing act
Though Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Partap Bajwa seems to be under fire in most areas in the Gurdaspur Parliamentary Constituency, the situation seems to be perfectly in control in Pathankot district. Recently, a new District Congress Committee (DCC) was formed in Pathankot and Bajwa appointed his blue-eyed boy Anil Vij as the new DCC president. However, at the same time he has managed to keep the other aspirants for the post happy. Frontrunner Raman Bhalla was made Treasurer and Bajwa’s other loyalists were given decent posts.
— Contributed by Mina Zutshi, Anupam Bhagria, Sarbjit Dhaliwal, Puneet Pal Singh Gill, Ravi Dhaliwal
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Pension fund embezzled, two suspended
Bathinda, January 5 Deputy Commissioner Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal told The Tribune that he had directed the Tarn Taran SDM to probe the matter and submit a report within 15 days. He said action would be initiated against the duo on the basis of the magisterial probe. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director, Social Security Department, said the accused, Jagtar Singh, a clerk at Naushera Pannuan in Tarn Taran district, and peon Sarban Singh, had been suspended. “I have asked the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner to register a criminal case against them,” he said. A phone call on December 23, 2013, regarding clearance of a Rs 1.65 lakh cheque from Punjab National Bank exposed the embezzlement. Kamaljit Kaur, District Social Security Officer, who attended the call, got suspicious since the department had its account in the SBI. She later discovered that the PNB account was “bogus”. She also found that the account was opened by Jagtar Singh to embezzle old-age pension funds. He had forged the signatures of former District Social Security Officer Avinash Kumar to open the bogus account. In connivance with peon Sarban Singh, Jagtar Singh would allegedly collect all undistributed or returned cheques/drafts of the pension scheme from village panchayats and put these in the bogus account. Succeeding in keeping the department officials in the dark, Jagtar Singh siphoned off
Rs 70 lakh through 250 cheques/drafts over a period of two-and-a-half years. He allegedly gave Rs 14 lakh to the peon out of the this amount. Kamaljit Kaur said Jagtar Singh had confessed to the crime during preliminary inquiry. “We have got the bank accounts of Jagtar Singh and Sarban Singh sealed and recovered Rs 13 lakh from the bogus account,” she added. Rs 70 lakh scandal
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Harassed by ‘transport mafia’, BJP leader attempts suicide
Notably, Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Jakhar had written to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal last month that some “criminals” enjoying shelter from ruling politicians and the administration had vitiated the social environment and such sharks were trying their best to swallow small fish in the profession of
goods transport. He had urged the Chief Minister to take strict measures to check the menace. Jakhar had said transport mafia was recovering “jazia” from poor operators illegally and had indulged in violence several times but the administration had failed to check such activities. Official sources said Gurjit, a former president of the Shiv Shakti Pick-Up Union, has blamed seven persons, including a controversial fruit marketer, for taking the extreme step. In the hand-written suicide note, he alleged that he was removed from the post of union president forcefully to accommodate someone else even as most of the members of the union did not agree to it. As he was to be “rehabilitated” in the office on Friday, seven persons intercepted him to prevent it. He was allegedly thrashed and his clothes were torn off. The miscreants made a video and threatened to upload it on Internet. Punjab State Social Welfare Board chairperson and former state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha Vijay Laxmi Bhadoo visited the hospital to enquire about his health this evening. The police visited the hospital for inquiry. Suicide note
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ASI killed, three injured in accident
Abohar, January 5 The mishap took place when head constable Jagdip Singh who was driving the vehicle reportedly lost control over it due to fog. Sources said the victims included members of a CIA staff team based in Patiala. They were on their way to Suratgarh to nab alleged narcotics smuggler Gulzar Khan. The victims were rushed to the Suratgarh Civil Hospital. ASI Rohi Ram was declared brought dead. Those injured have been identified as head constable Jagdip Singh of Ghagga (Patiala), Raju of Balra (Munak) and Banta Singh Ramgarhia of Chanderpur (Fatehabad).
— OC
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Six arrested with narcotics
Hoshiarpur, January 5 The Dasuya police arrested Satpal Singh of Dagana and recovered 8-gm heroine from him. An FIR was lodged against him under Sections 22, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The Mehtiana police have arrested Gian Chand of Hukumatpur with 2.5 kg of poppy husk, Malkiat Singh of Khanaura with 4.5 kg of poppy husk
and Mangat Ram of Harta with 10 kg of poppy husk. Separate FIRs under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act were lodged against them. The Hajipur police have arrested Daleep Kumar
of Budhawar and Harwinder Pal of Chanaur from near the crematorium in Pakhnooh village while they were consuming smack. An FIR was lodged against them under Sections 27, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.
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Moga, January 5
Jalandhar, January 5
Gill said there were several other issues pertaining to the community that needed to be addressed at the earliest. He said the restriction imposed on the NRIs for purchasing agricultural land in India should be lifted. 
Chandigarh, January 5
Jalandhar, January 5
Patiala, January 5
Abohar, January 5