|
|
|
|
|
Punjab Diaspora Special:
nri sammelan Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the NRI
Sammelan at Anandpur Sahib on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari |
|
|
Soon, platform for US Sikhs keen to invest in state
Deserted wives feel let down
NRI engineer reinvents sewage disposal at his native village
To nail Majithia, Cong plans CM’s house gherao, relay fast
party workers’
meet
BJP state chief Kamal Sharma and other leaders at a meeting in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
AAP to contest all 13 LS seats
Hospitals on alert to tackle swine flu
Faridkot religious structure on govt land kicks up row
Press Council backs EC campaign against paid news
PCI chairman Markandey Katju (extreme right) holds a meeting in Amritsar on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
PIMS society told to provide road map
Fruit, vegetables key to diversification: PAU
ETT teachers block road for two hours Fog delays flight by 9 hrs
Kuldip Singh takes oath as HC judge
Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul administers oath to Kuldip Singh in Chandigarh on Friday. A Tribune photograph
High Court raps police for encroachment
HC upholds govt policy to regularise marriage halls
Ludhiana man facing
TADA charges acquitted
Dera head, aide booked for rape
|
|
Soon, platform for US Sikhs keen to invest in state
The idea behind setting up SACC was to help open business opportunities for American Sikhs in the local, national and international markets. However, the chamber realised that most Sikh Americans were looking at establishing business in India as a way of connecting to their roots. Hence, the Indian chapter of SAAC was conceived which will be
formally launched here on Sunday. Talking to The Tribune, Manipal Dhariwal, chapter president, said most non- Resident Indian businessmen were wary of investing in India. This was not just because of red-tapism but also because of the fear of being duped. “But all this now looks to change, especially since the Punjab Government has taken a pro-active approach in inviting industrial investment. As true Punjabis, we decided to cash in on the new buzz and help Sikh Americans start their business ventures here,” he said. Dhariwal, who has established his IT business in the city, participated in the NRI Sammelan at Anandpur Sahib today. He said the aim of SACC was not just to become a platform for NRIs. “We are a community of right thinking individuals and will help Indians set up ventures in the US. We are also providing help to Indian students in getting admission in top-notch American universities.” Dhariwal said that SACC had set up a corpus to build an entrepreneur development cell in Punjab for American Sikhs. “We will also provide them with legal counselling and help them coordinate with the Punjab Government for getting necessary clearances. “As the chapter establishes itself, we could have a venture capital fund,” he said. To being with, they were looking at investment in the agriculture, IT, medical tourism
and health sectors, Dhariwal added.
|
|||||
|
Deserted wives feel let down
The privilege card scheme entitles NRIs to a 10 per cent preferential allotment in PUDA colonies and industrial estates. The government is also offering reservation for NRI wards in over 1,000 educational institutions. “Where is the need to provide special privileges to NRIs? Most of them are offenders as they have deserted us after marriage. We are the ones, who need government support, as along with our husbands the society too abandons us,” said Jasdeep Kaur, whose husband deserted her along with her one-year-old son in 2011. Thirty-year-old Avinash Kaur from Mohali, who too was abandoned by an NRI, said, “Fighting long court battles has drained my finances. I am isolated as the society does not take very kindly to an abandoned wife. I need all the support I can get to raise my children.” From launching NRI banks to NRI police stations and a special court at Jalandhar, the state government has rolled out various schemes to woo the NRIs. But, not a single programme has been set up for these women. Although, NRI police stations do register their complaints but cannot provide any relief to them as the stations do not have extra territorial jurisdiction. Kuljinder Mangat from Amritsar said, “The war widows in the state sometimes get a sewing machine to earn a living. But, we are not offered any support to rebuild our tattered lives.” She has applied for a loan to start a small business to support her five-year-old daughter several times, but to no avail.
|
|||||
|
NRI engineer reinvents sewage disposal at his native village
Sanghe Khalsa (Jalandhar), January 10 Having retired from his own construction company abroad, he is now using his technical know-how in helping the rural populace develop rainwater harvesting systems, sewage facilities and treatment plants. Singh is encouraging villagers to use the treated water for irrigation and domestic purposes. His techniques involve a lot of innovation. At least eight deputy commissioners have toured the village to learn about the technology used in his projects and apply it elsewhere. Old wells in the village have been converted into rainwater soaking pits which are used to recharge groundwater. There are separate channels for sewage draining which converge at low-lying land where filters have been installed. From here, water is further pumped into treatment tanks with an outlet pipe that is laid across the village so anyone can use the treated water. A pond used as sewage disposal site has been filled with earth and the site is being developed as a public park. The project has helped the village overcome several problems. Nirmal Singh said, “The stink from the pond has gone. There are no mosquitoes. Earlier, I used to bring repellant creams along, but these are not required anymore. However, the biggest achievement is that the technique has helped conserve groundwater.”
|
|||||
|
To nail Majithia, Cong plans CM’s house gherao, relay fast
Majithia (Amritsar), January 10 Speaking to a section of the media while being produced in a Mohali court recently, druglord and suspended Punjab Police Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdish Singh Bhola had alleged Majithia’s involvement in the trade. Bajwa was here to meet PPCC general secretary Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli, who was injured during a lathicharge on Congress workers a few days ago. The PPCC chief said the party would resort to a three-hour blockade on January 16. He said in case their demand was not met by then, the party would launch a relay hunger strike from January 21. He said the Congress would also gherao the residence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on January 20, demanding Majithia’s expulsion from the Cabinet and registration of an FIR against him. Seeking the intervention of Akal Takht Jathedar and Sant Samaj, he appealed to various parties to rise above political affiliations to save Punajb from the drug menace. “Why is the Chief Minister not handing over the probe to the CBI? If Majithia has done no wrong, he will definitely walk out clean,” he said. But, the clean chit given by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini was “unfortunate”, he said. Bajwa said the party would make the alleged patronage by the SAD-BJP government to drug traffickers its main poll issue during the next Lok Sabha elections. Protests persist Abohar: Congress workers on Friday burnt an effigy of Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on the Abohar-Malout national highway near Balluana village to protest against the clean chit given by the Deputy Chief Minister and the DGP to him in the multi-crore drug haul case. Demand for CBI probe Jalandhar: Congress workers, including members of the Punjab Mahila Congress, burnt an effigy of Cabinet Minister Bikram Majithia in Jalandhar and Nadala (Kapurthala) demanding a CBI inquiry into the drug racket. Mahila Congress workers in Jalandhar were led by Dr Malti Thapar and in Nadala by Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira. ‘Sack Majithia’ Nawanshahr: Several Congress leaders, including MLA Gur Iqbal Kaur Babli, PPCC general secretary Kuldip Rana and DCC chief Dharam Pal Bangar burnt an effigy of Bikram Majithia here on Friday. The protesters demanded sacking of Majithia and a CBI probe into the allegations levelled against him.
|
|||||
|
Ex-DGP Kant alleges kidnap bid by police
Chandigarh, January 10 Shashi Kant was about to leave for an Aam Aadmi Party — he joined the party today — rally in Fatehgarh Sahib when he reportedly noticed the policemen near his house. He called up the Chandigarh Police. The policemen were detained and let off after questioning. The former DGP claimed he had got threats earlier too for speaking against the drug mafia operating in Punjab allegedly in connivance with certain government functionaries. “If something happens to me or my family, the onus will lie on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his deputy Sukhbir Badal and Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia,” he said. He alleged the government had been illegally tapping his phone to keep tabs on his activities. “I will soon hold a press conference to highlight the wrongdoings of the government and its role in the drug trade,” he said. Punjab ADGP Dinkar Gupta, in statement, said the policemen had gone to Sector 18 for investigation in another case. Gupta, who along with Jasminder Singh (ADGP, Crime) met Kant at his residence, refuted the kidnapping charge as false.
Punjab Police rubbish allegation Chandigarh SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said a daily diary report (DDR) had been registered and an investigation had been initiated. The Punjab Police, however, denied any attempt to kidnap the former DGP (Jails). AAP, Congress announce support AAP national executive member Sanjay Singh said the party would launch an agitation against the Punjab Government if party member Shashi Kant was implicated in any false case for speaking against the drug cartel. In Majithia, PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa too announced support for the former
DGP.
|
|||||
|
Majha leaders defend Revenue Minister
Gurdaspur, January 10 Former Cabinet Ministers Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Sucha Singh
Langah, Ravi Karan Kahlon, newly appointed Chairman of the Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation, and former Qadian MLA and Batala halqa in charge LS Lodhinangal have come to the minister's rescue. These former ministers, designated as halqa chiefs, have often been at loggerheads and waged "turf wars". Sekhwan claimed that Bhola was "lying at the behest of some senior Congress
leaders." Sekhwan, halqa chief of the Qadian Vidhan Sabha seat said: "The PPCC chief should assess his own
conduct.” Langah, Dera Baba Nanak halqa in charge, claimed that Majithia was clean and so did Ravi Karan
Kahlon, son of ex-Speaker Nirmal Kahlon.
|
|||||
party workers’
meet
Amritsar, January 10 Talking to The Tribune here today after chairing a party workers' meeting, Sharma said Sidhu had won the elections from Amritsar thrice on the BJP ticket and was the best bet for the party from there. He denied any comment on speculations about Sidhu getting the party ticket from a Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. As BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and Navjot Sidhu could not make it on time here due to foggy weather at the Delhi airport, the meeting of the state BJP's core group got delayed. They, however, landed in the city in the evening. Sidhu said he couldn’t even think of contesting the Lok Sabha elections from any other constituency as he could not betray the trust of people of Amritsar. Sharma said 197 out of 204 Shakti Kendra in charges of the BJP from the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency had attended it. He said Ram Lal was on a two-day visit to the state to deliberate on the party's strategy for the Lok Sabha elections in the three constituencies from where it contests i.e. Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. He said similar meetings would be held in the other two constituencies. He said no political issues were discussed in the meeting, which focused on organisational matters. Sharma and top state party leaders, including Cabinet Ministers Madan Mohan Mittal and Chunni Lal Bhagat, also attended a Lohri party hosted by state party vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina. Chhina is also being seen as one of the contenders for the BJP ticket from
the Amritsar seat.
|
|||||
|
AAP to contest all 13 LS seats
Jalandhar/Fatehgarh Sahib, January 10 There was a sea of white AAP caps at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall in Jalandhar. At least 1,000 persons filled their membership forms. Addressing a gathering, Sanjay Singh said AAP’s aim was to rescue the people from dynasty rule. “We will go to the homes of those with a clean image and request them to join the party,” he said. He said the party would focus on the issues of drug menace, high power rates, property taxes and inadequate crop prices. Sanjay said he preferred a judicial probe into druglord Bhola’s accusations against Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia as the “CBI’s role has been suspect in many investigations.”
Poor show at rally
|
|
Hospitals on alert to tackle swine flu
Ludhiana, January 10 State nodal officer for swine flu Dr Deepak Bhatia said, “We have asked officials to appoint nodal officers for H1N1 and keep rapid response teams (RRTs) ready. The RRTs should be able to investigate suspected cases and provide treatment to people infected with swine flu.” He said all ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) patients should be examined in a separate and specified area and checked on priority to avoid transmission of infection. “Hospital staff has been asked to keep their ventilators functional and ensure sufficient stock of medicines and masks, besides logistics regarding H1N1 such as Oseltamivir, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits and VTM (Viral Transmission Media) bottles,” Dr Bhatia said. For conformation, samples of suspected patients should be sent to the Department of Virology, PGI, Chandigarh. The department has been asked to run awareness campaigns with focus on schoolchildren. The District Education Officers would be given copies of guidelines on swine flu to be distributed to school principals. District nodal officer for swine flu Dr Anil Verma said: “We have informed all hospitals to stay alert and keep isolated wards for suspected swine flu patients. In all, 17 private hospitals in the district have been instructed in this regards.”
Symptoms
|
||
|
Faridkot religious structure on govt land kicks up row
Faridkot, January 10 Citing a Supreme Court judgment of January 18, 2013, that banned encroachments on roads, pavements and sideways by way of raising religious structures or installing statues of public figures, the administration warned the leaders to stop the construction or face legal action. A few days ago, a saw mill owner had allegedly encroached on public land in Jeewan Nagar. Following an agitation, the encroachment was removed. Later, another controversy erupted when members of a political party installed an idol of a deity there. Giving two hoots to the objection by the Municipal Committee and the district administration, former BJP Rajya Sabha member Bibi Gurcharan Kaur laid the foundation stone of the religious structure on January 5. The construction is underway and the administration is video-recording it for legal action against the leaders. “Legal action against the encroachers has started,” Kotkapura Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Harjit Singh Sandhu said. Gurcharan Kaur said since the construction of the religious structure was a sensitive issue, the administration should not be strict.
|
||
|
Press Council backs EC campaign against paid news
Amritsar, January 10 He was here to hold a meeting on various issues. While talking to mediapersons after the conclusion of the meeting, Katju said the ECI had constituted a committee to curb the trend of paid news and the PCI was supporting it over the matter. He, however, did not commit that the final policy would be out before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Established in 1978 by an Act “for the purpose of preserving the freedom
of the press and maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India”, the PCI is a
statutory body. Katju said another vital matter discussed was safety and security of journalists while discharging their duty. He said reports of threat to security of reporters and even their killings had been reported in various parts of the country. He said the
PCI was "earnestly" taking up the matter with the government. He will be felicitated by Akal Takht tomorrow for supporting the clemency plea of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a death
row convict.
|
||
|
PIMS society told to provide road map
Chandigarh, January 10 The letter stated that salaries had been partially released to employees over the past week and the remaining wages would be disbursed on February 2, that the doctors had called off their strike, teaching classes had been resumed and regular OPD services in the hospital restored. It said efforts were being made to resolve the issue of pending salaries of Class IV employees and to start admitting patients at the earliest. The governing body unanimously decided that the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences society be told to provide a detailed road map with regard to
the institute.
|
||
|
Fruit, vegetables key to diversification: PAU
Hoshiarpur, January 10 “The PAU has identified niche areas of production of fruit and vegetables,” he said during a seminar on production and post-harvest handling of fruit and vegetables at Fruit Research Station at Gangian in the district today. The Directorate of Extension Education, PAU, organised the seminar. Dr Dhillon asked farmers to adopt methods developed by the PAU for enhanced production while preserving natural resources. Kulwant Singh Ahluwalia, member of the board of management, PAU, stressed on the processing of agro-produce. “Only 8 per cent of agricultural produce is processed in India, while in Thailand 35% of produce is processed,” he said, adding that the PAU was working on developing seedless kinnow.
|
|
Kuldip Singh takes oath as HC judge
Chandigarh, January 10 At a simple yet impressive ceremony attended by sitting and retired judges of the high court, bureaucrats and advocates, Justice Kuldip Singh swore to "bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established". He also swore to "uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India" and "duly, faithfully and
to the best of ability, knowledge and judgment, perform the duties of the office without fear
or favour, affection and ill-will". The elevation came less than a fortnight after the appointment of Justice Arun Palli and Justice HS Sidhu as high court judges. With Justice Kuldip Singh’s elevation, the number of judges in the high court has gone up to 48 against the sanctioned strength of 68.
|
|
|
Abohar people rejoice over Justice Singh’s elevation to HC
Abohar, January 10 He was born on August 16, 1957. Singh’s parents had settled here in 1966. His father Pritam Singh served in the Revenue Department. Singh received primary education from the government school outside Nehru Park. After completing B Ed, Singh did law from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He was selected as the sub judge and posted in Bathinda in 1983. Later, he served as the District and Sessions Judge at several places.
|
|
|
High Court raps police for encroachment
Chandigarh, January 10 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has not only rapped them for “highhandedness” but also imposed an amount of Rs 5 lakh. Directions have also been issued to Fatehgarh Sahib District Collector to ensure the handing over of the possession to the petitioners in accordance with their share within four weeks. The admonition by Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik came on a petition filed by Bhushan Lal Gupta and others. They were seeking directions for opening the lock put on the gate of their property. Justice Malik asserted: “This is yet another glaring example of highhandedness of the state authorities, claiming adverse possession to justify their illegal possession on the property of the petitioners and that too for an inordinate period of more than 51 years. It does not behove the state authorities and that too the Police Department to illegally occupy the property of any citizen as has been done in the present case.”
|
|
|
HC upholds govt policy to regularise marriage halls
Chandigarh, January 10 The development is significant as the petitioners had challenged the amended policy, which came into force in January last year. Taking up the matter, the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Surinder Gupta held that the amendments carried out by the state in its policy were keeping in mind public interest. As per the amended policy, revised increased fee, which palace owners claimed were exorbitant, would have to be paid. Besides, suitable parking space would have to be carbed out. — TNS
|
|
|
Ludhiana man facing
TADA charges acquitted
Ludhiana, January 10 According to the prosecution, on April 2, 1992, some Armymen were returning to the Rara Sahib camp after patrolling. When their convoy reached Lehal government school at 11 pm, they were fired upon. The Armymen retaliated but the assailants fled. Three soldiers, Kartik Raj, MD Mohammad and Kamal Neog, were injured. They died at the military hospital in Halwara. Four military officials, who appeared before the court, said they were unable to identify the attackers. A witness, Nirmal Singh, turned hostile.
|
|
Dera head, aide booked for rape
Hoshiarpur, January 10 After entering the Sant’s room, he locked the door from inside and tried to rape her. When she raised the alarm, he threatened her to keep quiet or else he would kill her family. She told her parents about the incident later. The police have booked Sant Sarup Hari and his aide Balbir Singh under Sections 376, 120-B, 506, 342 and 511 of the
IPC.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
With only negligible foreign investment coming to Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, addressing the NRI Sammelan here today, said the entire exercise would be worth the effort even if one major project came to Punjab every year.
As many as 450 delegates from 15 countries
participated.
Chandigarh, January 10
BJP state chief Kamal Sharma today said MP Navjot Singh Sidhu was a competent candidate of the party from the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency for the coming General Election.
The Press Council of India (PCI) will write to the Election Commission of India
(ECI) to lend complete support to curb the menace of paid news in print media, said its chairman Justice Markandey Katju here today.
Fatehgarh Sahib District and Sessions Judge Kuldip Singh was today administered oath as Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan
Kaul.
The oath-taking ceremony was shown live on huge screens across the court in
a first-of-its-kind display.
Chandigarh, January 10
Jalandhar, January 10
