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Cash-starved govt in a fix as RBI changes norms for raising funds
Learn from Sangat Darshan: CM to Kejri
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operation
bluestar
Factionalism to fore as YAD leaders clash during protest
Rajpura farmers demand land back
Cong link Dhindsas’ relative to Dawood
Congress ‘chakka jam’ protest today
BSP bid to stop BJP’s ‘samman yatra’ foiled
Moga MLA trying to take control of truck union: SAD leader
Verka finds support against CBI probe
SGPC panel submits report on Patna clash
Bhola now in Phagwara police custody
PSPCL-NHAI tug of war delays widening of road
PSEB secy’s selection caught in row
Milkha Singh’s statue to be unveiled at Ludhiana village
Govt-aided school teachers’ demands under review: Maluka
Unemployed ETT teachers block roads in Barnala
59 licences cancelled, 123 cases registered under PNDT Act: Jyani
Theatre artistes campaign against female foeticide
GNDU to fund research in Canadian institutions
How many errant cops penalised, HC asks state
Missing girl returns, alleges rape
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Cash-starved govt in a fix as RBI changes norms for raising funds
Chandigarh, January 15 Sources in the Finance Department told The Tribune that the state had already exhausted its ways and means advances (WMA) limit of Rs 360 crore and had now gone in an overdraft of Rs 500 crore. As a result, the state treasury had been asked not to release any money as of now. The bills that have been held back pertain to withdrawals from general provident fund, medical bills, travelling allowance and retirement benefits. Sources in the government treasury told The Tribune that even bills pertaining to release of 30 per cent arrears (granted by the Fifth Pay Commission) of employees, which were deposited with the treasury after December 10, have not been cleared. All other bills, including medical, too are pending for more than a month. “The instructions have been given verbally. Initially, we were asked to slow down the release of payments, but now we have been asked not to release any payment till further instructions,” said an official in the Punjab Treasury’s Office. The main reason for the state having gone into an overdraft is that the RBI has changed its norms for market borrowings for this month. Though states were allowed to raise capital from the market by auctioning its 10-year state development loans on the first and 15th of every month, this month, the RBI has asked Punjab to float its state development loans on January 15 and 29. “This has led to a delay in getting Rs 600 crore that the state gets in the beginning of the month through market borrowings. But once, the market borrowings are done, we will be in a comfortable position,” said a senior official in the Finance Department. It is learnt that Punjab had started releasing the remaining 30 per cent arrears (of new pay scales) to its employees in November. However, only some employees have got the payment. The government has to clear all arrears before the end of this fiscal. With the state’s revenue (both VAT and stamp duty collections) showing a slow growth, it seems that the state’s financial condition would continue to remain precarious.
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Learn from Sangat Darshan: CM to Kejri
Muktsar, January 15 Addressing a gathering during his Sangat Darshan programme in Lambi today, the Chief Minister said Kejriwal had failed because this interactive programme could be successfully held by only those public representatives who were well aware of the problems of the masses. "There is a huge difference between a Sangat Darshan and a Janta Darbar as in the former public representatives go to the people whereas in the latter people go to the rulers," said Badal. Taking a strong exception to the nomenclature of Janta Darbar, he said a darbar was held by the king whereas in democracy Sangat Darshans were conducted for a prompt solution to public grievances. He claimed that it was on record that every programme of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was more or less an emulation of the policies and programmes of the SAD. Badal lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government, calling it the "most corrupt and inefficient ever". Earlier at Ghumiara village, the Chief Minister gave a cash prize of Rs 5,000 to a student, Beant Kaur, who had also received Rs 30,000 under Dr Hargobind Khurana Scholarship Scheme. At Roranwali village, some Congress workers joined the Akali
Dal.
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operation
bluestar
Amritsar, January 15 In a statement released here today, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Raman, who authored the book, ‘The Kaoboys of R&AW’, published in 2007, has revealed in his chapter, “The Khalistani Terrorism” (Page 96), that on the request of RN Kao, the then special adviser to the Indian Prime Minister, two officers of the British Security Service (MI-5) visited the Golden Temple as tourists and gave their advice to Indira Gandhi. The revelations by British MP Tom Watson on the basis of the top-secret documents found at British National Archives, which have now been made public, have reinforced the disclosure made by former R&AW official, he added. “One thing is now clear that the British Government was engaged and their advice was sought and the latter did oblige. However, there is a grey area as to what they had advised and whether that advice was taken into account or just ignored by Indira Gandhi. All these questions need clear answers,” he averred.
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Factionalism to fore as YAD leaders clash during protest
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 15 The leaders, both sons of senior SAD leaders, clashed over their turn to deliver the concluding speech. YAD activists were protesting against PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa for his alleged links with the drug mafia. Addressing protesters, Libra said the dharna had been concluded and now the effigy of Bajwa would be burnt. At this, Harinder snatched the mike and said he and district SAD president Jagdeep Cheema were yet to address the rally. Supporters of both the factions then started thrashing each other. The turbans of both the leaders fell off in the melee. Two of Libra’s supporters were badly thrashed. One of them, Gurpreet Singh Jhampur was admitted to the Civil hospital. Libra and his supporters left the spot and an affigy of Bajwa was later burnt by Harinder Pal and his group. Harinder’s father and senior SAD leader Prem Chandumajra termed the incident unfortunate. He demanded a strict action against Libra for not following party protocol. He alleged that Libra was working at the behest of a Congress MLA.
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Wanted YAD leader spotted with Rakhra
Patiala, January 15 The police claim that the accused, son of former Mayor Jaspal Singh Pardhan, is at large. Preetinder led an agitation against PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa for his alleged links with the drug mafia. Preetinder along with his aides was booked for allegedly assaulting district Congress general secretary Tarwinder Singh Lucky on January 8. Preetinder has claimed that he was not present at the scene of crime and that he was being implicated in the case. Jaswinder Tiwana, Kotwali Station House Officer, said Preetinder was evading arrest. “An inquiry to ascertain his role in the case has been marked,” he said. Cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra was also seen burning an effigy of Bajwa along with Preetinder and other Akali leaders in the presence of local policemen. The leaders staged a dharna and blocked road for over an hour outside the mini secretariat. HS Mann, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, too said an inquiry had been marked to a SP-ranked officer to ascertain whether Preetinder was present at the spot.
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Akalis hold statewide protests; lay siege to Bajwa’s house
Qadian (Gurdaspur), January 15 The Akali workers were demonstrating against druglord Jagdish Bhola’s disclosure that YAD president and Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was involved in drug trafficking. The activists assembled at Dana Mandi from where they proceeded to Bajwa’s residence after taking a “protest round” on the streets of the town. They were accompanied by former Cabinet Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan. The police had barricaded the residence of the Punjab Congress president after gathering intelligence inputs that the situation may turn volatile keeping in view the large number of Akali workers who had assembled at Dana Mandi. Ropar: Local Akali MLA Daljit Cheema alleged that it was for the first time the Congress had come out in the open to protect drug smugglers by demanding a CBI probe into the drug racket. Jalandhar: YAD supporters organised a dharna and burnt the effigies of druglord Jagdish Bhola and Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira here today. Fazilka: A dharna was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Hoshiarpur: The protest here was led by SAD district president and MLA Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mohinder Kaur Josh and Sohan Singh Thandal. Protests were held in several other parts of Punjab too.
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Rajpura farmers demand land back
Patiala, January 15 The protesters from Damanheri, Khadoli,
Sardargarh, Jakhran, Bhadak, Pabri, Bhadoli Gujjran and Kheri Gandian villages claimed 1,119 acres of land was acquired for a private firm, Shri Ram Industrial Estate Limited, around 20 years ago. The company was to establish an industrial estate with multiple small chemical units on the land. They alleged since the firm failed to fulfill the terms signed in the
memorandum of understanding (MoU), the unutilised land be handed back to the farmers. Led by Ujara Roko Sangharsh Committee and state Kirti Kissan Sabha (KKS), the protesters gathered outside the DC’s office, shouting slogans against the chemical firm and
the government. PS Bhangu, president of KKS, said the firm had failed to fulfill its promise of developing the acquired area in 10 years. He said since the government had acquired the 1,119 acres after paying a meagre compensation of Rs 1.75 lakh per acre against the market rate of Rs 2 crore per acre, residents soon began protesting. The land was situated just half a kilometer from the Patiala-Rajpura highway and the municipal limits of Rajpura, he added. “As the protest movement gathered steam, the government relinquished possession of 397 acres of the land to the villagers and denotified 91 acres later. Now, out of the 631 acres of land with the company, 533 acres lies unutilised. It is now covered in dense wild growth,” Bhangu said. Prem Singh Nanwa, trade union leader, Punjab, said the company had assured to generate over 40,000 jobs in the area but it did not keep its promise. He said the farmers’ case had been strengthened with the new Land Acquisition Act that came into force on January 1, 2014. Handing over a memorandum to Patiala DC GK Singh, the protesters warned of intensifying their stir in case their demands were not met. The DC assured them of taking necessary action.
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Cong link Dhindsas’ relative to Dawood
Chandigarh, January 15 They alleged Dhindsa was a close relative and mentor of a noted drug smuggler Kanwarjit Singh Pehalwan, who had close links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and that he (Pehalwan) also facilitated Mumbai blasts. In a statement, Congress leaders Surinder Pal Singh Sibia, Ramesh Singla and Paramjit Singh Randhawa alleged that Pehalwan was the father-in-law of Dhindsa's son, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa. Pehalwan is a notorious criminal and had facilitated Mumbai blasts and a received a shipment sent from Pakistan. The Congress leaders alleged Dhindsa was instrumental in the acquittal of Pehalwan in several cases. 'Several Akalis had ties with terrorists' Amritsar: PPCC general secretary Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lalli Majithia has alleged that several Akali leaders holding key positions in the government had terrorist background. Addressing the media, Majithia alleged Chief Parliamentary Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha and SAD leader Rajinder Singh Mehta were arrested during the Operation Bluestar. To substantiate his claim, he showed a book, 'Sant Bhindrawala De Naal Akhri 6 Din', written by Balbir Singh Sandhu, a former terrorist, in which the name of Valtoha had appeared during a meeting with separatist leaderJarnail Singh
Bhindrawala.
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Congress ‘chakka jam’ protest today
Patiala, January 15 In view of differences in the party over the demand for a CBI probe and the recent PPCC appointments, the unity among the Congress rank and file will be put through a litmus test. PPCC chief Partap Bajwa has given a call for Punjab bandh for two hours (12 noon to 2 pm) tomorrow. A day after Congress MLA Rajkumar Verka opposed a CBI probe into the drug racket, a group of Congress leaders from Majha region, including Verka, on Wednesday demanded that its investigations be handed over to a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge.
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BSP bid to stop BJP’s ‘samman yatra’ foiled
Hoshiarpur, January 15 Paswan said this while addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the samman yatra, which started from Hoshiarpur and is slated to end at the birth place of Kanshi Ram in Ropar district. The yatra started from Roshan Ground, where BSP workers tried to stop it. They were protesting against the use of Kanshi Ram’s picture encircled inside BJP’s election symbol, a lotus flower, on the hoardings. Some of the BSP activists lied down on the road in protest. They demanded removal of the hoardings immediately. The police force guarding the yatra tried to persuade the protesters from stopping the yatra. However, when BSP workers didn’t budge, the police personnel picked up those lying on the road and put them aside. Later, BSP workers burnt an effigy of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and raised slogans against the party.
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Moga MLA trying to take control of truck union: SAD leader
Moga, January 15 Backed by former Director General of Police (DGP) Paramdip Singh Gill, local Akali leader Devinder Singh Rania has not only rejected the MLA’s proposal, but also alleged that he tried to take control of the union. Takhtupura, former Congress leader, was Jain’s business partner and had joined the SAD during the Moga byelection. Rania apprised District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind of the situation and demanded from him that election to the union should be held. Nearly 1,500 trucks operate through the union and it’s one of the biggest in the region.
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Verka finds support against CBI probe
Amritsar, January 15 In a statement released here today, Amritsar West MLA Rajkumar Verka, Rajasansi MLA Sukh Sarkaria, former Deputy Speaker Prof Darbari Lal, party leaders Jugal Kishore Sharma, Tarsem Singh DC, Ashwini Pappu and Shailender Singh Shally said the Commission headed by the retired SC judge should be asked to carry out the investigation in a time-bound manner. They also demanded that the chargesheet in the drug racket case should be filed at the earliest and the trial should be conducted in a fast-track court.
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SGPC panel submits report on Patna clash
Amritsar, January 15 A copy of this report has also been sent to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. However, sources said the Jathedar was still awaiting a report in this regard from the Sant Samaj, as the Damdami Taksal too had sent a team to Takht Sri Patna Sahib after the clash. Though there is no word on the contents of the SGPC probe panel report, there are reports that Akal Takht may act tough against those responsible for the violent clash. The Akal Takht Jathedar has already hinted towards it while stating that it was an unfortunate incident which showed the Sikh community in bad light. Besides, there is also a feeling in the Sikh circles that action should be initiated against both the warring groups for violating 'maryada' and causing an embarrassment to Sikhs. Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said first of all the Akal Takht Jathedar on his own or from independent sources (not the SGPC) should find out who was at fault. “The guilty should be handed over the religious punishment. After all, the incident has brought disgrace to the community. As a community, we must have to put our own house in order to save our religious institutions from further decline,” he said. He claimed the head granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Jagtar Singh, was present when the scuffle broke out, and therefore his witness should be taken into account.
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Bhola now in Phagwara police custody
Jalandhar, January 15 Sent back to the Nabha jail this morning after keeping him in remand for eight days by the Jalandhar police in a case of heroin seizure, he was again brought to Phagwara this evening on a production warrant in yet another case. He has now been booked for supplying a pistol to the killers of an ASI. Inderbir Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, said Bhola had allegedly supplied a weapon to Rajinder Singh Mintu, who had allegedly killed ASI Gurdev Singh in the city on March 31 last year. Earlier, neither the Jalandhar rural CIA staff, which had brought Bhola on remand nor the Phagwara police had, prior to Bhola's disclosures against Akali leaders, mentioned his involvement in any other case. The recent developments indicate that Bhola is being booked in fresh cases.
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PSPCL-NHAI tug of war delays widening of road
Jalandhar, January 15 While the NHAI officials claim that the PSPCL authorities were not ready to supervise the shifting of EHT towers despite the fact that the corporation was paid the shifting charges, the latter, however, claimed that the NHAI was not being cooperative. Sources said the PSPCL officials were demanding enhanced charges for the job whereas the NHAI officials insisted on
paying as per the initial estimate the PSPCL had given. The issue was taken up by NHAI officials with the Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD), Punjab, on December 6, 2013, and directions were issued to the PSPCL to supervise the work. But, the corporation officials had been reluctant to do so, said a senior NHAI officer in Jalandhar. The ongoing tug of war between the NHAI and PSPCL has inconvenienced several commuters. Apart from EHT cables not being shifted to Deena Nanar, Dhariwal and Batala bypasses, and 13 other spots, the failure to take possession of chunks of land in Jayantipur, Pakharpur, Jethuwal and Naushera Majja Singh villages have become a hurdle for the execution of the project, the NHAI official said. Jasbir Singh, Superintending Engineer, PSPCL, claimed that the corporation was ready to do the job but the NHAI officials and the companies to whom the work had been allocated, were not coming forward.
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PSEB secy’s selection caught in row
Mohali, January 15 In its communiqué on October 29, 2013, the office of Principal Secretary Anjali Bhanwra had asked the board authorities to get the M Tech degree of Secretary Gurinder Pal Singh Batth verified from the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). On October 14, the office had sent a communiqué stating that the board had not mentioned conditions regarding Batth’s appointment in the minutes of the board meeting on September 25. The criteria for appointment included verification of the degree and his (Batth) five-year administrative experience. In its reply to the first communiqué (October 14), the board had mentioned that it was not appropriate to make any addition or correction in the meeting’s proceedings as no objection from any of the member of board, present in the meeting, was received. It was also mentioned in the communiqué that nothing about the administrative experience of the candidate was observed during the meeting. The communiqué also stated that the candidate’s degree was verified from the university concerned and the related documents were sent to the office by hand on September 26 before Batth joining the office. According to PSEB Chairperson Dr Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal, any objection or observation in these matters had to be received within seven days of the meeting. “We got the first communiqué on October 17 but we sent them our reply,” Dr Dhaliwal said. But, the board is yet to reply on the degree’s verification by the AICTE in spite of a reminder on November 11, 2013, from the principal secretary’s office. “Batth completed M. Tech from Karnataka State Open University. Being a government university, it does not come under the AICTE,” the board’s chairperson said. “We are in process of preparing the reply, which will be sent to them (PS office) soon,” Dr Dhaliwal said. Principal Secretary Bhanwra said she could not comment on the issue, as the related documents were not lying in front of
her.
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Milkha Singh’s statue to be unveiled at Ludhiana village
Bathinda, January 15 Sculptor Surjit Singh Gill of Ghal Kalan village in Moga said it took him one-and-a-half months to sculpt the statues. He used modern fibre glass technique in building the statues. “It was my dream to sculpt Milkha Singh’s statue. I am glad that he liked my work,” he remarked. Before starting the project, Gill had visited Chandigarh around three months ago to meet Milkha Singh. The statue stands at 24 feet, including 8-feet pedestals. Gill, however, refused to disclose the cost of building the structure. He said the aim of building the statue was to encourage youth to take part in sports. Currently, Gill is building 6.5-feet statues of Chandra Shekhar Azad, Subhash Chander Bose, Ras Bihari Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Kartar Singh Sarabha and other martyrs who laid down their lives during India’s freedom struggle. The stadium in the village already has statues of Olympians Surjeet Singh Randhawa, Udham Singh Sansarpur, Prithipal Singh and others. Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, one of the members of Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club, Jarkhar, said the statues were being brought to Jarkhar village today without any support from the state government.
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Govt-aided school teachers’ demands under review: Maluka
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 15 The merger would mean that pay scales of teachers of the government-aided schools would be brought on a par with the government teachers. “The CM and Education Department is considering the demand of government-aided school teachers. The decision will be taken after consulting the managing committees, as there are differences between the two warring unions of government-aided teachers,” Maluka said here today.
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Unemployed ETT teachers block roads in Barnala
Barnala, January 15 Seven of the agitating unemployed teachers are atop the waterworks of Cheema village since December 16 to get their demand accepted. The
protesters continued to block the road till the reports last came in. Keeping in view the inconvenience caused to commuters, the police made an alternative arrangement for them by diverting the traffic through the Pharwahi link road. Following this, a number of unemployed women teachers headed towards the Pharwahi road to block the traffic there even as the police tried to stop them. During this, a scuffle broke out between police women and women teachers which led to injuries to some of the teachers. Two of them, Seema Rani and Jaspal Kaur, were taken to the Civil Hospital, Barnala, for treatment. Sukhchain Singh, a member of the action committee of the agitating teachers, said they had blocked traffic since 10 am. He said they had started an indefinite road blockade, which would not be lifted till their demand
is accepted. Senior Superintendent of Police, Barnala, Upinderjit Singh Ghumman said they
were holding talks with the agitators.
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59 licences cancelled, 123 cases registered under PNDT Act: Jyani
Hoshiarpur, January 15 As many as 59 licenses of scan centres had been cancelled and 123 cases under the Act had been registered in the state,
he said. He said this while addressing the gathering at a function celebrating Lohri at the GTB
Khalsa Women’s College, Dasuya. He said with serious attempts in this
direction, the sex ratio of girls had improved from 793 to 893 against 1,000 boys. Jyani also gave Lohri gifts to 51 newborn girls. Gram panchayats of seven villages having more girls than boys were honoured. Besides, 14 social activists of the region were felicitated for their contribution in curbing female foeticide and promoting blood and eye donation. He said Punjabis should pledge not to commit such a sin. He promised a grant of Rs 5 lakh to the GTB Khalsa Women’s College. Dasuya MLA Sukhjit
Kaur Shahi urged people to not be biased against a female child. She also promised a development grant of Rs 2 lakh to the college.
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Theatre artistes campaign against female foeticide
Abohar, January 15 As part of the campaign, which concluded today, members of the Sparsh theatre society staged a street play against the social evil in Bhagsar, Rajanwali, Dhaba Kokrian, Kera Khera and Balluana villages in the Abohar sub-division. The play, “Tain ki dard na aya”, scripted by Vimal Middha, drew huge crowds. After staging the play, the theatre artistes also held discussions with the audiences. They urged people to ensure better upbringing of girl children and shun gender-based discrimination. A national award recipient, Prof Gaurav Vij, who directed the play, said there was a need to eradicate the social evil also because it could lead to a serious gender imbalance in society in the coming years. Artistes Ruby Sharma, Shalu Dawra, Sandeep, Rinku, Hunny and Sagar not only entertained the gatherings but also struck an emotional chord with them with heart-touching dialogues and acting. While honouring the team, sarpanches in two villages said this world could not be imagined without girls. Sparsh theatre society president Sonu Babbar and secretary Ashish Makkar said the awareness campaign would resume in the days ahead.
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GNDU to fund research in Canadian institutions
Amritsar, January 15 This was announced today by the Vice-Chancellor Prof AS Brar during the visit of Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament, Winnipeg North, Canada, to the university for an interaction session with the students. Kevin apprised the students that like Punjab, the Winnipeg state of Canada is also an agriculture-based place. He said, “The Punjabi community had contribution a lot to the economy of Canada. Punjabis are hard worker and they have achieved respectable place in Canada. Even in the hockey team of Canada, most of the players are Punjabis.” He emphasised that more MoUs are needed to be signed between Guru Nanak Dev University and the institutes of higher education in Canada. “The major area of potential in Canada is trade and tourism. The major source of income for the Canadian Government is the revenues collected through taxes,” he said.
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Alberta Premier
keen on economic ties with state govt
Amritsar, January 15 Addressing mediapersons after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple here on Tuesday, Redford said more than $102 million worth of products and services were being exported from Alberta to India every year. Alberta also had a large Sikh community that contributed to the development of Alberta, she said. Redford said two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed between Alberta and Punjab on Monday to enhance trade and investment activities. “Alberta has strong economic and cultural ties with Punjab and these agreements will build on those ties and strengthen our agriculture sectors. A key part of our ‘Building Alberta Plan’ is opening new markets for the resources of Alberta,” she said. Redford said Alberta and Punjab had previously signed MoUs in agriculture, animal husbandry and education. She further said that initially, aspects of agriculture and animal genetics were identified to increase trade in dairy production and swine genetics and an Agricultural Working Group (AWG) was established to encourage communication on projects of importance. On the sidelines After paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Redford had langar and performed sewa, baking chapatis and serving food to the devotees. The SGPC officials also felicitated her with a siropa and a picture of the Golden Temple.
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How many errant cops penalised, HC asks state
Chandigarh, January 15 The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli also rapped the central and the state governments for their failure to gauge the gravity of drug menace in Punjab. The admonishment came after the Union Government refused to provide paramilitary forces for deployment around jails in the state. “It is clear that the Union Government has washed its hands off the issue of providing any mechanism for checks and balances to curtail drug menace in the jails in Punjab, ostensibly under the plea that it is a state subject. “We do believe that there is possibly a lack of appreciation of the gravity of the issue with the burden being shifted on one or the other by the Central Government and the state government,” the Bench asserted. The Bench also took note of one of the suggestions that the Punjab Government has State Armed Police (SAP) and India Reserve Battalions at its command. These forces could easily be deployed for foolproof security of jails. The state government concerned could also request the other states to provide their SAP on mutually agreed terms and conditions. The Bench also took note of the fact that a battalion of Tamil Nadu Police was already guarding the Tihar Jail; and the same could possibly be one of the solutions. The Bench also called upon the State Government to “favourably" look into the issue of requesting another state for deployment of personnel at the outer circle of the jails, at least on an experimental basis. During the course of hearing, counsel Navkiran Singh also told the court that jail and police officials have been caught in the racket of supplying drugs to jails. Though criminal cases have been initiated against them, departmental proceedings have not commenced. The directions came on a petition by a Mohali resident, Tarlochan Singh who was lodged at Ropar district jail.
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Missing girl returns, alleges rape
Abohar, January 15 She told the police that the accused had kidnapped her after giving her some sedatives and taken her to Amritsar. She was allegedly raped at gunpoint at a hotel there. The girl said the youth’s mother ran a beauty parlour opposite her house, which is why she did not doubt his intention when he offered her a lift in his car. She was dropped at the local bus stand after the youth’s family contacted him over the phone. The city police-II said the matter was being investigated. In another complaint, a resident of Gumjal village told the police that his minor daughter had been taken to an unknown place by Nathu Swami and Subhash Chander of the same village. The police have registered a case under Sections 363, 366 A and 34 of the
IPC.
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Fatehgarh Sahib, January 15
Patiala, January 15
Abohar,
January 15
In doldrums
