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Rs 2,300-crore expansion for Bathinda refinery on cards
Dera officials mum on godman’s health
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Cong Ropar dharna off amid infighting
Kejri no judge to prepare list of corrupt: Badal
Chief Minister PS Badal in Ludhiana on Saturday. Tribune photo
PPP begins campaign against drug menace
PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal during the launch of ‘Putt Bachao Muhim’ in Jalandhar on Saturday. Tribune photo
Jain, Gill at loggerheads over control of Moga truck union
Engineers oppose
change in PSPCL appointment rules
Talent and art need no visa clearance: Pakistani Sufi singer
ETT teachers to protest on Feb 27
Indian-origin workers win in UK unfair dismissal case
Candlelight vigil for slain Armyman in US
Woman walks free in UK fraud case
’84 riots: Cops told to clarify on destruction of records
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Rs 2,300-crore expansion for Bathinda refinery on cards
Chandigarh, February 1 The company has, however, demanded that fiscal concessions given to new investors in Punjab be extended to them as well. Under the state’s new industrial policy, refining of petroleum products has been included in the negative list, which makes the refinery ineligible to get fiscal incentives. A team of HMEL officials led by Sudhir Maheshwari , chief executive officer, ArcelorMittal, India and China, is learnt to have met Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal last night. The company proposes to increase its capacity from the present 9 million tonnes per annum to 13.3 million tonnes. The company is seeking concessions in value added tax and central sales tax, electricity duty and stamp duty. When contacted Sukhbir admitted that the company had sought concessions on the new investment they intend to make in the Bathinda refinery. “We have asked them to send us a formal proposal. Any decision will be approved by the council of ministers. This is the first major investment fructifying post-investors’ summit. The government is keen on facilitating all investors to ensure that their proposals take off at the earliest,” he said. Sukhbir said other investors who were ready with their formal proposals were Cargill India, ITC Ltd and Infosys. “Cargill India will invest Rs 70 crore to set up a cattle feed plant in Bathinda and ITC Ltd Rs 500 crore to set up a wheat processing plant near Ludhiana. Infosys will set up its campus in Mohali,” he added. In the pipeline *
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited-Mittal Energy Ltd has demanded that fiscal concessions given to new investors in Punjab be extended to them as well *
The company proposes to increase its capacity from the present 9 million tonnes per annum to 13.3 million tonnes. The company is seeking concessions in value added tax and central sales tax, electricity duty and stamp duty
— Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy CM
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Dera officials mum on godman’s health
Nurmahal, February 1 Until yesterday, they claimed that dera chief Ashutosh Maharaj, who was declared clinically dead on Wednesday, had gone into a state of deep meditation. Contrary to dera claims, the portable mortuary was still stationed on dera premises. Though the district administration officials and the police were keeping a tab on the developments, they refused to comment on the matter. Dera chief spokesperson Swami Vishalanand, who yesterday wanted to clear the air, could not be reached. Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam and Balbir Kumar Bawa, IG Zonal, Jalandhar, refused to divulge details on the matter. Jaspreet Singh, SSP, Jalandhar (Rural), said, “The dera representatives have told us that the godman is still in samadhi.” Meanwhile, fewer police personnel were seen at the dera and the number of devotees had also decreased. However, several workers were seen preparing the helipad. Sources said a team of doctors from
DJJS, New Delhi, had come to the dera. Tightlipped * Dera followeres have been claiming that dera chief Ashutosh Maharaj, who was declared clinically dead on Wednesday, had gone into a ‘samadhi’ * Though the administration officials and the police are keeping a tab on the developments, they have refused to comment on the matter
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Cong Ropar dharna off amid infighting
Ropar, February 1 The protests were aimed at pressuring the state government for ordering a CBI probe into the drug racket in which the name of Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia has also surfaced. Partap Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, had announced the ‘dharnas’ after calling off the relay fast at the party headquarters in Chandigarh. The series of protests were to end in Barnala on February 28. The decision came following reports of a rift between two factions of the Congress over the venue of the protest. Sources said the recent appointment of Harbhag Singh Desumajra as the Ropar unit chief is stated to be the cause of the infighting. Claiming that Desumajra belonged to Mohali, his rivals have been calling him an “outsider”. At a function organised by Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu today, senior leaders, including KP Rana, Dr Ramesh Dutt Sharma and Amarjit Singh Saini, announced that the protest would be staged near Kalyan Theatre (Ropar), and that Bittu would be leading it. Towards the evening, Desumajra convening a meeting of party workers at the Congress Bhawan in Ropar and declared that the protest would be held at Ranjit Bagh near the Mini Secretariat. He also announced that Bajwa would address the protesters. Within some time, the media was briefed by the local Congress leaders that the protest had been postponed. Bajwa denied the event had been deferred due to dissidence. “February 3 was only a tentative date. As I have to attend a marriage in the families of two Congress MLAs, I asked the organisers to postpone the event,” he said. About factionalism, he said it was a “non-issue” and would be sorted out soon. Divided house * A faction led by KP Rana, Dr RD Sharma and Amarjit Saini announces the dharna to be staged near Kalyan Theatre *
A few hours later, Ropar unit chief Harbhag Desumajra announces the venue would be Ranjit Bagh *
Within some time, the party calls off the protest citing Bajwa’s non-availability for the event *
The two factions are at loggerheads ever since Desumajra, called an “outsider” by his rivals, took over Gurkanwal stakes claim to Ludhiana LS ticket Gurkanwal Kaur, daughter of former CM Beant Singh, has staked claim to the Congress ticket from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency. Addressing the media here, she claimed she was a "deserving candidate". She has served as a Punjab Minister of State and the state Mahila Congress chief.
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Kejri no judge to prepare list of corrupt: Badal
Ludhiana, February 1 Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of Islamia Public School at Rahon Road near here, he could be seen wooing the Muslim community for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s Jagraon rally on February 23. Urging the community members not to get swayed by the Congress’ “malicious campaign” against Modi, Badal asked them to participate in the rally while holding green flags in their hands. “Sensing its inevitable defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is leaving no stone unturned to create a fear in the minds of the minorities regarding Modi,” he said. Badal alleged that the Congress had always pursued the policy of divide and rule for achieving its vested political interests. Tewari takes a dig at CM Ludhiana: By laying foundation stone of small roads, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is "snatching away" the privileges of local councillors, Union minister Manish Tewari said on Saturday. "This job can be done better by the councillors," he said, urging the Chief Minister to pay attention to other pressing issues of the city. — PTI Khaira takes a dig at CM Chandigarh: Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira has asked Chief Minister PS Badal not to adopt “double standards” by condemning the 1984 riots and maintaining a “stoic silence” over the killing of innocent Hindus in Punjab during the militancy period and that of Muslims in Gujarat during the Godhra riots. — TNS
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Phoolka may contest LS poll from Ludhiana
Bathinda, February 1 “I have not come to the city to gain any political mileage, but to highlight the injustice meted out to the 1984 riot victims who were killed without any fault of theirs,” Phoolka said here today. He was on a personal visit to meet his friends and relatives. The human rights activist said the issue of contesting elections from Ludhiana had already been discussed with senior party leaders in Delhi. “As of now, I do not have an office or a position in the party. I am only a registered party worker and have offered my services to campaign across the country,” he said.
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PPP begins campaign against drug menace
Jalandhar, February 1 One of the family members of the victims revealed how her whole family suffered when her nephew got hooked on to drugs. Giano, who is middle-aged, rued, “My nephew is a postgraduate. When he couldn’t find a job, he fell into bad company and got addicted to drugs.” The PPP chief said they would conduct a detailed investigation into the matter and talk to people across the state. “Tomorrow, we will go to Ropar and interact with people at Bela Chowk. The next day, we will hold a meet at Bhananmal Trust in Bathinda,” he said. A final report called the “People’s Probe” will be ready by March. The probe will catalogue its findings and make these available to the public. Dr TL Chopra, a psychiatrist, delivered a lecture on drug de-addiction at the rally.
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Jain, Gill at loggerheads over control of Moga truck union
Moga, February 1 Gill has thrown his weight behind Devinder Singh Rania to lead the union, while Jain has been backing his supporter Jagroop Singh Takhtupura. The truck union, operating for more than two decades and comprising 800 operators and nearly 1,700 drivers and cleaners, wields political clout in the district. Following the dispute over the control of the union, the district administration had sealed the union's office two weeks ago. As a result, the transportation of goods has come to a halt, incurring losses to the operators. Gill, his cousin Dr Micky Gill and their supporters assembled outside the union's office today and held a meeting with the truck operators. The former DGP urged them to support Rania, who claims to have the maximum numbers with him. Then, he met District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind to demand that a Magistrate be appointed for holding the elections to the union. As for SAD leader Tota Singh and his son Barjinder Singh Brar, they have not meddled in the union politics so far. But their supporters in the union are said to be in favour of Jain's choice, indicating a 'secret political understanding' between Tota Singh and Jain. The truck union is not a registered body, but it possesses a PAN card and has a bank account. A local charted accountant, on the condition of anonymity, said the union must have got the PAN card and opened the bank account by forging the documents. It is learnt that there has been no audit of the accounts of the union and it has never paid the service tax, besides violating the labour laws. After the imbroglio over the control of the union has intensified, a few members led by Rania have decided to register the body and are completing the formalities.
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Engineers oppose
change in PSPCL appointment rules
Chandigarh, February 1 The association, which held talks with top brass of the power department, including Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary, Punjab, said it had opposed amendments to the rules regarding the appointment of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. The government wants to raise the retirement age of the CMD from 62 years to 65 years. The government is also keen on amending the appointment rules to make IAS officers eligible for the post. At present, only professional technocrats can be appointed as CMD. Baldev
Singh Sran of the association said: “We will launch an agitation in
case any change is made in the rules. We will not allow the government
to politicise postings in the PSPCL.”
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Talent and art need no visa clearance: Pakistani Sufi singer
Bathinda, February 1 “Artistes are not produced in academies. Faqir hi fanqaar ho sakte hain, jo nawaab hote hain vo fanqaar nahi hote (Those leading a simple life with little desires are real artistes; those who grow up pampered can't be artistes). Music, poetry and other finer sensibilities run in the genes. It's nature versus nurture that produces an artiste," he says, elaborating on what sets a family of artistes, like his, apart from others. Arif minces no words in stating that he wishes for more cultural exchange between India and Pakistan. "Culture can pervade all boundaries. Music, like any other art form, has no boundaries. This is the era of internet. Rules and regulations can stop artistes, but they can't stop their talent from spreading. Talent and experience can't be hidden for long. If someone has both these qualities, he is bound to be popular. Man has made boundaries. Governments have their way of working. But real talent and art don't need visa clearance," he says. He is dismissive of the resent that a section of Bollywood singers have against Pakistani artistes for getting work in the film industry. "I believe that you can't change someone's taqdeer (luck). They (Bollywood singers) should take it as healthy competition. If we were here to steal their luck, we would have made a Lata, a Mukesh, a Mohammad Rafi or a Kishore Kumar of our own. Jo jiska hai uska hi rehta hai," he says. The Sufi singer refuses to comment on statements made by political leaders of either side. "Insaan koi bhi bura nahi hota. Sab usko apni apni nigaah se dekhte hain (No one is bad. Everyone has his or her point of view). I am an artiste and all I can wish for is peace between the two countries," he signs off.
— Arif Lohar, pakistani sufi singer
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ETT teachers to protest on Feb 27
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 1 Davinder Singh Rahil, Senior Vice-President, state ETT Teachers’ Union, said the union had decided to intensify the stir as the issue had not been resolved. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had formed a committee on January 9 to decide the matter within a month, but the panel has not held a meeting since its inception. — TNS
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Chandigarh, February 1 Officials said the orders for Singh’s appointment had been issued by both the Election Commission and the state government. He is a secretary rank officer and will have a crucial role to play as the CEO, especially with the General Election round the corner. After the faux pas over the appointment of Satish Chandra (who is on deputation with the NHAI), the names of Singh and R Venkatratnam had been forwarded to the Election Commission. The post had been lying vacant for the past few months after Kusumjit Sidhu proceeded on Union Government deputation. — TNS
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Indian-origin workers win in UK unfair dismissal case
London, February 1 Baljit Johal, Mukesh Kumar and Balwinder Jackhu sued 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd after being dismissed from the firm's chicken factory in West Bromwich in November over the allegations, which they always denied. They won their cases for unfair dismissal following a hearing at the Birmingham Employment Tribunal yesterday, Birmingham Mail reported. The compensation will be decided during a hearing in March. The tribunal had previously heard claims that the nightshift at the West Bromwich factory was "run like a gang" by supervisor Johal, shift manager Kumar and trainer Jackhu. Sarah George, representing 2 Sisters, alleged that the three factory workers favoured family members and shared money paid by vulnerable workers to particular supervisors on the promise of jobs. She said the factory workers were in positions of trust and temporary workers "might reasonably believe they had the power to secure jobs for them". But they denied the allegations and claimed that union members were paid 600 pounds to make false statements about them after they refused to participate in the strike action. Tribunal judge David Dimbylow has ruled that the factory workers had been unfairly dismissed. "The informants were not asked any testing questions, nor were the claimants' accounts of events put to them for comment," he said. — PTI
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Candlelight vigil for slain Armyman in US
New York, February 1 Parminder Singh Shergill, a 43-year-old army veteran, was shot and killed by two police officers on January 25 at Lodi in San Joaquin county, California, after he allegedly charged at two veteran officers with a knife. The candlelight vigil was held at the Deshmesh Darbar Sikh temple in south Lodi on Friday, the media reported. Friends said Parminder suffered an episode of post-traumatic stress, and a family member called the police. This was not the first time officers had come to suppress his behavioural outbreaks. "It happened so fast, he just turned around, and they started shooting," Fox 40 News quoted Cassandra Lopez, who witnessed the entire shooting, as saying. — IANS
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Woman walks free in UK fraud case
London, February 1 Paramjeet Kaur (26) was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office with her husband Raza Khan (27) and his lover, former police officer Sugra Hanif. Khan and Hanif were found guilty on Thursday. Hanif, a former Thames Valley Police officer, would access her work computer and note the details of persons involved in road accidents. Khan and Kaur set up case management companies to sell information to firms of solicitors who would pay them a referral fee for each case that led to a successful compensation claim. — PTI
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’84 riots: Cops told to clarify on destruction of records
New Delhi, February 1 The court’s directions came while hearing an application seeking prosecution of four Delhi Police officers, including the then ACP, for destroying the records and files of Nangloi case in 1992. The court was hearing the riot case which was registered in 1991 with regard to the killing of four persons. “I direct that in case there were any official orders/ standing orders issued by the police during the period 1991-1992 so governing the destruction of records, the same be also placed before this court on the next date of hearing,” Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said. The court listed the matter for February 7 for hearing arguments and disposing of a plea moved by Special Public Prosecutor BS Joon seeking prosecution of the then SHO (Nangloi police station) Inspector Rampal Singh, SI Dalel Singh, the then ACP Amarender Kumar Singh and the then SHO RS Dahiya. He alleged in the plea that these four officials were responsible for destroying the relevant records relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots of Nangloi Police Station which they did deliberately to save the accused in the present case despite lodging of the present FIR on August 28, 1991. — PTI
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Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today hit out at his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal over the “list of corrupt leaders” issued by the latter yesterday. Before indulging in such acts, Kejriwal must remember that he was an elected representative of the people, and not a judge, said Badal. “Such acts do no suit a Chief Minister.”
The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) today launched its “Putt Bachao Muhim” (Save Our Sons campaign). PPP chief Manpreet Badal endeavoured to bring drug addicts, their parents, doctors and NGOs on one platform at a rally. Over 25 drug addicts shared their traumatic experiences with Manpreet.
The control of the Moga Truck Operators’ Union has deepened factionalism in the SAD’s Moga unit with former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Paramdeep Singh Gill and local Joginder Pal Jain supporting leaders of rival groups for the president’s post.
"We have asked them to send us a proposal. Any decision will be approved by the council of ministers. This is the first major investment fructifying post-investors’ summit. The government is keen on facilitating all investors to ensure that their proposals take at the
earliest"
"Culture can pervade all boundaries. Music, like any other art form, has no boundaries. Rules and regulations can stop artistes, but they can’t stop their talent from
spreading."