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Anti-Sikh riots Police fail to nab
Yadu, SHO shifted Sukhbir’s London visit a sham: Khaira SAD may contest one seat in Delhi Elections to Chief Khalsa Diwan today Amritsar, February 8 The stage is set for election to the Chief Khalsa Diwan here tomorrow. Sources said the incumbent president, Charanjeet Singh Chadha, was likely to be re-elected to the top post.
Govt waives 2% cess on cotton
ETT teachers on warpath since scheme lapsed in 2009
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Joshi fought ’07 poll on fake vote: Cong Amritsar, February 8 This came a day after BJP leaders refuted the charges of dual votes levelled by Congress leaders against Joshi. Congress leaders Sandeep Gorsi and Vaneet Mahajan today countered the BJP claims and alleged that Joshi made fake votes from house number 3, New Golden Avenue, located in the back side of Panj Peer area, from where he contested the assembly elections in 2007, after forging documents. They alleged that the minister or his family never lived in the area which was part of the Amritsar (North) constituency at that time. Incidentally, they said, Joshi won the elections. “Punjab BJP spokesman RPS Maini claimed in the media yesterday that Joshi and his family’s votes in the area were struck off in 2008. This means he had dual votes in 2007 as he was a registered voter in Medical Enclave area, which was at that time was part of Amritsar (West) constituency,” he said. “This is clear ‘extra judicial confession’ by Maini which he made before the media,” Gorsi said. The two advocates, Gorsi and Mahajan, took mediapersons to house number 3 in New Golden Avenue (which is now part of Amritsar East constituency after delimitation), where residents said Joshi never lived in the area. Gorsi claimed that there was a vacant plot at the place during 2007 while an electricity connection was issued to the house after construction in 2009. “How come the Cabinet Minister and his family lived there?” he pointed out. “This means he forged the documents of residential proofs to make votes and then contest elections,” Gorsi said. He questioned, “Can Joshi produce any residence proof on the basis of votes were made?” Congress leaders demanded that Joshi should deposit his salary and other benefits which he drew from the government during his tenure as an MLA for five years from 2007. While Joshi could not be contacted after repeated attempts, Maini said they had done nothing wrong and against the law. “We will reply to all queries when we get the notice from the Election Commission,” he said.
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Operation Bluestar controversy Mohali, February 8
Addressing a press conference after the inauguration of a hi-tech fruit and vegetable market here, Badal said: “There is not truth in Amarinder’s allegation. I was in jail after Operation Bluestar.” On his “silence” on the “involvement” of BJP and RSS workers in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Chief Minister said their involvement had not been pointed out in the probes carried out in connection with the operation.
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Anti-Sikh riots Chandigarh, February 8 Reacting to fresh revelations that policemen may have had a role in covering up the “involvement” of senior Congress leaders in the carnage, Tewari said: “Those were terrible times. Punjab’s quest for justice remains, but a process of healing has set in and we have all moved on. This I can say from first-hand experience of militancy,” said Tewari. — TNS
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Police fail to nab Yadu, SHO shifted Ludhiana, February
8
Sushil Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna, said: "The SHO has failed to maintain law and order in the city. He had not been investigating the matter properly. He has thus been transferred to the police lines." Yadu, an associate of Youth Akali Dal president and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, has been on the run since the shootout took place wherein Kulwinder Singh (21) of Goslan village was shot dead on February 1. The Khanna police had raided Yadu's residence in Khanna. "The police have also rounded up one person from his group and have got vital leads. He has revealed that more than 14 persons were involved and five pistols were used," said a senior police officer. Local MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli alleged the shootout was a result of enmity between two factions of the Akali Dal. Kuldeep Singh, Soni's father, said: "We will not budge under any pressure and will fight to get justice."
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Sukhbir’s London visit a sham: Khaira Chandigarh, February 8
Badal led a four-member delegation to a seven-day trip to the 30th Olympic Games held in London in 2012. Khaira said, “The RTI claims that the visiting delegation signed no MoU or agreement with British Government. Now after the passage of 18 months, the government has not taken any measure to strengthen sports infrastructure in the state.”
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SAD may contest one seat in Delhi Amritsar, February 8 A press release issued by the SAD's Delhi unit today stated that a delegation comprising SAD leaders Avtar Singh Hit, Onkar Singh Thapar, Kuldeep Singh Bhogal, MLAs Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Harmit Singh Kalka and Jatinder Singh Shanty met BJP president Rajnath Singh to put forth their demand for a Lok Sabha seat in New Delhi. Rajnath Singh has reportedly assured the delegation that their demand will be considered. 
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Elections to Chief Khalsa Diwan today Amritsar, February 8 The office-bearers and members of the executive committee might also be elected unanimously. Set up in 1902, the Chief Khalsa Diwan is the central organisation of Singh Sabhas spread in the state. It is running over 40 educational institutions, orphanages, old-age homes and hospitals. A meeting of the general house of the Chief Khalsa Diwan will be held at its main office tomorrow in which president, vice-president, honorary secretary and 31-member executive committee will be elected. — TNS
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Govt waives 2% cess on cotton Chandigarh, February 8 A notification has been issued, which will entail that amount due as recovery from raw cotton buyers amounting to Rs 470 crore stands waived. The PIDF cess on purchase of raw cotton was imposed in 2002. Cotton traders and ginners had not been paying this tax on the pretext that it was unjustified and higher taxation would make cotton trade in the state unviable. The total tax on cotton in Punjab will be 9.45 per cent, which will include purchase tax of 4.95 per cent, arhtiya commission of 2.5 per cent and market fee and rural development fund of 1 per cent each.
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ETT teachers on warpath since scheme Bathinda, February 8
Recruited by the state government under the AIE/EGS, they became unemployed in 2009 after the schemes lapsed due to a change in policy. The teachers, recruited under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, were to work in areas with no schools and at least 30 probable Class I and II students. Over the years, all EGS centres were either upgraded to primary schools or shut down. The teachers, hired for a sum of Rs 1,000 per month, began demanding permanent jobs in 2008. The state government then asked them to clear the Elementary Teacher Training (ETT). By the time they cleared the ETT, the Centre introduced the RTE Act in 2009, which made it mandatory for teachers to clear the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET). The introduction of the Act rendered the AIE/EGS teachers jobless as the state government asked them to clear the TET as well before they could begin teaching. Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said the state was helpless on the issue.
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Dhadhis
threaten fast Amritsar:
Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Shiromani Dhadhi Sabha on Saturday announced if the
construction work for Sri Guru Ramdas Langar Hall building in the Golden Temple
complex was not handed over to a “kar sewa” group by February 17 they would
proceed on fast unto death. — TNS
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Badal said the operation was a “well-planned conspiracy of the then Union Government, the Congress and the
police”.
Sources said the SHO had been transferred due to political pressure from the ruling Akali
Dal.
While citing the information received under the RTI Act, Khaira said the state government through the Punjab Sports Council paid for the entire expense of the trip —
Rs 32.44 lakh. He further alleged Sukhbir and his aides were also given a pocket money allowance of
Rs 1.25 lakh (1,440 GBP).