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Anti-Sikh riots: Apex court asks for Nanavati report
Charges against Saini unproven: Home Secy
Maluka, CPS Valtoha differ over transfers
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Recurrent subsidy won’t do, say agri experts
CM not planning to shift to Centre, says Sukhbir
AAP members rally in Patiala
Former IAS officer Pawar joins BJP
Rahul indecisive: Sukhbir
Interim Budget directionless: Ludhiana industry
BKU to gherao Parliament on Feb 21
Farmers from other states surprised at lack of innovation
'Duplicate' votes by Minister Joshi
Protesting health workers force Jyani to leave hospital
Not paid wages, docs strike work
More trains for Abohar-Fazilka link on anvil
Yuvraj proves a show-stopper
Sikh historian among three honoured
Stop seeking votes for Bluestar authors, Capt told
Diversification a must: Kalkat
GLADA comes to Jain’s rescue
UK jury fails to reach verdict in Satguru’s case
Druglord Bhola appears for court hearing
Another clerk arrested
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Anti-Sikh riots: Apex court asks for Nanavati report
New Delhi, February 17 The Bench comprising Justice AK Patnaik and Justice FMI Kalifulla was hearing a PIL, pleading for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh probe into the riots to first nail all accused and then put them on trial by a fast-track court on the lines of the apex court action in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. The Bench asked the petitioner, S Sudarshan Singh Wazir, to submit within two weeks the Nanavati Commission report that had detailed the sequence of events leading to the riots in the wake of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Without issuing notice on the PIL, the apex court asked the petitioner to go through the report in the context of his plea and find out what more remained to be done. The petitioner contended that an independent investigation was necessary to “bring out the truth” and render justice to the victims as the numerous committees and commissions constituted in the past “have not been effective” as these were political in nature. Pointing out that recent events and debates had indicated that the 1984 riots were “staged and orchestrated” in the wake of the assassination of the then Prime Minister, the PIL said it had become imperative for a detailed and comprehensive inquiry to proceed against all those responsible for “causing, perpetrating, abetting and spreading” the brutal attacks. The SC should monitor both the investigation and the trial, besides directing compensation to the victims, the petitioner pleaded. A social activist and former president of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Board of Jammu and Kashmir, Wazir said the committees and commissions of the past were neither independent nor competent to institute cases against the accused. Even the police officials did not conduct a thorough investigation as many of them were accused of abetting the riots. He also contended that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had acknowledged in a recent interview that influential persons without political clout were behind the riots. Plea for SIT probe
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Charges against Saini unproven: Home Secy
Chandigarh, February 17 In its reply to the Chief Electoral Officer, state Home Secretary DS Bains has reportedly said the issue of DGP Saini being chargesheeted in a case of kidnapping was found to be unsubstantiated Sources in the state government told The Tribune that the reply by the Home Secretary was sent to the CEO today after the government committee led by Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence, examined the entire file of the case containing over 1,000 pages. The ADGP reportedly sent his findings to the Home Secretary, who in turn has forwarded the same to the CEO. In his complaint to the CEO, Khaira had alleged that DGP Saini had been chargesheeted by a Special CBI Court of Delhi for kidnap, abduction and disappearance of three innocent citizens under Sections 342, 343, 364 and 120-B of the IPC. The said charges were framed against him in November 2006 after the investigation was transferred to the CBI by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Citing the guidelines by the Election Commission of India, which say "… the commission further desires that no office/official against whom a criminal case is pending in any court of law be associated with the election work or election duty…", Khaira had demanded that Saini be transferred from his present post of DGP to ensure a free and fair election in Punjab. Sources said the government, after examining the records of the case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as the Supreme Court, found that the charges had not yet been framed against Saini. When contacted, VK Singh, CEO, confirmed that he had got the report from the government, but was yet to read and analyse its contents. Cong complaint
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Maluka, CPS Valtoha differ over transfers
Abohar, February 17 These teachers said the delay in transfers might attract the attention of the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer as the district returning officers had started compiling infomation for putting employees on election duty. Sources said the Director General School Education had on January 28 ordered transfer of 112 Hindi teachers of the state. These teachers had been posted in government schools far from their native places. Sources in the department said many selected candidates had not joined duty in the past five years because their allotted stations were over 200 km away from their native places. Valtoha, who is Khem Karan MLA, reportedly told the DEO at Tarn Taran that none of the teachers transferred from his constituency should be relieved. Tarn Taran DEO Paramjit Singh said, "I am helpless. How can I defy the legislator (Valtoha) of the segment." When contacted, Valtoha said it was his prerogative to halt transfers as the segment faced shortage of teachers. “I have brought it to the notice of the Chief Minister too,” he said. On the other hand, state Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said no order can be withheld politically. He said the teachers had been transferred in pursuance of their “adjustment” policy based on administrative justification, besides human grounds. The state Education Minister maintained that the orders have to be implemented in letter and spirit. Akali leaders working at cross-purposes
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Recurrent subsidy won’t do, say agri experts
Mohali, February 17 This was the opinion of two of the leading agriculture experts, Dr S Ayyappan, Director-General, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), and renowned rice breeder Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, who participated in the second day of the Agriculture Summit at Chappar Chiri today. The SAD-BJP Government has continued to grant subsidy to farmers. The state’s power subsidy bill this year stands at Rs 5,785 crore. The Punjab Government is opposed to FDI in retail. It argues that small traders will be hit if big retail chains are allowed to operate and this may monopolise agriculture. Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the summit, Dr Khush said diversifying into horticulture would be best for Punjab because of its topography and weather. “I agree that there are impediments to promoting horticulture. There is no cold chain infrastructure, post-harvest losses are high because of poor handling of fruit and vegetables and almost 30 per cent of food is wasted because of poor handling and storage. “But FDI in retail, if allowed, will create not just a ready market for horticulturists, but also help create intermediary market infrastructure like climate-controlled storages, sorting and grading centres and perishable goods centres,” he explained. Dr Ayyappan said after the implementation of the Food Security Act, the state would again need to increase its farm output. “For this, capital investment in agriculture rather than farm subsidies is the way out,” he said, adding integrated farming techniques could make agriculture a profitable venture. Fact file
FDI in retail, if allowed, will create not just a ready market for horticulturists, but also help create intermediary market infrastructure like climate-controlled storages, sorting and grading centres and perishable goods
centres
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CM not planning to shift to Centre, says Sukhbir
Mohali, February 17 Setting to rest the speculations on Badal being chosen prime minister candidate by the Third Front, Sukhbir said: "Be it the Third Front or the NDA, my father is interested in serving the people in Punjab". He was speaking on the sidelines of a function held here to hand over land allotment letters to 27 IT companies to set up base in Mohali's IT park. Congress leader Harnek Singh Gharuan joined the SAD on the occasion. Sukhbir later launched three development projects — Rs 55 crore ultra modern auditorium at Sector 62, a residential school for meritorious students at Sector 70 and a 200-m-wide road from Sectors 73-74 junction to Kharar highway. He said the IT companies which were setting up base in Mohali would bring an investment worth Rs 1,000 crore and generate 30,000 jobs.
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AAP members rally in Patiala
Patiala, February 17 The members raised slogans against the Congress and Punjab Government. AAP member Dr Dharamvir Gandhi said it was high time people should shun corrupt political parties.
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Former IAS officer Pawar joins BJP
Chandigarh, February 17 Pawar, who was in the rank of Principal Secretary when retired as the IAS officer, belongs to Hoshiarpur district. There is a speculation in the party circles that his name may be considered for the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat. In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, former IAS officer Som Parkash, who is now BJP MLA from Phagwara, was the BJP candidate from Hoshiarpur. He had lost the election by a few hundred votes. Shanta Kumar said people from all sections of society were joining the party, indicating that there was a strong wave in the favour of Narendra
Modi.
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Rahul indecisive: Sukhbir
Samana, February 17 He said BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was a bold, decisive and focused man who could lead the nation to development. On Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh’s utterances on Operation Bluestar, the Deputy Chief Minister said: “At that time, Amarinder Singh was Indira Gandhi’s adviser and he advised her to launch the Army operation.” He said the trader-friendly Rahat Scheme was the first of its own kind in the country. It would benefit 1.86 lakh traders in the state who could now file a single-page registration form declaraing their annual turnover and get a Rahat Certificate. The Deputy CM had the party ticket aspirants for the Patiala parliamentary constituency on the tenter hooks. He did not exchange pleasantries with one of the top contenders, Charanjit Singh Dhaliwal, younger brother of Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. Dhaliwal was seen sitting alone in the press gallery. ‘Will field candidate against Phoolka’ Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said the SGPC had hired advocate HS Phoolka to fight the cases of 1984 riot victims. This did not mean the SAD would not field a candidate against him from the Ludhiana parliamentary seat. — TNS
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Interim Budget directionless: Ludhiana industry
Ludhiana, February 17 The industry pointed out that the validity of these provisions and duty cuts was only till June since this was only a vote-on-account and not a regular budget. “The Finance Minister gave details of provision for agriculture, banking and power, but said nothing about the manufacturing sector. This was done intentionally to hide the figures of declining growth in the sector,” said Badish Jindal, president, Federation of Association of Small Industries of India. No increase in the threshold limit of income tax disappointed many. “The government has been planning to implement Direct Tax Code (DTC) for several years, but it has not been done. We hope that the limit will be increased and DTC implemented when the Budget is announced in June,” said Jatinder Khurana, general secretary, Taxation Bar Association. The industry fears that a 25 per cent revision in income tax and service tax collection target will lead to harassment, Jindal added. The MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector, particularly the fastener industry, too, is in a state of shock. “There was no expectation on direct tax front due to vote-on-account, but the MSME has been ignored as far as indirect taxes are concerned. Excise duty on engineering products remains at 12 per cent whereas it was expected that the Finance Minister will reduce the same to boost the MSME sector. On the contrary, the government has reduced excise duty on cars, mobile phones, commercial vehicle to appease the corporate sector,” said Narinder Bhamra, president, Fasteners Manufacturers Association of
Ludhiana.
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BKU to gherao Parliament on Feb 21
Chandigarh, February 17 He said the BKU would demand an income commission, a social security fund, provident fund and pension for farmers. The Indian Government had promised to do away with minimum support price in four years. This would leave the farmers at the mercy of big companies, he said. — TNS
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Farmers from other states surprised at lack of innovation
Mohali, February 17 Mohammad Abbas and Islam Patel from Devas district in Madhya Pradesh said they were rather disappointed that farmers in Punjab followed the wheat-paddy cycle despite the fertile soil, advanced equipment and plenty of water for irrigation. “Though nature is not so kind to us, we produce about five crops — cotton, jowar, maize, mustard and nuts — in a year. The farmers here seem to be scared of diversification,” noted Abbas. Tamil Nadu-based V Pandy and N Sondha Ram said they were surprised that Punjab farmers lacked innovation. Farmers from Maharashtra said Punjab farmers should opt for diversification. “This will help them increase their earnings,” said Himmat Rao Maali and Arun Taire from Dhulia in
Maharashtra. Pak Governor all praise for Badal Mohammed Sarwar, Governor of western (Pakistan) Punjab, met CM Parkash Singh Badal. Sarwar congratulated Badal for the “unique” initiative to showcase agriculture and allied sectors in the right perspective. He was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Mansoor Khan.
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'Duplicate' votes by Minister Joshi
Amritsar, February 17 Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner, said: "It would take the District Attorney at least three to four days to study anomalies in the voter lists of both Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts". JK Bhagat refused to divulge the details saying "it is a sensitive matter". Two city-based lawyers Sandeep Gorsi (also a Congress worker) and Vaneet Mahajan had approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking initiation of criminal proceedings against Joshi and his family members for allegedly enrolling themselves as voters from two places. On January 27, the ECI had asked the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, to probe the matter and submit the action taken report within 30 days. The CEO then asked the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner to seek legal opinion before initiating any action in the matter. The ECI had also directed the CEO to take disciplinary action against electoral registration officer and other officers if held guilty of violating the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The officials had allegedly played a role in enrolling Joshi and his family members as voters from two places and had also "lost or destroyed the record pertaining to it".
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Protesting health workers force Jyani to leave hospital
Jyani arrived at the hospital unannounced for a surprise check. He was greeted with slogans.The health workers blocked the hospital’s main gate to stop him from leaving. As the situation seemed to be getting out of hand, the minister’s security personnel and doctors saw him out through a passage in the boundary wall. A local police officer provided his vehicle for his safe exit.
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Not paid wages, docs strike work
Fazilka, February 17 The employees have begun an indefinite strike for three hours daily from today. Large number of employees also participated in the protest dharna organised before the OPD block. Punjab Civil Medical Services Association, Fazilka, president Dr Narinder Sethi and Chief Pharmacist Shashi Kant said employees had not been paid their salaries for November, December and January. The employees raised slogans against the state authorities and expressed concern over the “failure” of the government’s fiscal system. Patients were at the receiving end as they had to return without getting treatment. The protesters threatened to intensify their stir if they were not paid immediately. — OC
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More trains for Abohar-Fazilka link on anvil
Abohar, February 17 Jakhar informed Kharge that Rs 250 crore had been spent on linking Abohar with Fazilka two years ago but only two trains were running on the 47-km route. No DMU-MEMU train has been announced in the Interim Rail Budget. Moreover, the schedule of the existing trains did not suit the commuters much, he said. He urged the minister to introduce a daily train on the
Sriganganagar-Abohar-Fazilka- Ferozepur-Jammu route. Jakhar also requested Kharge to clear the decks for a technical sanction to the under-bridge on the Sriganganagar road in Abohar. The minister reportedly assured Jakhar that the proposal for more trains would be wetted expeditiously to benefit people in the Abohar region. Jakhar also reiterated the demand to sanction a halt for Sarai Rohilla-Abohar-Sriganganagar Express at Malout in Muktsar district and Shakur Basti in Delhi. — OC
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Yuvraj proves a show-stopper
Mohali, February 17 He has tied up with Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB), Hisar, for artificial insemination at his farm. An entrepreneur in his own right, Karamvir takes requests online. He receives a plethora of requests from dairy farmers across the country who throng his farm to get their buffaloes inseminated. “A farmer from Andhra Pradesh had offered to pay Rs 2 crore for ‘Yuvraj’, but I declined the offer," he says. The bull is five-and-a-half-year-old and can be used for breeding for another 10-12 years. Karamvir Singh says “Yuvraj” consumes 20 litres of milk and 5 kg of apple everday, besides cattle feed. “Its diet costs Rs 2,000 per day. It is the progeny of a buffalo whose daily milk yield is 26.400 kg,” he says. “Yuvraj’s sibling “Balli”, that was sold to Jai Singh of Badhani Kalan village in Moga three years ago, is also attracting a lot of attention. The bull is more than three years old and has almost reached the productivity age. Jai Singh said he had already tied up with the CIRB. The bull won the first prize at the Livestock Mela at Muktsar recently. Its owner was paid a prize money of Rs 1 lakh. Jai Singh says the CIRB offered to buy the bull for Rs 1 crore but he refused to do so. “Aalishaan” too is much sought after. This Marwari horse, brought here by horse breeders Harinder Singh and Dr Jai Singh Cheema of Shahpur village near Mohali, commands a price of Rs 1.25
crore. Hitting the bull’s eye
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Sikh historian among three honoured
Amritsar, February 17 Former hazuri raagi Bhai Gurmej Singh, who prepared the bir of Guru Granth Sahib in Braille, was bestowed with the title of ‘Sikh Rattan’, while noted Sikh historian Kirpal Singh was conferred the title of ‘Professor of Sikhism’. Former hazuri raagi Bhai Amrik Singh Zakhmi was awarded with ‘Shiromani Raagi’ award posthumously. Bhai Harjot Singh Zakhmi received the award on behalf of his father. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh presented them a silver plaque, a sword, a shawl and a siropa (robe of honour). The Akal Takht Jathedar said Bhai Gurmej Singh made untiring efforts to transliterate Guru Granth Sahib in Braille and spent his entire life in the propagation of Gurbani. “Kirpal Singh did a commendable work in the field of Sikh history and research while contributing to the propagation of Sikhism across the globe,” he said. The Akal Takht Jathedar said Bhai Amrik Singh Zakhmi carried forward the tradition of performing Gurbani kirtan on the basis of
raagas.
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Stop seeking votes for Bluestar authors, Capt told
Chandigarh February 17 Senior Akali leaders SS Dhindsa and BS Bhunder said Amarinder Singh had worked day and night to strengthen the hands of the “killers” of thousands of innocent Sikhs during Operation Bluestar and in Novemebr 1984. They asked him as to why he had withdrawn from the negotiations on Punjab just months before the Army action, as claimed by him in a statement. — TNS
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Diversification a must: Kalkat
Mohali, February 17 They said the focus should now be on alternative crops, particularly fruits and vegetables. That would not only help check the fast-depleting water table but also mean better returns through alternative crops, they opined. Punjab State Farmers Commission chairman GS Kalkat said, “Water table has gone down by more than 60 feet since 1950, which is alarming. If the trend continues, Punjab will soon become a desert.” He said the returns for Punjab farmers had dipped ever since states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar started producing rice and wheat. “Lesser demand has led to a natural situation of farmers needing to work on alternate crops,” he said. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Punjab Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor, said, “The alternatives of horticulture and livestock, too, have not been adequately explored... BT varieties should be promoted as these are fully safe for consumption.” On the sidelines... Language barrier: As most speakers delivered their speeches in Hindi and Punjabi, farmers from Tamil Nadu could hardly gain anything Paddy in arid zone: When an expert said 50% subsidy was being given on a machine that could sow paddy in a dry field, the farmers appeared amused. They wondered how paddy could be grown in a dry area. Need to change focus? A government official said instead of subsidised power and water, the summit focus should have been on drip irrigation and solar energy.
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GLADA comes to Jain’s rescue
Moga, February 17 While recording his statement, a junior engineer of GLADA stated that the state government had granted general amnesty to all the colonisers who paid the compounding fee under its regularisation policy. He said GLADA did not wish to continue legal proceedings against Jain and his family members since they had deposited the compounding fee. He produced official records to corroborate his statement. The MLA and his younger son Akshit Jain were present in the court. The court of Suman Agnihotri fixed March 11 as the next date of hearing. Jain's elder son Puneet Jain, who is in Canada, has already been declared proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear at the court hearings. It is learnt that the Moga police has not yet issued a lookout certificate against Puneet at international airports.
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UK jury fails to reach verdict in Satguru’s case
London, February 17 Harjit Singh Toor will know in the next two weeks if he would have to face a re-trial over the axe attack at a gurdwara in Leicester last August. Justice Carr at Birmingham Crown Court was forced to discharge the 12 men and women on the jury after they were unable to reach a majority verdict on Friday. Toor denied attempted murder but admitted grievous bodily harm with intent as payback for being sexually abused by the guru in an Indian village in the mid-1990s when he was about eight years old. Satguru has denied the allegations as "totally absurd". — PTI
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Druglord Bhola appears for court hearing
Mohali, February 17 Bhola, who was produced before the Mohali court of Additional District and Sessions Judge for a hearing in the case today, was brought here amid tight security around 2 pm. He remained in the court for 45 minutes where he was given a copy of a supplementary challan filed by the Banur police. Today, when Bhola was asked about the names of other Akali leaders involved in the scam, he did not utter a word. The Punjab Police took him in the court in a hurry to avoid the media glare. Bhola’s defence lawyer Gopal Nehal said all accused in the case, except Surjit Singh, attended today’s hearing. “Surjit Singh could not turn up as he has been under police remand in Bathinda in another case,” Advocate Nehal said. He said the charges were likely to be framed on the next hearing on February 26.
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Another clerk arrested
Moga, February 17 On February 5, Jatinder Singh, who was also a clerk at the DTO office in
Moga, was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau. Investigations had revealed that three clerks of the transport department — Jatinder Singh, Balbir Singh and Dalbir Singh —had siphoned Rs 1.10 lakh of road tax. Dalbir was evading arrest. They took money from people seeking registration of their vehicles through agents but did not deposit it in the government treasury. An FIR under Sections 409, 420 of the IPC and 13(1) D, 13(2) and 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against them on November 29. — TNS
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Mohali, February 17
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Moga, February 17