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On project launch spree, SAD-BJP Government leaves behind stones
Cong MP lays stone ahead of Sukhbir
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Youth body bars Akali leaders from entering Faridkot village
(From left) Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, BJP state president Kamal Sharma, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani lay foundation stone of a sewerage project in Fazilka on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO
Over 2,800 blood units go waste
Majithia scared of fair probe into drug racket: Cong
Majithia dares Bajwa to contest Lok Sabha poll
AAP picks doctor to cure all that ails Patiala
SAD ticket aspirants on their toes
Like AAP, Cong to go door-to-door
CPM: No tie-up with Cong
Sanjha Morcha meeting put off
L&T may sell Rajpura plant
Mining issue to dominate poll campaigns in Anandpur Sahib
Corpn chief’s village gets 31 sports kits in 2 years
Channy is Principal Secy, Home
Act against SI for shoddy probe: HC
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On project launch spree, SAD-BJP Government leaves behind stones
The SAD-BJP Government unveiled the personal rapid transport system (PRTS) project in December 2011, but nothing has moved on ground. The project initially appeared to be on track, but got delayed after heritage lovers expressed apprehensions that the project would eclipse view of the holy city’s significant landmarks such as the Jallianwalla Bagh and the Golden Temple. Subsequently, the government changed the route plan from the railway station to the Golden Temple. The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had invited fresh bids last year. However, there has been no word from the government after that despite the fact that there was a lone bidder for it. The solid waste management project was launched around six years ago by top ruling alliance leaders, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, to process the holy city’s garbage into eco bricks and green fuel, but it could not see the light of the day till now. Questions were raised over the tendering process and the work allotted to a company was cancelled. Consequently, the firm had challenged the matter in the High Court. Though the court had given the green signal to the project in July last year, the work on it is yet to take off. The reason is that the firms, which showed interest in the plant and providing garbage lifting as additional service, had quoted exorbitant rates which the MC did not find financially viable. Similarly, the Deputy CM had laid the foundation stone of a sports complex at Ranjit Avenue here on November 12, 2011, but no progress has been made in this project too. The work on the installation of CCTV cameras under the state government’s “safe city project” has also not started. Even the city bus service, which was launched recently, was announced around seven years ago. Responding to queries on delay in these projects, Sukhbir yesterday said there were some technical issues involved in the PRTS project. He said the design of the sports complex was close to being finalised while there would be a “complete surveillance system in place instead of merely a few CCTV cameras” in the holy city. More stones laid Amritsar/Moga: Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday laid the foundation stones of several development projects in the Majitha constituency. Speaking on the occasion, he said the state Congress was a "sinking ship" as a large number of its legislators and senior leaders were ready to join the SAD. He was accompanied by Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia. Prof Sarchand Singh, an aide of Congress leader Fateh Jang Bajwa, rejoined the SAD on the occasion. Former president of Nagar Council and Congress leader Prabhdyal Singh also joined the SAD. Sukhbir also laid the stone of sewerage projects at Kot-ise-Khan, Nihalsinghwala and Badhni Kalan in
Moga.
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Cong MP lays stone ahead of Sukhbir
Sirhind, February 27 Libra said he along with Nagra had worked hard to get most of the funds for the project allocated from the Centre. He said the state government was befooling the people by laying the foundation stones of several projects in view of the coming parliamentary elections. Libra further alleged the state government did not have the funds to go through with the projects. Nagra said Union Minister Kamal Nath had cleared the second phase of the Rs 53.98 crore project, funded under the Jawahar Lal Urban Renewal Mission. He said the Centre would grant Rs 35.23 crore for the project, the state Rs 4.40 crore and the municipal council the rest. Under the project, two sewage treatment plants would be set up at Humayunpur and Defence Bundh in the town, he added.
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Youth body bars Akali leaders from entering Faridkot village
Faridkot, February 27 A youth outfit, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, has “banned” the entry of the ruling party leaders in the village. It has accused the Akalis of supporting an influential resident, Sukhmander Singh, who has “usurped” a 1-acre plot of a 70-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Jarnail Singh. The sabha has even put up a hoarding at the entry of the village, which reads: “If you enter, we will gherao you for supporting the land mafia.” Sabha leader Rajinder Singh alleged the Akali leaders had been shielding Sukhmander. “Due to political pressure, even the police are reluctant in acting against the accused,” he alleged. Amarjit Singh Aulakh, zila parishad vice-chairman, said, “Banning the entry of Akalis in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in unfair. I am trying to work out a compromise.” The village has around 3,000 voters. Sukhmander, in connivance with Revenue Department officials, got the land transferred in his wife’s name, it is alleged. As Jarnail is illiterate and stays alone, he reportedly came to know about the transfer of the land ownership when Sukhmander took its possession in October last. The incident led to a string of protests by the sabha. On January 20, a case of cheating was registered against Sukhmander. As he refused to give up possession of the land, members of various farm unions reached Deep Singh Wala on January 25. They, however, faced opposition from the Sukhmander’s supporters, one of whom even resorted to firing. The police slapped a criminal case on Sukhmander and six of his supporters. Jarnail claimed the accused came with an exchange deal and offered him a plot near to his house. “I agreed as I would have got land near my house. But instead of getting land exchange registered in revenue record, the accused got the ownership of my land transferred in his wife’s name on October 3,” he alleged. Varinder Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, said: “The police are not under any pressure. Cases have been registered on every complaint lodged by Jarnail.” As it was a cheating case, the first FIR was registered after an inquiry by a SP-rank officer, he said.
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Sukhbir promises to open Sadique border check post
Fazilka, February 27 “The Sadique-Sulemanki trade route is the shortest link to Pakistan and its opening will ease the burden on the Attari border in Amritsar. BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been sounded on the issue during his recent visit to Punjab,” Sukhbir said here today. He visited the city to lay the foundation stone of
Rs 25-crore sewerage project that is scheduled to be completed in one-and-a-half years. Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, who accompanied Sukhbir, announced that a fully equipped cancer hospital for Rs 45 crore would be set up in the city. “The Centre has given nod to the project,” he said. Highlighting Punjab Government’s achievements, Sukhbir claimed that the state had imparted free education to 3.25 students in the state. “The government has launched easy taxation scheme for traders to pay lump sum tax of different slabs of turnover. It is a major step towards ending ‘inspector raj’,” he said. Rallying support for Modi, BJP state president Kamal Sharma said: “People are disillusioned with the policies of the Congress-led UPA Government. The country needs a strong Prime Minister and Modi is the best bet.”
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Over 2,800 blood units go waste
Muktsar, February 27 For instance, the blood bank in Muktsar wasted 2,809 blood units collected between April 1, 2010, and July 31, 2013. As per information procured by Bathinda’s social activist Sonu Maheshwari under the RTI Act, 2,403 blood units expired (red blood cells have a shelf life of 35 days at refrigerated temperature varying between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius) while lying in the blood bank of the Civil Hospital in Muktsar, 185 were heamolysed (change of colour) and 221 units were found lesser than the required quantity. The RTI query brought out that during the same period, 206 blood units were wasted by Nabha blood bank, 263 units by Rajpura blood bank, 56 units by Amritsar blood bank, 58 units by Mansa blood bank, 577 units by Barnala blood bank, 616 units by Moga blood bank and 404 units by the blood bank in Faridkot Medical College. As per information, 269 blood units were wasted by Bathinda blood bank between 2010 and 2011 for technical reasons and 3,345 blood units were wasted by the blood bank of CMC, Ludhiana, between April 1, 2010, and March 31, 2013. The blood bank authorities in Muktsar wrote to the social activist: “Due to the outbreak of dengue in 2011, there was demand for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) units. All we were left with was the RBC content in the blood units. We had informed the Punjab State AIDS Control Society about it.” Muktsar Civil Surgeon Dr Gulshan Rai cited ignorance about the matter.
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Majha satraps put up unity show at Brahmpura’s rally
Amritsar, February 27 Among those present were Cabinet Ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Virsa Singh Valtoha, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Zira legislator Hari Singh, Baba Bakala MLA Manjeet Singh Manna and Jandiala Guru MLA Baljeet Singh Jalal Usma. Significantly, the public meeting was organised at Sandhu's residence. Brahmpura has had differences with Sandhu in the past. A truce was brokered between the two by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal last week. Addressing the gathering, Majithia urged the party workers to rise above petty differences and work for the victory of the SAD. He described Brahmpura as the champion of the masses who had devoted his life to servicing the people. He said he was hopeful that Brahmpura would emerge victorious with a huge margin. On the Bhola drug racket, Majithia alleged the drug lord and PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa shared old ties. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate from Khadoor Sahib. Harminder Singh Gill is the front runner for the party ticket.
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Majithia scared of fair probe into drug racket: Cong
Chandigarh, February 27 In a statement, PPCC vice-presidents Tarlochan Singh, Randeep Singh Nabha, Surinder Pal Sibia and Col CD Singh Kamboj (retd) alleged Majithia was being shielded by the Badal family. “There is no truth in Majithia’s allegations that PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa is behind instigating druglord Jagdish Bhola to name him (Majithia) in the case, and that the ED is working on the Congress’ directions.”
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Majithia dares Bajwa to contest Lok Sabha poll
Hoshiarpur, February 27 “Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s decision to step back from the Prime Minister’s post and Bajwa’s unwillingness to fight the elections prove that the party is afraid to contest,” Majithia told the media today. He visited the district to inaugurate sub-tehsil complexes in Garhdiwala and Mahilpur. “There were the days when the Congress would win 500-plus seats in Lok Sabha, but its anti-people policies has damaged the party so much that it would not even win 100 seats,” Majithia said. Fearing defeat, he said, the Congress leaders preferred to join Rajya Sabha over contesting Lok Sabha elections. “If this is not the case, why doesn’t Bajwa contest the elections?” Majithia asked. Asked about the allegations of him being involved in the drug racket, he said: “The Punjab Government’s excellent working has left the Congress issueless and so it is levelling false allegations.”
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AAP picks doctor to cure all that ails Patiala
Patiala, February 27 Dr Gandhi’s candidature comes as no surprise. He has been the face of AAP in Patiala for some time now. Both the Congress and the SAD are yet to announce their candidates for the seat. Dr Gandhi, who has a clean image, has the potential to eat into the votes of the main rival parties. He has a strong base in the rural areas. Speaking to The Tribune, Dr Gandhi said: “We have extensively toured the Patiala constituency in the past few months. The people’s response has been overwhelming. We perceive a strong undercurrent against the policies of the Central Government and the state government. The common man feels discarded by the political class.” Dr Gandhi said he had been an activist since college days and had worked in rural areas for years. “Arvind Kejriwal believes in providing a better life to every citizen. I am with AAP to contribute towards a better India. Our party membership in Patiala district has touched 80,000 and the number is swelling by the day,” Dr Gandhi said. “One can gauge the progress made by the country 65 years after Independence from the fact that we are still talking about Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and National Rural Health Mission. The people have been ignored all these years, but now things are changing,” he remarked. Dr Gandhi said the people were suffering at the hands of the corrupt, those involved in the drug trade and land sharks. These three issues would comprise his election plank.
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SAD ticket aspirants on their toes
Patiala, February 27 There have been reports of differences within the SAD top brass over the Patiala candidate. But Sukhbir has denied these as “baseless”. Earlier, there was talk of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra or his brother Charanjit Singh being fielded from Patiala. The SAD leadership is now considering the name of District Planning Committee chief and former Congress man Deepinder Dhillon, say sources. The Patiala MP, Preneet Kaur, today laid the foundation stone of a sewerage project in Nabha, which has been sanctioned by the Centre. The Deputy CM was scheduled to lay the stone for the same project tomorrow.
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Like AAP, Cong to go door-to-door
Chandigarh, February 27 Talking to The Tribune, Punjab party affairs in charge Shakeel Ahmed said the weeklong programme would commence shortly. "This will help provide a feedback on the people's expectations.The exercise will be carried out by all Congress state units after which a report will be compiled and an action plan put in place," Ahmed explained. The programme has been initiated by the office of party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. The state units have been asked to prepare a detailed seven-day programme involving all district presidents as well as sitting and former MPs and MLAs. A senior leader said the Delhi election results had jolted the party. "It was felt that the party had lost as it had failed to carry along the people at the ground level. On the other hand, AAP established a direct link with the voters, moving door-to-door. We do not want to repeat the mistake," he said. Another leader said owing to the stringent EC guidelines on poll expenditure, it was no longer possible to hold huge political rallies. Hence, parties had to look to other ways to contact the people.
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CPM: No tie-up with Cong
Chandigarh, February 27 On reports that the Congress was keen to leave the Bathinda seat for the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) and the Faridkot seat for the CPI, he said he was yet to confirm these reports as he had been unable to contact the CPI and the PPP leadership. Apart from the CPM, other constituents of the Morcha are the CPI, the PPP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal and Barnala). Charan Singh said the CPM's goal was to defeat the Congress and the ruling SAD-BJP alliance in the state. Also, the CPI and the CPM were a part of the third front whose goal was to stop the BJP and the Congress from coming to power.
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Chandigarh, February 27 The meeting was convened by Morcha chairman Manpreet Singh Badal to finalise the names of Lok Sabha candidates. Insiders said the meeting had been postponed because of “new political developments”. The Congress is reportedly keen on a tie-up with two constituents of the Morhca — PPP and CPI. It is ready to leave the Bathinda seat for the PPP and the Faridkot seat for the CPI. — TNS
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L&T may sell Rajpura plant
Patiala, February 27 While the company is silent on the matter, sources said the move had come as a surprise for the Punjab Government. Though the development would not affect power consumers, it is bound to hit the image of the state. The sources said the company’s discussions with prospective buyers were at a premature level. The discussions could be part of a plan to divest assets which were not part of the company’s main businesses, they said. Company officials at the plant site said: “We are hoping to complete the second unit of the plant before May. There are rumours about L&T’s possible move to sell the plant, but nothing has been conveyed to us officially”. On a query in this regard, Ashwani Kumar, CEO, L&T Power Development, said: “I cannot reply to you on any development nor can I deny it. Please send a detailed mail and we will respond to you”. “Ours is big company. For such queries I need to discuss the matter with my team first”, he told The Tribune over the phone. The Rajpura plant is the only power project of L&T. It is being built by L&T’s wholly owned unit
Nabha Power Ltd. The first 700 MW unit was commissioned on December 8, 2013. Nabha Power was initially started by the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board for setting up a thermal plant in 2010. The estimated capital outlay for the Rajpura plant is Rs 9,600 crore. Experts suggest that the market rate for thermal power is nearly Rs 5.5 crore per MW. Padamjit Singh, chairman, All India Power Engineers Federation, said: “If L&T intends to sell Nabha Power Ltd, there are some clauses which must be studied so that the interests of the state are not compromised. But I do not think any change in the plant’s ownership should bother the PSPCL.” KD Chaudhri, CMD, PSPCL, was surprised to hear about the development. He said: “The company is yet to take us
into confidence. I will apprise the higher-ups of the matter”.
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Agitating nurses threaten immolation
Muktsar, February 27 They also blocked the Malout-Delhi National Highway at Lambi that is the home constituency of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The nurses have been protesting since February 21 and seek regularisation of their services. The protest took an ugly turn around 11 am when nine agitating nurses climbed atop a water tank threatening to set themselves afire. Subsequently, another group of protesters moved towards Badal village, but the police stopped them in their tracks. During the scuffle with the police, union activist Monu Rani, who is three months’ pregnant, began bleeding profusely. When the protesters refused to accept assistance from the authorities, officials forcibly took her to the Civil Hospital in Bathinda. Navneet Kaur, president, Staff Nurse Employees’ Union, said, “Though I have not been able to contact Monu Rani, I have heard she has had a miscarriage.” She said Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani contacted her after they intensified their stir. “Jyani has assured me of raising the issue with the Chief Minister, but we will continue our protest until we meet the CM.” She complained Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had earlier assured them of fulfilling their demand, but no action was taken. “The CM has so far only agreed to increase our salary, but we are demanding regularisation of our services,” said Navneet. Kumar Amit, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Malout, said, “Monu Rani is
fine. There is nothing to worry about.” The Deputy Commissioner and senior police
officers were present on the spot to pacify the protesters. Sources said the police were planning to disperse the agitators at night as Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is scheduled to visit Lambi and Rural Development Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra to visit Badal village tomorrow.
Fast enters Day
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2 kanwarias run over, mob sets canter afire
Barnala, February 27 The mob also blocked the road at the accident site and at Gharreli Chowk (near Tapa) for several hours. The protesters also damaged two other vehicles at Gharreli Chowk. The blockade was lifted after Barnala Deputy Commissioner Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also announced free treatment to the injured. The deceased were identified as Suresh Kumar (40) and Gurmail Singh (35), both residents of Rampura Phul in Bathinda. Harvinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tapa, said the police had arrested canter driver Ranjit Singh.
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Mining issue to dominate poll campaigns in Anandpur Sahib
Though the state government claims to provide sand to the public at the cost price of Rs 26 per cubic feet, people say it is quite expensive. Mining in the district was banned in June 2011 following a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Thereafter, the prices of sand and gravel skyrocketed. Crusher owners, labourers transporters and vendors were rendered jobless. Though the state government recently allowed quarrying in the five mines of Surewal, Dayapur, Kiratpur Sahib, Palasi and Bhalan, the prices of sand are four times as high as they were before the ban. Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who is likely to get a ticket from the constituency for the coming elections, said the party would highlight the failure of the state government to lift the ban. He said the ban proved to be a boon for the mining mafia and drove business out of the region. Former Parliamentary Secretary and Congress senior leader KP Rana said even now quarrying had been allowed at a few places when SAD-BJP’s henchmen were heavily involved in illegal mining. He said the Congress would expose those involved. SAD spokesman Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, however, termed it as a failure on the part of the Congress. He said mining at several of the quarries, including one in Ropar district, could not begin as the cases were lying pending with the
Centre.
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Corpn chief’s village gets 31 sports kits in 2 years
Muktsar, February 27 Information procured under the RTI Act has revealed that 19 sports kits were distributed in Kolianwali village during Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's Sangat Darshan functions in 2013 and 12 kits during 2011-12, again during the CM's public contact programme. The state government is distributing sports kits among youngsters to encourage them to take to sports. These kits can be given to registered sports clubs or village sarpanches, say officials. Going by the data available with the Department of Industry and Cooperative Societies, only one sports club from Kolianwali village, Baba Jiwan Singh Sports Club, is registered with them. A sports kit costs about Rs 5,000. It comprises two cricket bats, two leather balls, two shin guards, two pairs of batting gloves, wickets with bails, a volleyball net, a volleyball, a football and a bag. Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, District Sports Officer, said: "We distribute sports kits only after we receive a letter from the village sarpanch or a sports club. As of now, all villages are being given the same number of sports kits." Attempts to contact Agro Foodgrain Corporation chief Dyal Singh, whose wife is the village sarpanch, proved futile.
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Channy is Principal Secy, Home
Chandigarh, February 27 DS Bains, a 1981-batch IAS officer, presently holding the charge of Principal Secretary, Home, is retiring tomorrow. His name has been cleared for being appointed as chairperson of the Police Complaints Authority. The government is bound by court orders to create this authority for redressal of complaints against the police personnel before April 4. Bains, having served as the Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, for the past three years, is being given this post-retirement job because of his long innings in the Home Department.
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Act against SI for shoddy probe: HC
Chandigarh, February 27 Taking up the matter, a Division Bench also upheld the orders convicting the accused of raping his minor daughter. “Since Sub-Inspector Sanjeev Kumar, the then SHO of the City police station, Abohar, has investigated the case in a very casual way, may be for extraneous considerations to help the accused, we direct the DGP to hold a departmental inquiry against the said police officer. The final report in this regard be sent to this court,” the Bench of Justice Satish Kumar Mittal and Justice Kuldip Singh ruled. The orders came on an appeal by Lal Chand. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 13, 2009, for raping his minor daughter under Section 376 of the IPC by Ferozepur Additional Sessions Judge. The prosecution had claimed that in May 2007, Lal Chand’s wife was working in the fields after leaving her four children at house. When she returned, she found her children in a state of shock. In response to her query, her elder daughter narrated the story of rape. The complainant alleged she was beaten up by her parents-in-law for going to the police against her husband. Dismissing the appeal, the Bench added: “We are surprised why the investigating officer of the case did not take the swabs into possession and send the same for chemical examination. A serious crime of rape was committed by a man upon his minor daughter, which was taken lightly by the investigating officer.”
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Amritsar, February 27
Ropar, February 27