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assembly in session
Majithia may not be involved in drug racket: Jakhar
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SAD’s Dhillon faces uphill task in Patiala
AISSF: Ticket to Tytler will be betrayal of Sikhs
Chaudhary accuses Bibi of hijacking her projects
Congress in dilemma over Ferozepur seat
Vigilance Bureau to probe tree auction scam
Harcharan Bains is SAD gen secy
Capt nominates leaders to Jat Maha Sabha
Govt giving wheat instead of flour,
say atta-dal scheme beneficiaries
Probe ordered into ‘illegal’ sale of plots by Fazilka MC
Will ensure there are no fake votes: DC
Two Sangrur farmers awarded for innovation
Khalsa’s movement sabotaged: Sikh outfits
Protesters seeking jobs climb tank
Doctors wear black badges
Satisfied with police probe in drug case: HC
Selection of medical officers
Court may frame charges against Hawara
Akali leader’s son fires at dera man
Three Tax Inspectors suspended for graft
NCB seized 51 kg of contraband in a month
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assembly in session
Chandigarh, March 5 During a discussion on the Governor's address in the Vidhan Sabha today, the leaders quoted information obtained through the RTI to belie "tall claims" made by the government in the recent summits. Following the motion of thanks by SAD spokesperson Daljit Cheema, Jakhar said: "Recent RTI information revealed that 18,870 industrial units have been closed down since 2007, leading to a loss of investment worth Rs 56,000 crore". Giving an example of Ag3 Entertainment which is claimed to have employed 10,000 youth, Jakhar alleged a majority of government claims on fresh investment were bogus. Jakhar said "Punjab has abundant opportunities for jobs in the crime sector. How else can we defend incidents of an SI shot in Tarn Taran, an SSP beaten up and 200 rounds fired in Ludhiana? I don't think so many bullets are fired in a routine exchange even on the India's frontiers on any given day". Jakhar said the Punjab Government had not been providing pulses to 15.60 lakh new beneficiaries under the atta-dal scheme. He said while the government was giving wheat at Re 1 per kg, it was spending more on printing Badal's picture on the sacks. Jakhar also took a dig at the government for not taking up the issue of Sikh farmers facing eviction in Gujarat. He said even Prime Minister candidate Narendra Modi ignored the CM's demand. The CLP leader said the House should pass a resolution to thank Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on starting several schemes to benefit the state. He made a special mention of projects for clearing choked sewers in Muktsar area, concessions for local bodies for spending on JNNURM projects, a cancer hospital and a PGI satellite centre. Channi flayed the government for its "incompetence" in fulfilling its poll promises. "Can you tell me which villages have got new stadiums? Many villages even lost their land in the process. Young married girls are awaiting shagun money, poor hands atta-dal, students scholarships and youth jobs". Channi said thousands of youth and employees were protesting against the government across the state. "There are no jobs. Most of these on a contract which do not offer any reservation nor does these assure justified payments," he
added.
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Majithia may not be involved in drug racket: Jakhar
Chandigarh, March 5 The Opposition appeared unprepared. Speaker Charanjit Atwal said: "Against the routine practice, no one from the Opposition had come to my office to discuss tabling of the drug racket issue". In a surprise move, Jakhar repeated called Majithia a "gentleman" and said "he may not be involved at all (in drug racket)". Jakhar said: "He (Majithia) needs to investigate the matter because druglord Jagdish Bhola who was under police protection seemed to have had the approval of some higher-ups in the government before naming Majithia". Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal made light of the Opposition right at the outset when he said: "They are just warming up for a long day of loud noise." Jakhar replied: "Don't bother about us. But listen to the noises of dissatisfied people on the roads. It is they who are warming up. Wait and watch". Majithia made a mention of a magazine report naming senior Congress leaders linked to the drug trade in the state. He said: "In the same light, we can name Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as well for their involvement in 2G and chopper scams besides others. Allegations without any proof are meaningless". Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said: "Do you think Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda should have resigned after some MLA levelled allegations of a second marriage against him". Banga MLA Tarlochan Singh raised the issue of non-implementing of the 85th constitutional amendment in the state. He said the Punjab Cabinet had cleared the matter in 2011. Congress MLA Charanjit Channi said the reservation policy was not being adhered to in recruitments in contractual jobs.
softening up stance? He (Majithia) needs to investigate the matter because druglord Jagdish Bhola who was under police protection seemed to have had the approval of some higher-ups in the government before naming Majithia. Sunil Jakhar, CLP leader A report has named senior Congress leaders linked to the drug trade. In the same light, we can name Rahul and Sonia Gandhi as well for their involvement in 2G and chopper scams. Allegations without any proof are meaningless. Bikram Majithia, Revenue minister ‘Govt favouring Joshi’ CLP leader Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday alleged the Punjab Government was favouring Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi by not registering a case against him under Section 420 of the IPC in the duplicate vote case. He alleged other people involved in similar cases were facing a tough action. Jakhar said: "Joshi and his family members had been booked only under the Representation of the People Act 1951, while others mainly Congress supporters have also been booked under Section 420 of the IPC". Joshi flashed certain documents which he claimed proved his charge. The issue was not allowed to be discussed in the House on the pretext that the matter was sub-judice. Uproar over ’84 riots The ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress have a number of times indulged in a slugfest over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the past. The matter found a mention once again in the Vidhan Sabha today. Making a reference to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, MLA Daljit Cheema said the Congress needed to reply if it had taken the Cabinet's permission before "seeking UK's help in planning an attack on the Golden Temple in 1984". Congress leaders Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Kuljit Singh Nagra raised questions over the alleged involvement of SAD leaders. Nagra said: "There are reports of Akali leaders having hobnobbed for the Army operation. Where was Parkash Singh Badal at time of Operation Bluestar?" Majithia flashed a report which had named senior leaders of the state Congress for their links with terrorists. The rival parties also raised slogans against each other. Cheema apologises Congress MLA Tarlochan Singh cornered Akali MLA Daljit Cheema when he reportedly addressed Guru Ravidas only by his first name. "How can you address a guru as a common man?" Tarlochan Singh said. After much debate, Cheema had to apologise.
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Must sink differences: Preneet
Banur, March 5 Maintaining that the party stood firmly behind her in her own parliamentary constituency (Patiala), Preneet Kaur, wife of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, said party leaders would have to sink their differences if they wished to see
poll results as good as those in 2009. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has failed to pull its act together in the runup to the Lok Sabha poll with Capt Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa taking divergent stands on major issues. This had led to disillusionment within the party cadre. Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a stone laying ceremony, Preneet Kaur, said: “ In the best interests of the party, all contestants are hopeful that state leaders will sink their differences." Any divisions within the party could cost Perneet Kaur dear, and this is why she seems worried over the infighting. Her former protégé, Deepinder Singh Dhillon, is the SAD candidate from Patiala while Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, is the AAP candidate. Both, admitted Preneet Kaur, were formidable candidates. “I am sure that people of Patiala will recognise the good work done by me all these years as MP and will continue to repose faith in my leadership,” she said.
Just in time
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Ludhiana MLA Bains throws hat in the ring
Ludhiana, March 5 Bains, whose strength lies in his accessibility to the people, announced his candidature today. He said he had decided to part ways with the SAD in deference to the wishes of the people. “My brother Balwinder Singh (Ludhiana South legislator) and I respect public opinion. My decision to contest as an Independent is based on the collective will of the people and my supporters,” he told
mediapersons. Raising the pitch for bringing about a change in the political system, Simarjit said his two-fold agenda was to weed out corruption from Punjab and to ease the
economic burden on the common man. Clearly hinting that his breaking away from the SAD was irreversible, he said he was open to forming a “political group”. He did not elaborate. Launching a scathing attack on the SAD, Bains said: “ The Akali Dal promises to bring the Metro Project to Ludhiana. It will be a big achievement even if they manage to do some patchwork.” Without naming anybody, he said it was ironical that those selling drugs were organising rallies against the drug menace. The fiery MLA had so far refrained from criticising the SAD. In 2012, when denied the ticket from the Atam Nagar Assembly constituency, Simarjit decided to contest as an Independent. His brother Balwinder, who was allotted the party ticket, returned it. They were expelled from the SAD only to be brought back into the party fold as associate members after they won their seats with handsome margins. Simarjit Bains defeated senior Akali Dal leader Hira Singh Gabria by over 28,000 votes in the
assembly poll. He had declared at the time of joining the SAD as associate member that his brother and he had no differences with the Akali leadership and that they had differences only with local leaders (read
Gabria). Today, he was strident in his criticism of the SAD. But he praised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said he respected AAP convener Arvind
Kejriwal. “Like Kejriwal and Anna Hazare, our struggle is for the welfare of the aam aadmi,” he said. Asked if he and his brother would forge an alliance with AAP at a later stage, he was evasive and simply replied: “There may be a meeting point somewhere.” In 2009, Simarjit and councillor Kamaljit Singh Karwal was booked for “assaulting” a
tehsildar. Twists and turns in the fiery legislator’s political career I have decided to part ways with the SAD in deference to the wishes of the public...It is, indeed, ironical that those selling drugs are organising rallies against the drug menace in the stat Simarjit Singh Bains, atam nagar MLA
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SAD’s Dhillon faces uphill task in Patiala
Besides Preneet Kaur (Cong), he will have to cross swords with AAP’s Dr Dharmveer Gandhi. Seen as an outsider, Dhillon will have to ensure the support of various Akali factions. Charanjit Dhaliwal, brother of Cabinet Minister Surjit Rakhra, was one of the ticket aspirants for the Patiala seat. The support of the Rakhra camp will be crucial if Dhillon is to succeed in the elections. Dhillon, 52, quit the Congress in July 2012 after he was replaced by Jasjit Randhawa as Congress candidate from Dera Bassi. He joined the SAD and was appointed District Planning Board Chairman, Patiala, but his role remained limited to official meetings. Deepinder Singh Dhillon is little known in rural areas, except Dera Bassi and
Rajpura. The fact that he is not aligned with any Akali faction could work in his favour. Also, he enjoys the confidence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. A confident Dhillon claims he has a strong base in Patiala and will be able to reach out to the people in rural areas with the help of party men working at the grassroots level. Insiders say Deepinder Singh Dhillon will
have to work hard. He has a strong opponent in three-time MP Preneet Kaur. Patiala has always been a Congress stronghold. Also, fissures
within the SAD cadre could hurt his victory chances. Already there is heart-burning among several local leaders
who feel their claim to the party ticket has been ignored to accommodate Dhillon, said an insider. Sure of victory, Dhillon says he will adopt Patiala as his hometown. “I will approach all who believe in the SAD ideology and those opposed to Preneet Kaur for having failed to deliver as MP," he says. Nevertheless, there are reports that AAP's Dr Gandhi is beginning to alarm both the Congress and the SAD.
Dhillon will have to pull up socks
Will have to fight the 'outsider' tag
SAD re-nominates Gulshan, Ghubaya Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced candidates for the remaining three Lok Sabha seats. The SAD, which is contesting 10 of the 13 Lok Sabha seats, has already announced candidates for seven seats. Its ally, the BJP, is contesting three seats. It is expected to declare its candidates for the Amritsar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur seats on March 8. Paramjit Kaur Gulshan has been re-nominated for the Faridkot (reserve) constituency. Sher Singh Gubhaya has again been allotted the party ticket from the Ferozepur constituency. Deepinder Singh Dhillon has been fielded from the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency. The SAD waited for a while to announce candidates for Faridkot, Patiala and Ferozepur. Sources said the party was keen to give the ticket to Ajit Singh Shant from Faridkot. However, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal argued in favour of Paramjit Kaur Gulshan. The latter is daughter of the late Dhana Singh Gulshan and wife of Justice (retd) Nirmal Singh. The latter is SAD legislator from Bassi Pathana. For the Ferozepur constituency, the SAD decided to allot the ticket to Sher Singh Gubhaya, a Rai Sikh. — Sarbjit Dhaliwal
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AISSF: Ticket to Tytler will be betrayal of Sikhs
Amritsar, March 5 In a statement, AISSF president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad said the Congress was playing with Sikh sentiments by considering Tytler for the seat. “If he is given the ticket, it will be a betrayal of the Sikh community,” he said. Countering SGPC claims that its legal team was fighting 1984 riot cases, the AISSF released documents on the cases registered after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He said SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar had misled the people on the issue. Peer Mohammad alleged the Punjab Government had failed to provide security to Giani Surinder Singh, prime witness against Tytler, and he had died under strange circumstances in 2009.
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Chaudhary accuses Bibi of hijacking her projects
Jalandhar/Kapurthala, March 5 The residents of the two villages -Fatehpur and Bajaj - seem to be benefiting from the tussle between the two leaders. On the one hand, the villages have already got a grant of Rs 10 lakh from Chaudhary’s MPLAD funds, Bibi Jagir Kaur may also allocate a similar amount out of the Panchyati Raj funds. Now, Chaudhary will lay two new stones parallel to the ones already laid by Bibi Jagir Kaur. The Kapurthala district administration has been informed of Chaudhary’s programme. Taking corrective steps, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner DS Mangat has directed RK Verma, Executive Engineer of the Panchayti Raj Department, to explain his role in the “goof-up”. Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira claimed Chaudhary had released a grant of Rs 5 lakh each out of her MPLAD fund for the construction of the two community centres at Fatehpur and Bajaj villages in block Nadala of Kapurthala district. The centres were to be set up in the memory of 27 Dalit residents of these villages, who were killed in an accident near Manguwal in Hoshiarpur district on October 9 last year. Though, the Kapurthala administration was to construct the centres with Chaudhary’s grants, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and her son-in-law Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh laid the stones of the centres on March 2. Bibi Jagir Kaur said she was unaware if Chaudhary had disbursed any grants for the community centres. “I have distributed grants to the tune of Rs 11 crore in my constituency of Bholath. I have also released funds for development of Fathehpur and Bajaj villages. So I have a right to inaugurate the two projects,” said Bibi Jagir Kaur. Chaudhary said she would press for the removal of the stones laid by Bibi Jagir Kaur. “She has not allocated any funds for the project. How has the Rural Development and Panchayat Department installed a foundation stone on which, the names of Bibi Jagir Kaur, her son-in-law and Zila Parishad chairman Yuvraj Bhupinder Singh, Sarpanches Mandeep Singh (Fathepur), Balwinder Kumar (Bajaj) and Executive Engineer RK Verma were inscribed.”
face-off over stones Bibi Jagir Kaur has not allocated any funds for the project. How has the Rural Development and Panchayat Department installed a stone on which her name is inscribed. Santosh Chaudhary, Cong leader I have disbursed Rs 11 crore in my constituency of Bholath. I have also released funds for development of Fathehpur and Bajaj villages. I have a right to inaugurate the projects. Bibi Jagir Kaur, SAD leader
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Congress in dilemma over Ferozepur seat
The Ferozepur constituency has about 14 lakh votes. The Congress has not won from here since 1985. Senior leaders like CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar and former MP Jagmeet Brar have tried their luck from the constituency but in vain. Brar has lost thrice from this
constituency. Akali candidate Ghubaya belongs to the Rai Sikh community which has two lakh votes. And these votes are crucial for any candidate for a
victory. Brar has not staked claim to the seat so far. He has shown interest in the Bathinda seat and has opposed the Congress alliance with the People's Party of Punjab (PPP). Congress MLA from Guru Har Sahai Rana Gurmit
Sodhi, one of the ticket claimants, has the experience and ability to win the Ferozepur seat. He has reportedly argued before the Congress selection committee that he is the best candidate as he commands support of the Rai Sikhs, the Hindus and the Sikhs. Sodhi is seen to be the man behind SC status for Rai Sikhs for the purpose of reservation. His family claims to be the direct descendent of the fourth Sikh Guru. A Hindu
Khatri, he claims to enjoy the support of both Hindus and Sikhs. Sodhi has won his assembly seat thrice.
Gidderbaha MLA Raja Warring is another contender. He was among a group of promising young Congress leaders selected by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi after a series of interviews. Other contenders are Hans Raj Josan and
Har Nirpal Singh Kuku. Strong contender
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Vigilance Bureau to probe tree auction scam
Chandigarh, March 5 The matter pertained to as many as 1,350 trees in the village out of which 540 were sold after legal provisions of auction while 756 were sold illegally. The minister said Deputy Director, panchayat officers of Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Dinanagar, besides a panchayat secretary were suspended. Aruna also alleged that certain officers and helping staff were involved in the scam. On work to upgrade Pincassia Tourism Complex in Ropar not started by the company given the task, Tourism Minister Sarwan Singh Philaur said: "The matter of termination of the agreement with the company (Alchemist) is under consideration." Dissatisfied with a reply to his question on repair of Mudki-Ramgarh road in Ferozepur, MLA Maheshinder Singh said: "Now you have given a fresh deadline even as the authorities failed to adhere to earlier two
deadlines". Gurdaspur ADC suspended Gurdaspur: Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Satish Vashisht and a Rural Development Department officer have been suspended for their alleged involvement in a scam pertaining to auction of trees in Mehrajpur village of Dinanagar. The orders came after an inquiry conducted by senior department officials. Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha said his office had received the orders which were passed on to the officers. The DC, who is also the Returning Officer (of Gurdaspur parliamentary seat, said he had informed the state Chief Electoral Officer about the shortage of officers in the district. He said had asked the EC to make alternative arrangements in view of the Lok Sabha elections. Satish Vashisht could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
— TNS
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Harcharan Bains is SAD gen secy
He has also been tasked with leading the party's publicity and media campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Bains, who has been media adviser to Chief Ministers in Akali Governments for four times, said he was thankful to SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal for reposing faith in him.
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Capt nominates leaders to Jat Maha Sabha
Chandigarh, March 5 Besides, he also announced the state executive that is headed by former MLA Kushaldeep Singh ‘Kikki’
Dhillon. Prominent among those included as office bearers of the sabha are MLAs Tript Rajinder Singh
Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Rana Gurjit Singh.
— TNS
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Govt giving wheat instead of flour,
say atta-dal scheme beneficiaries
Flour millers charge Rs 2 per kg for grinding wheat. The beneficiaries say they have to pay double the amount for griding than what they are paying for wheat. The government has recently added 13.5 lakh new beneficiaries, taking the total population covered under the scheme to 31.5 lakh. During a camp organised here recently to distribute wheat and pulses, beneficiaries expressed their resentment. They said: “Earlier, we used to get atta (flour) at Rs 4 per kg, but now we are given wheat at the rate of Re 1 per kg, which finally costs us over Rs 3 per kg. While the government is claiming that they have substantially reduced the price, we are being forced to bear the grinding and transportation charges”. "The re-shaped atta-dal scheme being re-launched is nothing but old wine in new bottle. We request the government to fulfill its promise of providing flour at the rate of Re 1 per kg," they add. District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Parvin Vij said: "Under the scheme, we are distributing wheat to the beneficiaries and not wheat flour. This is what was decided by the higher-ups." Earlier launching the scheme in Muktsar recently, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh had alleged due to the partial approach of the Union Government only about 8.5 per cent population of the state was covered under various schemes through the public distribution system while in Haryana, about 27 per cent population was covered.
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Anganwari workers seek wages on Haryana pattern
Sangrur, March 5 “The union has decided not to lift the dharna till the state government grant us monthly honorary on the Haryana pattern — Rs 7,500 to an anganwari worker and Rs 5,000 to an anganwari helper,” union president Usha Rani said, adding that the Punjab Government offered Rs 5,000 to an anganwari worker and Rs 2,500 to a helper. Earlier, members of the union took out a march carrying effigies of Dhindsa and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from the Finance Minister’s house to the Traffic Light Chowk. After blocking traffic for more than an hour, they burnt the effigies. The protesters demanded a government job and Rs 20-lakh compensation to the family of an anganwari helper, Paramjit Kaur, who died during the protest on Monday. In a related development, the union leaders led by Rani returned to Sangrur after boycotting the meeting with Sukhbir in Chandigarh yesterday.
“The Deputy Chief Minister just asked us to give the memorandum of demands, but we refused to do so,” she said. NRHM staff nurses end protest Sangrur: The nine-day protest by members of the NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) Staff Nurses’ Union outside Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa's house ended here on Wednesday on the assurance that the minister would meet them on March 11. Dhindsa's relatives Babbi Brar assured members of the union the minister would look into their demand for regular jobs during the March 11 meeting. The union’s Barnala unit president Sandeep Kaur said the protest was called off after Brar offered a glass of juice to Ninderpal Kaur, who was on fast for the past three days. She, however, said the protest in Lambi would continue.
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Probe ordered into ‘illegal’ sale of plots by Fazilka MC
Fazilka, March 5 Official sources said the local MC had allegedly auctioned some plots in its colonies without obtaining permission from the Local Self Government Department. The authorities auctioned plot numbers 12A, 13A, 26A in Dhobi Ghat, 44A in MC Colony, 26B in TV Tower Colony and 228A behind the Sacred Heart School Colony. These plots were allegedly sold in a “manipulated auction”. The irregularities surfaced when RTI activist Amar Nath Chetiwal sought information in this regard from the MC. “The authorities have allegedly admitted through a letter dated January 9, 2014, that no resolution was passed and no appropriate procedure was adopted to sell these plots. Moreover, these plots were not even mentioned in the site plans of the colonies,” said Chetiwal. On the basis of the information provided by
Chetiwal, the Deputy Commissioner has ordered a probe. The case
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Will ensure there are no fake votes: DC
Hoshiarpur, March 5 “A list of ASD voters will be provided to each Presiding Officer at the polling booth. Voters, who have their name in this list, will have to produce EPIC for his identification or any other photo document,” she said, The Presiding Officer will verify the document personally and compare it with the details of the voter in Form-17A. A thumb impression of the voter will also be obtained in addition to his signature in the related column of register of voters in Form 17-A”. “To check the menace of paid news, a district-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee will work round the clock. It will keep an eye not only on print and electronic media but also social media,” she said. She said out of 1,494 booths in 1,057 locations for 11,52,835 voters of the district, there were 56 very sensitive and 241 sensitive booths. The district administration has set up a toll free helpline number 18001802250 for election related complaints and queries besides Election Commission of India’s 1950 helpline. — OC
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Two Sangrur farmers awarded for innovation
Sangrur, March 5 Both the farmers are associated with the Krishi Vigiyan Kendra (KVK), Kherri (Sangrur). Tirath (40), a matriculate, is a small farmer with just a five-acre landholding. On half of his land, he has put up net/poly net houses, where he grows capsicum and cucumber (seedless). He also runs a nursery of vegetables such as onion, chilli, capsicum, cauliflower, tomato and brinjal using vermi-compost. The other awardee, Jagdeep, uses resource conservation technologies in agriculture. He has been using Laser Land Leveller, Happy Seeder, bed planting and leaf colour chart to do his bit for environment conservation for many years. Deputy Director, KVK, Kherri, Dr Mandeep Singh said Tirath had earned a sum of Rs 3.80 lakh in 2012-13 by putting about three acres of his land under nursery production. He produced the vegetable nursery on beds using low tunnel technology and carried out seed production of chilli and onion. “By adopting innovative technologies, he has been generating an income of about Rs 7.40 lakh annually, which is four times the income he was earning from paddy and wheat crops in a year,” he said. He said Jagdeep on the other hand, besides cultivating crops on 26 acres of land, was hiring out modern farm machines to farmers. Jagdeep had also installed a solar panel of 1.5 KW to recharge his domestic inverter. During 2012-13, he had earned a net income of Rs 5.40 lakh from farming and Rs
7.07 lakh form hiring out machins to farmers. The awardees
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Khalsa’s movement sabotaged: Sikh outfits
Amritsar, March 5 The Sikh leaders asked the Jathedar to clarify till March 12 as to “which were the hidden forces that derailed” Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa’s protest for the permanent release of Sikh detainees. Jang Singh, brother-in-law of Lakhwinder Singh, who is imprisoned in Burail Jail, said the Jathedar had assured them that all the six Sikh detainees would be permanently released but the movement of Khalsa was sabotaged. He said they were here to ask the Jathedar as to why had he gone back on his word. Baba Baljeet Singh Daduwal said it was the moral responsibility of the Jathedar to clarify as to when the Sikh detainees, who have served their jail term, would be released permanently. He said if the Jathedar was working under pressure he should quit his post and let the community take its decisions. Daduwal rejected Chief Minister’s argument that the cases of Sikh detainees were under the purview of other state governments.
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Double delight: 13 pairs of twins in Kapurthala school
Kapurthala, March 5 There are three pairs of twins in Class IV as their parents insist they be retained in the same section. Gurminder Kaur, mother of twins Manmeet and Loveleen, said she had told the classteacher that Manmeet was more fair than Loveleen. Rakesh Singh, who has twin sons in UKG, said the only difference between the two was that one was a little shorter than the other. Sakshi and Shubham of Class XI are non-identical twins. They cause no confusion. But their classmates Pankaj and Prashant are identical twins. "We got them distinct hairstyles so that they could be easily recognised," said their father Mohan Lal. It is almost impossible to differentiate between Sukhandeep Kaur and Jasmeet Kaur, both in Class 1. Except for a tiny mole on the chin of one of them, they are identical. Class VI students Saurav and Gaurav also look alike. Only the latter has dimples. Their father Hari Om said whenever Saurav, who was frail, fell ill, Gaurav helped him with the homework. Sidharth and Surbhit, who are in Class IX, were the first pair of twins to get admission in the school. School principal Jasbir Wadhwa and school president Gurpreet Kaur said till a year back, they had 15 pairs of twins. "May be, we should approch the Limca Book of Records," they said in jest.
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Protesters seeking jobs climb tank
Anandpur Sahib, March 5 Earlier, the protesters also gathered near Hotel Dawat, demanding that they should be re-employed. They said over 9,000 such employees posted at government schools were rendered jobless in 2009 when the state government decided not to continue their services. Dinesh Kumar, a protester, said though many were allowed to join their duties again, teachers in Ropar district were not given any such opportunity. — TNS
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Doctors wear black badges
Hoshiarpur, March 5 The protest was held on the call of the Indian Medical Association (national headquarters). Protesters here were led by Hoshiarpur IMA president Dr Naresh Sud and Punjab IMA senior vice-president Dr Rajender Sharma. They demanded quashing of FIR against Dr Dinesh Bansal in Talwandi Sabo, saying he was wrongly accused. Sud said, “The IMA, Hoshiarpur, condemns police for booking a doctor under Sections 304, 506 of the IPC after the death of an accident victim in Talwandi Sabo.”
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Satisfied with police probe in drug case: HC
Chandigarh, March 5 The Congress, that has been clamouring for a CBI probe into the matter for almost six months now, may not be able to rake up the issue again before the High Court prior to the parliamentary poll as the High Court has fixed May 5 as the next date of hearing. The Bench asserted: “... On perusal of the status report, we have no reason to say that the investigation is not proceeding properly. Some of the counsel have expressed apprehension on the investigation in view of certain important names coming to light. “The court is already monitoring the matter and if in future it is deemed appropriate to intervene or entrust further investigation to any specific body, the same can always be done”. The observations by the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli came two days after the Congress Legislature Party raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha. The Congress legislators boycotted the Governor’s Address when they were not allowed to raise the “grave issue”. Senior Congress leader Jagmeet Brar and counsel for one of the parties Navkiran Singh sought a CBI probe into the racket. But the Bench was of the opinion that the investigative agencies and the Punjab Police were working in tandem and a CBI probe was not required. The Bench also made it clear that the problem was grave, indicating the need for the parties to rise above politics for working out a solution. The Bench virtually questioned the Congress on its initiative to deal with the problem when it was in power. Taking up PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa’s plea for a CBI probe, the Bench on a previous date of hearing had indicated that the High Court was not an arena for fighting political battles and had asked political parties to rise above their own interests and come up with constructive suggestions.
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Selection of medical officers
Chandigarh, March 5 The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul perused the report before ordering its resealing. The Bench also called for a fresh report in the matter before fixing May 26 as the next date of hearing in the matter. SIT members — Punjab Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Suresh Arora, and retired CBI joint-director MS Bali - have already informed the Bench that a meeting was held on December 5 last year to initiate the probe in the matter; and a decision was taken to conduct a preliminary inquiry and embark upon the future course of action on the basis of the results. The preliminary inquiry would take about four months. The SIT also informed the Bench that the CBI, Central police, Chandigarh Police and State Vigilance Bureau would be involved in the probe; and operational team of one Inspector-General of Police, four Superintendents of Police, three Deputy Superintendents of Police, five Inspectors, four Sub-Inspectors, five Assistance Sub-Inspectors, five head constables and 20 constables would carry out the investigation as per the SIT instructions. The High Court on November 22, 2013, had ordered the constitution of the SIT, indicating the junking of the much-hyped Vigilance report in the matter. The Vigilance had probed the selection process; and had virtually indicted several PPSC members. But it was not made a part of the judicial record by the High Court. Those indicted have all along been raising questions on the objectivity and the fairness of the report.
Next hearing
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Court may frame charges against Hawara
Ropar, March 5 A case was registered at the Nurpur Bedi police station on January 9, 2005. Hawara, convicted of assassinating former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, was presented before Senior Divisional Judicial Magistrate Amardeep Singh at Anandpur Sahib today. — TNS
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Akali leader’s son fires at dera man
Bassi Pathana, March 5 The emergency medical officer, Dr Manvinder Walia, said the victim, Baljit’s condition was stable. The incident is likely to embarrass the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as Lakhbir, who is the former chairman of the market committee, is considered a close confident of a local legislator. Baba Ram Singh had gone to attend a religious function at Thaplan village. While returning, he and the accused had argued over the parking of vehicles. Attarpal fired at the sevadar. The police have registered a case under various sections of the IPC. Further investigations are on.
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Three Tax Inspectors suspended for graft
Patiala, March 5 Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said he had suspended Excise & Taxation Inspectors (ETIs) Jasalpreet, Amrit Kumar and Kulwinder Singh and recommended the suspension of Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Harpreet Singh. Verma said a complaint was received at the newly launched Rahat helpline. the complainant had alleged that the accused had taken a bribe of Rs 42,000 from the owners of Kisan Tyres company, Abohar on February 21. Verma said the accused had gone for the inspection of the firm without taking permission from the higher authorities.
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NCB seized 51 kg of contraband in a month
Chandigarh, March 5 He informed the court that this year, 11.61 kg of hashish, known as “hash”, and 39.88 kg of heroin were seized. The counsel told the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli that five cases were registered and four persons with “hash” were taken into custody. Batalvi claimed that the NCB was in the process of generating awareness. It conducted eight training courses in 2011 and trained 609 persons, including state police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, besides people in the educational institutions and courier companies. Next year, nine courses were held, and 343 persons trained. It was followed by eight courses in 2013 and training of 369 persons. Batalvi added the NCB provided Rs 77.77 lakh to the state from 2009 to 2013 for surveillance on drug activities.
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Patiala, March 5
Bathinda, March 5
Chandigarh, March 5
Muktsar, March 5
Tirath Singh (in pic, left) has set up poly net houses on his land, where he grows capsicum and cucumber