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MLAs want exams back in primary, middle schools
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analysis
Meek Cong protest as Jeet switches side
‘Kalianwala Khu’: SGPC seeks investigation
Remains not of Sikhs: Historians
Phoolka: CM’s demand for special court thoughtless
Manpreet Badal sought my blessings, says Amarinder
2 councillors pledge support to Aiyali
In Hoshiarpur, ‘Team Modi’, ‘NaMo Brigade’ fight it out
NGT stays new tube wells, eucalyptus plantation
Police clean chit to trio caught felling ‘khair’ trees
PAU releases new variety of rice
Gurdaspur admn nips model code violation in the bud
Facing threat, teachers get police cover for board exams
Hearing of murder accused in US on March 20
Cong seeks dismissal of lawsuit filed in US
Free cure for acid attack victims, HC told
Look into setting up fund for ‘munshis’, HC tells state
Police bust fake currency racket
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Govt’s four-month expenditure to exceed three-quarter revenue
Chandigarh, March 7 Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa proposed that the Assembly vote on four-month supply of funds to meet expenditure totalling Rs 25,292 crore. As the Opposition MLAs staged a walkout after the Speaker turned down their plea for a debate during the zero hour, the vote on account was passed without any discussion. From April to December 2013, the state’s revenue receipts stood at Rs 24,583.12 crore. The expenditure during this period was Rs 27,098.10 crore, a deficit of Rs 2,514.98 crore. Dhindsa said the deficit was lower than that in the corresponding period a year earlier (Rs 3,970 crore). Speaking to The Tribune after presenting the vote on account, the Finance Minister agreed that the deficit by the end of this financial year would be much higher. The state has a liability of almost Rs 2,700 crore that has to be paid to over three lakh employees by the end of this month. While Rs 1,000 crore is due as 30 per cent arrear on account of revised pay scales, the rest comprises pending dearness allowance and other bills. With this, the revenue deficit would touch Rs 5,200 crore. The state had set the target to reduce the deficit to Rs 1,747 crore by March 2014. In 2012-13, the figure stood at Rs 4,758 crore. “The revenue generation has seen a negative growth under several heads. Because of a slump in the real estate business, the stamp duty collections are down by almost Rs 600 crore as compared to last year,” said Dhindsa. He said the poor financial health could mainly be attributed to the high salary and pension bill (Rs 20,179 crore this year), frequent hike in dearness allowance and various welfare schemes whose expenditure was met from the revenue account. “Not only Punjab but all states, including Haryana, have gone off the fiscal consolidation roadmap because of these reasons,” he said. Dhindsa said the debt had touched Rs 95,000 crore. “But we are hoping that once the NDA forms the government at the Centre, Punjab can prepare a case for debt waiver, rescheduling of its loans or at least getting an interest subvention. The government paid Rs 7,600 crore as interest this year whereas Rs 3,900 crore went as an installment against loan,” he said. Earlier, the House also adopted supplementary demands for grants worth Rs 5,101.68 crore for expenditure incurred in 2013-14. This included additional outlay under 28 heads on revenue account (Rs 4,297.06 crore) and for 16 heads on capital account (Rs 804.62 crore). balance sheet Asked why the Punjab Government preferred vote on account instead of a regular Budget, Finance Minister Parminder Dhindsa said the step had been taken in view of the Lok Sabha elections. “If the NDA Government comes to power at the Centre, Punjab will prepare its case for a debt waiver or rescheduling of loans. The state will also be seek greater financial independence,” he said. Hike in annual plan Bar on buying cars to go
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MLAs want exams back in primary, middle schools
Chandigarh, March 7 Students up to Class VIII are exempt from examination currently, as per a Union Government policy. The schools, as such, cannot fail the students in any class till middle standard. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal assured the Vidhan Sabha that the government would look into the demand. Legislators from ruling coalition as well as the Opposition spoke against the “no examination” culture. The issue was raised by Gurkirat Kotli, Congress MLA from Khanna. He said under the existing set-up, schools had to admit in Class IX students who could neither write alphabet nor perform simple mathematics. He said the pupils could not be blamed as they were never evaluated till they reached secondary level. Badal said the government had opposed the central policy, which had even “increased the school dropout rate marginally”. He said a survey was underway to ascertain whether the policy had improved or deteriorated the standard of education. Seeking a resolution on approaching the Centre to discontinue thepractice, Chamkaur Sahib MLA Charanjit Channi said, “I was shocked to know the response from a cross-section of teachers. They said they had to admit students who could not spell words or do simple mathematics.” Jathedar Tota Singh, Akali Dal MLA and former Education Minister, said though education was a state subject, the Centre was “exercising its control through useless practices”. On behalf of Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar, Channi asked what steps would the state take to implement the Centre’s Food Security Act. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon said the Centre was yet to provide any details about the cost of the scheme and its handling. United for a cause
Govt contradicts own announcement Contrary to its earlier announcements of honouring panchayats that were elected unanimously, Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said “there was no government policy to facilitate any such funding”. Replying to a question by Joginder Singh Pangrain, Rakhra said 1,920 panchayats were elected unanimously during the last elections.
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analysis
Chandigarh, March 7 The Congress MLAs failed to take on the government on any major issue. Outside the House, the Opposition had been gunning for the SAD-BJP Government with the names of the Revenue Minister, Ajnala MLA and Jails Minister's son coming up in the Rs 6,000 crore drug racket and that of Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi in the vote scam.
Jakhar’s flip-flop
The session began with the Congress boycotting the Governor’s Address and seeking the resignation of the ministers accused in the drug scam. But the Congress MLA failed to keep up the pressure. As a result, both Majithia and Joshi, who were absent on the first day of the session, chose to attend the remaining session. Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar initially tried to take on the government on the drug trade and "sham" investments. But his attack seemed rather blunt. On the third day of the session, he almost gave a clean chit to Majithia, calling him a gentleman only to retract a day later after criticism from his party. Sanaur MLA Lal Singh, Gidderbaha MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Jakhar himself tried to salvage the situation the next day.
Next session
The vote on account was passed amid yet another walkout by the Opposition. The government will have to call another session in July and get the Budget passed.
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Meek Cong protest as Jeet switches side
Chandigarh, March 7 After spending nearly an hour protesting mildly and at the same time shaking hands with SAD-BJP members inside the well of the House, the Opposition MLAs finally staged a walkout. They were demanding a zero hour to raise various issues. Speaking to The Tribune, a majority of the Congress MLAs admitted to having no major issue to hold their fort inside the Assembly. Some MLAs defended the walkout on the grounds that several burning issues concerning the people, including protests by government employees in various parts of the state, required immediate attention. The stage for the walkout was laid at 10.36 am when Speaker Charanjit Atwal announced Jeet Mohinder’s resignation. As the Treasury benches shouted “Bole So Nihaal”, Congress MLAs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Balbir Sidhu and Ajit Singh Mofar walked to the Speaker’s desk and shouted anti-government slogans. As the trio stood there, a number of other Congress MLAs, individually and in small groups, started an informal friendly interaction with the ruling party MLAs, mainly Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal. Responding to Randeep Nabha shaking hands with Sukhbir, Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia said: “Why don’t you come and sit with us?” Ludhiana-West MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu also walked to the Badals and interacted with them for more than three minutes, as did Hoshiarpur MLA Sham Sunder Arora, besides several others. The House was adjourned at 10.48 am. The SAD legislators could be seen enjoying the scene when Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani got up and called the Congress leaders ‘Kammlian da tola’ (group of madmen). The House recommenced at 11 am when the Congress MLAs went back to their desks. Balbir Sidhu and Mofar again sought a zero hour, a demand that was turned down by the Speaker. The Opposition finally staged a walkout.
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‘Kalianwala Khu’: SGPC seeks investigation
Amritsar, March 7 As per a statement issued here, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar flayed the instance in which certain people burnt the effigy of noted Sikh historian Dr Kirpal Singh after his remarks on the issue. He said any such move against the renowned historian was highly condemnable. He demanded that the incident’s historical aspects should be probed. “The historians should throw light on the incident and any further action should be initiated on the basis of their findings,” he said. Meanwhile, radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa questioned the ruling SAD’s wisdom in announcing the decision to raise a memorial for soldiers who died during the 1857 mutiny. Taking a jibe at the Akali Dal, Dal Khalsa leader Sarabjit Singh Ghuman said, “Those soldiers who became part of the British Army and participated in the Anglo-Sikh war to end the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh are being praised in the regime of Parkash Singh Badal, who claims that he is running his government on the lines of the Maharaja’s rule.” He said historians like Dr Kirpal Singh, who has been accorded the title of ‘Professor of Sikhism’ by the Akal Takht, had revealed that these soldiers worked against the interests of Punjab and Sikh principles. He urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to stop the Akali Government from building the memorial. He said the gurdwara built in the name of these soldiers in Ajnala was also against the tenets of Sikhism. He said revelations made by experts should be an eye-opener for all political parties and individuals and they should stop terming these soldiers as “martyrs”. On the other hand, Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Management Committee chief Amarjit Singh Sarkaria, who led the excavation work at the historic well, termed the attempts to raise a question mark on the sacrifice of 1857 uprising martyrs as “divisive politics”. He said the soldiers were discharging their duties when they fought against Sikhs but people must remember that they revolted against the same British for the country’s cause. He said those opposing the memorial should not forget that Sikhs too fought under the banner of British Army in World War I and II.
Charges and counter-charges The historians should throw light on the incident and any further action should be initiated on the basis of their
findings. Avtar Singh Makkar, sgpc
president Those soldiers who became part of the British Army and participated in the
Anglo-Sikh war are being praised. Sarabjit Ghuman , Dal Khalsa leader They were discharging their duties when they fought against Sikhs but we must remember that they also revolted against the British. Amarjit
Sarkaria, Shaheed Ganj Gurdwara
Build a temple, not a gurdwara: Capt
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Remains not of Sikhs: Historians
Bathinda, March 7 Historians such as Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi stated in his book ‘Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten’ that some top British officers disapproved of the August 1, 1857 killings. They even termed these as ‘Ajnala cruelties’. The authors claim the killings were a result of the British policy of keeping Sikh and Punjabi Muslim soldiers in confidence, while disarming the ‘Hindustani soldiers’. Correspondence between the British officers reveals that they used the mutual hatred of Sikhs and Punjabi Muslims for the soldiers from the eastern states, whose natives were called ‘purbias’. Though later Punjabis (including Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus) and Bengalis together spearheaded the freedom struggle, the British cleverly did not allow them to unite in the 1857 uprising. British author Bossworth Smith’s biography of then Punjab Governor John Lawrence and Fredrick Cooper’s book, ‘Crisis in the Punjab’, state that Cooper, who was the then Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, bragged about the killings. This had shocked Lawrence. Gandhi states, “After chasing and capturing 303 out of 400 or so disarmed Hindustani sepoys, who had escaped the previous day from their Lahore internment, Cooper had them shot, in batches of 10 in Ajnala near Amritsar. After 237 bodies were dumped into a well, Cooper ordered his Sikh and Muslim police personnel to produce the remaining 66 prisoners.” Gandhi further writes that only 21 of the remaining soldiers that were locked into a small room were brought by the police. The rest had suffocated to death. Cooper sent a report of the proceedings to Lawrence, who called the incident ‘nauseous’. Cooper, however, was proud of the fact that “a single Anglo-Saxon supported by a section of Asiatics had coldly presided over so memorable an execution”. Historians estimated the number of the deceased to be 282. In the recent excavation, the remains of 282 soldiers were found. This indicates that the 21 soldiers fetched were probably spared. Gandhi puts the Ajnala killings and other incidents into perspective. He writes that the British were wary of the Sikhs, and Lawrence was aware of the Sikh soldiers’ disdain for the ‘Hindustanis’ (who were part of the British troops that ended Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule). Smith in his book, ‘Life of Lord Lawrence‘, states that Lawrence exploited these elements. “There was the hatred of the Sikh for the Mohammedan, who had persecuted him. The Punjabi, whatever his caste or creed, were contemptuous of the less manly races of Bengal,” Smith said. Therefore, the British raised a new regiment, the 25th Punjabi, on June 8, 1857. It comprised of Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu Dogras. Lawrnece wrote to Brigadier Sydeny Cotton on June 10, 1857 to form a regiment of 10 companies in which four would be of Sikhs, two of hill Rajputs, two of Punjabi Muslims and two of Pathans. These were then distanced from the soldiers from the eastern states and effectively used against them. The incident
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It won’t be a cakewalk for Preneet this time
Patiala, March 7 Dhillon had contested as an Independent from the Dera Bassi assembly seat in 2012 against Congress candidate Jasjit Singh Randhawa after he was denied the party ticket. He did fairly well, polling 52,000 votes. The Congress candidate saw his security deposit being forfeited. It will be no cakewalk for Preneet, seeking to be elected for the fourth time. Dr Gandhi enjoys tremendous goodwill in the city and nearby rural areas. He runs a low-cost clinic. Also, AAP has managed to attract a large number of educated voters. Staunch Congress loyalists from Samana — Satpal Johri, Maya Kaur, Karamveer Mittal, Devinder Sharma, Devraj Garg and Devraj Garg — have joined AAP, terming the Congress as a “corrupt party.” They had been with the Congress for five decades. Many had been jailed for supporting Indira Gandhi during Emergency. Preneet started her political career in 1999. Her husband, Capt Amarinder Singh, lost elections from Patiala in 1998 against PS Chandumajra. But the BJP-led NDA Government then collapsed after 13 days. That’s when Preneet was fielded by the Congress from Patiala for the first time. Her first victory can be attributed to fissures within the SAD with Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra parting ways with the Badal-led Akali Dal. Preneet bagged 3,60, 000 votes. In 2004, she was pitted against the late Capt Kanwaljit Singh. She defeated him with a margin of 23,600 votes. Her biggest victory came against SAD candidate Chandumajra in 2009. She beat him with a margin of over 97,000 votes. Patiala poised for a keen triangular contest I will highlight various development works carried out by the Punjab Government in the past seven years. Preneet Kaur has no major achievement to her credit~ Deepinder Dhillon,
sad candidate I will seek support on the basis of various development works undertaken in the constituency in the past 15 years and the projects sponsored by the Central
Government. Preneet Kaur, Patiala mp Despite being MP for 15 years, Preneet Kaur has miserably failed to address the concerns
of the people of Patiala. She has not even been able to sort out the Ghaggar
issue. Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, aap candidate
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Phoolka: CM’s demand for special court thoughtless
Ludhiana, March 7 Phoolka said Badal’s statement in the Punjab Assembly was thoughtless. “A special court is constituted for trial of cases and is headed by a Sessions Judge. For constituting a special court, an Act needs to be passed by Parliament or the assembly. Both Parliament and the Delhi Assembly have been suspended. Hence, no such Act can be passed in the near future,” he said. Phoolka said only three riot cases were pending trial. “It is illogical that a demand for a special court is being made to try only three cases.” Phoolka said: “ Without a reinvestigation, the cases cannot be reopened. Thus, the demand is baseless. “As many as 237 FIRs have been closed by the police. To reopen these cases, the Kejriwal Government had recommended a Special Investigation Team. Ironically, the SAD opposed it.”
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Sidhu may not get ticket for Amritsar seat
Amritsar, March 7 Talking to The Tribune on the phone from Delhi, Sidhu hinted that the top BJP leadership had offered him seats other than Amritsar. He said: “Neither any allurement nor fear can drive me away from Amritsar. I told the party that I could not betray the trust of the people of Amritsar. Now, it is for the party to decide on the issue.” He reiterated that it depended on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal whether he was allotted the ticket from Amritsar or not. He alleged that Badal had suggested a top BJP leader that he should contest from Amritsar, promising that he would be victorious. Sidhu said he wondered as to why he was being shown the door now when the BJP seemed set to return to power. There have been reports of Sidhu having been offered the West Delhi seat by the BJP leadership. Sidhu said he would campaign for any BJP candidate from Amritsar. To a query, he said: “If I can campaign for the SAD in Delhi, I can do so in Punjab as well.” There has been uncertainty over Sidhu's candidature ever since he locked horns with the Badal Government over his pet projects being “scuttled”. The MP said: “I am well aware that no ruling alliance candidate in Punjab can be fielded without the consent of the Badals. If they don’t want me to contest, I will not.”
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Cong wants CM’s pictures on ambulances to go
Chandigarh, march 7 In a complaint to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh, PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa has sought that instructions be issued to the government for removing the photos in view of the model code of conduct. “ We want to bring to your notice that ‘108' Ambulances in the state are carrying the Chief Minister’s photographs... This is a violation of the model code of conduct," reads the
complaint. Fatehgarh Sahib District Election Officer-cum-DC Arun Sekhri has set up a complaint redressal centre. A voter can get any kind of information on 1800-1802-810, a toll-free number. Sekhri said Vinod Kumar Gagat, District DPO, had been nominated nodal officer of the centre. The centre would remain open 24 hours. He told representatives of parties to immediately remove hoardings or else these would be removed by officials and the expenses added in the account of the candidates concerned. Only those carrying photo I-cards would be allowed to cast their vote, he added.
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Manpreet Badal sought my blessings, says Amarinder
Chandigarh, March 7 Amarinder Singh today said that Manpreet, who is contesting the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat against SAD’s Harsimrat Badal, had sought his support. “He came to my residence with another PPP leader and sought my support. I told him that he would be given all possible help,” said the former Chief Minister. But the secretary of the state unit of the CPI, Bant Singh, today said that his party had not entered into any pact with the Congress in the state. It had been earlier reported that CPI leader AB Bardhan had given his approval to such an alliance. “I talked to CPI's national secretary Sudhakar Reddy who told me that there is no question of an alliance with the Congress at any level,” Bant Singh explained. He said the CPI would put up its candidates in Faridkot, Ferozepur and Amritsar. “As Manpreet has aligned with the Congress, the CPI, the CPM and other groups will try put up common candidates in Punjab. We tried to keep the Sanjha Morcha in tact, but that is all over now,” he added.
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2 councillors pledge support to Aiyali
Ludhiana, March 7 Two councillors, whose support the Bains group had earlier claimed, pledged allegiance to the SAD candidate at a press conference organised by Ayali yesterday. Councillor Sarbjit Singh Garcha, representing Ward No. 75 (6,500 voters), said he and his supporters were against candidates who joined and quit parties as per their convenience. He advised Bains not to part ways with the SAD. Ayali criticised Bains and his brother Balwinder Singh , Ludhiana South MLA, for “using the SAD platform” to further their interests. Ward No. 74 councillor Amandeep Kaur’s husband Kulwinder Singh also pledged to support Ayali. He said he had supported the Bains brothers during the assembly poll.
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In Hoshiarpur, ‘Team Modi’, ‘NaMo Brigade’ fight it out
Hoshiarpur, March 7 Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna faction formed “NaMo Brigade” two months ago and have been campaigning in the district since, while the other faction led by Chief Minister’s adviser Tikshan Sud floated “Team
Modi” a few days ago. Khanna’s political secretary Sanjiv Talwar has formed the “NaMo Brigade”. His confidante Honey Sood was given its command. “The aim is to drive home the point that only Modi is capable of taking India to new heights of development. He is the only man who deserves to be the Prime Minister,” Talwar said. A month ago, Tikshan’s faction formed “Team
Modi”. A press conference here was organised on March 2 by its founder member Gurtej
Pannu. “‘Team Modi’ is an apolitical organisation of common man. The purpose is to spread the message that Modi is the best candidate to be the Prime Minister,” he said.
Tikshan’s son Jived Sud was given the command of “Team Modi” as its convener. “We welcome all,” he said on being asked about the two teams working for the same cause. To this, Talwar said: “The ‘NaMo Brigade’ is working for Modi and everyone is welcome to join us. The formation of any new team in the name of Modi will not make a difference. People are free to work for either of the two teams.” “Ours is a completely apolitical organisation to motivate people, but others claiming to be apolitical are led by those who are holding posts in one or the other wing of the
BJP,” Talwar added.
Fissures to fore
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Villagers threaten boycott BSP: No alliance with BJP Lambi area is 'hypersensitive' Enlisting young voters 'Ideal booths' planned
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NGT stays new tube wells, eucalyptus plantation
Hoshiarpur, March 7 The March 5 direction came on an application filed by non-government organisation (NGO) Safal Bharat Guru Parampra, seeking a ban on issuing new tube well connections and eucalyptus plantation in the state owing to falling groundwater. The NGT bench, comprising P Jyothimani, GK Pandey, Prof AR Yousuf and Ranjan Chatterjee, has directed that the Financial Commissioner, Department of Forest, and Secretary, Power, be made parties in the case and issued them a notice to appear before the tribunal on March 19, the next date of hearing. PK Rana, NGO patron, said the Chief Secretary had filed an application before the NGT to exempt him from appearance owing to the ongoing session of the Vidhan Sabha and submitted that other respondents were officers subordinate to him so he had undertaken the responsibility for any reply which they had submitted. “In his reply, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) submitted that 70,000 tube well connections were advertised, but not for issuing fresh connections. The CMD submitted that it was a demand notice requesting small farmers to pay about ~75,000 for getting clearance for the tube well connections,” he told The Tribune. The NGT bench ordered: “There is no denial of the allegation made on behalf of the applicant, 70,000 fresh tube well connections are sought to be given, and in light of the submission made by the respondent number 5 (PSPCL CMD), who is a very responsible officer, we direct that status quo…has to be maintained in that regard.” The bench also directed, “We make it clear that the officer concerned shall file the detailed affidavit showing the details of the groundwater profile in Punjab on the next date of hearing. Apart from that, the particulars relating to the number of persons whose applications are pending for the purpose of connection of tube wells and the number of persons who have been made allotments so far.” The counsel appearing for Punjab submitted that on the next hearing, he would file an affidavit detailing the government’s policy decision about the plantation of eucalyptus.
The case
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Police clean chit to trio caught felling ‘khair’ trees
Hoshiarpur, March 7 Sources in the police revealed that the car was shown as being recovered from the three accused, Vijay Kumar, Rohit Kumar and Sunny. However, the logs of ‘khair’ wood, saw, axes, daggers, sickles and a gun were shown seized from the scene of crime. They say the police have also not recovered live cartridges seized by the villagers yesterday. The investigating officer claimed the villagers mistook the trio as wood smugglers and handed them over to the police. He said the three were driving back to their native village of Jhawana from their farmhouse in Khagwari village. DSP Harvinder Singh said Vijay Kumar wasn’t Bathinda IG’s driver, but was attached with the 7th Battalion, PAP, Jalandhar. He, however, claimed the villagers had caught the three red-handed, smuggling wood. He said the villagers were patrolling the area in the night after suspecting that wood smugglers were active there. The three were produced in a court and remanded in judicial custody. They were booked after receiving a complaint from Arun Kumar, Narinder Kumar and Ram Singh, of Dholbaha village on Thursday.
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PAU releases new variety of rice
Ludhiana, March 7 SS Gosal, Director of Research, said, "The PR-123 variety of paddy will prove beneficial for the farmers on account of its higher yield, shorter maturity period and disease resistance than other varieties.
About PR-123 PAU claims the average paddy yield of this variety is 1.5 to 2 quintal per acre, which is higher than the previously released superfine varieties PR 114 and PR 111
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Gurdaspur admn nips model code violation in the bud
Batala, March 7 The SAD halqa in-charge (area chief) and former legislator, LS Lodhinanagal, complained to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhinav Trikha that the tenders were to be opened on March 5, the day election code of conduct was enforced. Acting on the complaint, the DC asked Batala Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Lovejit Kalsi to put on hold the tendering process. The DC is also the Returning Officer of Gurdaspur parliamentary seat, of which the Batala assembly segment forms a part. A senior BJP leader reportedly mounted pressure on the SDM to go ahead with the process. The officer, however, declined to entertain BJP leader’s request fearing backlash from SAD leaders who are at loggerheads with the BJP leader. Lodhinangal claimed that on February 7, the local Municipal Council (MC) had invited tenders for the development works without taking the mandatory consent of the MC Administrator. The-then SDM, JS Grewal, who was also the MC Administrator, had written to the MC officials asking why his consent was not taken before the tenders were floated. The tenders were to be opened on February 20. The BJP leader, in whose area the development works were to be initiated, pulled the strings and managed to postpone the date to March 5. But on the same day, the EC announced the elections and, with it, the model code of conduct came into force. High drama was witnessed as the BJP leader wanted the new SDM, Kalsi, to go ahead with the process. Lodhinangal, after informing the DC about the anomaly, trooped to the SDM’s office along with Suresh Bhatia, BJP’s Batala district president. Several former municipal councillors also accompanied Bhatia and Lodhinangal to the SDM’s office, where they raised objections and claimed that the entire tendering exercise was to appease the BJP leader. Lodhinangal alleged that instead of ensuring all-round development of the town, the MC officials were keen on developing that part of the city where the BJP leader had financial stakes. Acting on Lodhinangal’s verbal complaint, a livid DC rang up the SDM who put the process on hold. The SDM denied that she was under political pressure and claimed that she went by the rule in cancelling the tenders. The DC has warned officials of any laxity in maintaining the model code of conduct. Swift action
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Facing threat, teachers get police cover for board exams
Faridkot, March 7 Last year, the management of a private school belonging to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Faridkot did not initially allow the supervisory staff to enter the examination hall and once they were allowed, they faced hostile behaviour from students. “Police security has been provided to those who were facing threats,” confirmed Varinder Paul Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Faridkot. Moreover, to check cheating in board examinations, which started on March 1, Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, School Education Department, has issued directions that the District Education Officers will be held responsible if there was any complaint of cheating. She said no teacher with poor track record would be deputed on supervisory duty in examination centres. The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been told to impose Section 144 of the CrPC to check assembly of people, who assist students in cheating, near schools, said Bhawra. The school head would have no interference in the examination hall. However, if any copying material was found in or around the washrooms, the Superintendent of Police has been directed to lodge complaint against the school head. On guard
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Hearing of murder accused in US on March 20
Sacramento, March 7 On August 31, 2008, Dhami had allegedly murdered Paramjit Singh Pama during a cricket match at a Sikh temple's sports ground on Bradshaw Road in Sacramento. Gurpreet Singh Ghosal, who was also involved in the murder, was arrested but Amandeep managed to flee from the USA and reached Jalandhar. The Jalandhar police arrested him in November 2013. He was interrogated for another case but during the questioning, the police realised he was wanted by the FBI. He was handed over to the FBI after three months. He has been placed behind bars in the Sacramento County Jail in the USA. He has been charged for three cases of felonies, including murder, there. Dhami was admitted "no possible bail". In this case, Dhami’s accomplice Ghosal
was sentenced to 35 years in jail.
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Cong seeks dismissal of lawsuit filed in US
New York, March 7 Congress party's attorney Ravi Batra yesterday filed a memorandum of law in the Manhattan Court in support of a pending motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The new memorandum said that the SFJ "unjustly" sought to hold the Congress, which is not a "natural person", liable in a US court for "acts occurring in India nearly three decades ago, involving only residents of India, with no plausible link to the United States.” Batra said in the memorandum that the "controlling precedent" deprives the federal court of subject matter jurisdiction over the SFJ's other claims under the Alien Tort Statute. Under the controlling precedent, business entities and corporations cannot be sued in the United States for human rights violations committed in foreign countries. Batra said the SFJ and other plaintiffs "wish to weaken American sovereignty and upset the comity amongst nations" by their lawsuit. The SFJ said that it would challenge the Congress party's motion to dismiss the human rights violation lawsuit. US federal judge Robert Sweet would hear arguments in the case on March 19. —PTI
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Free cure for acid attack victims, HC told
Chandigarh, March 7 The undertaking came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by Poor Patients Relief Society through its secretary-cum-advocate, HC Arora. The Punjab Government filed a short affidavit stating that it had issued a notification on March 5 providing for 100 per cent medical reimbursement of treatment of acid attack victims, including their plastic surgery. The Punjab Government separately stated in its affidavit that it would now amend the notification to provide for “free treatment in recognised hospitals”, on the pattern of the policy framed by the Haryana Government. The Punjab Government also stated that “Rs 100 crore was reserved for the purpose of compensation to be given to crime victims under the disposal of Legal Services Authority”. Arora, however, argued that district legal services authorities were unable to entertain applications for compensation to acid attack victims for the want of funds. He argued that the funds were earmarked for the purpose, but not transferred to the authority. Taking note of the contentions, the High Court directed the State of Punjab to file an affidavit to clarify its position. Taking serious note of the Chandigarh Administration’s inaction to frame appropriate scheme for compensation and rehabilitation of acid attack victims, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to finalise the plan within next two weeks.
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Look into setting up fund for ‘munshis’, HC tells state
Chandigarh, March 7 Acting on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by clerk Sandeep Saini through his employer-cum-counsel, HC Arora, the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli directed the governments to examine the feasibility of enacting the legislation on the pattern of similar legislations by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Orissa. Arora had earlier submitted that there was an advocates’ welfare fund in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. But the clerks employed with the advocates did not have the benefit of social security schemes. He added the clerks played a vital role in the justice administration system. But they had to collect funds from colleagues and advocates for meeting any emergency financial situations that they come across.
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Police bust fake currency racket
Muktsar, March 7 The four-member gang duped people by offering to exchange the original currency with more than double the amount of fake currency. The police said Balwinder Singh of Doda village alleged that Baba Ashoka Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Bhutto and Laadi Singh, all from Ferozepur, had duped him of Rs 50,000 on February 23 by offering to double the amount after one week but refused later. The accused were booked under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on March 1. Ashoka, Rakesh and Bhutto have been arrested, while Laadi is on the run. Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surjit Singh said 10 bundles of blank paper cut in the shape of Rs 500 note, five bundles of blank paper cut in the shape of Rs 100 note, a chemical, a tube of Betadine ointment (medicine), a box of colour and some other material were seized from the accused.
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The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed vote on account of Rs 25,292 crore for the first four months of the next financial year amidst a walkout by the Opposition Congress. Interestingly, the government expenditure during these four months would be higher than what the state earned in the first nine months (April-December) of the current financial year.
Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa proposed that the Assembly vote on four-month supply of funds to meet expenditure totalling Rs 25,292 crore.
A day after some Sikh organisations objected to linking ‘Kalianwala Khu’ incident with the first war of freedom struggle, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today sought a thorough investigation into its historical aspects.
Why vote on account 
Punjab’s annual plan for the 2014-15 fiscal is estimated to be
Rs 19,210 crore, up from ~16,125 crore in the current financial year. The Finance Minister has said the budget utilisation during the current year would be around 70 per cent.
The government will remove the bar on buying new cars for its ministers, CPSs and all MLAs in the next financial year. The Finance Department had recently received a proposal to buy 131 new cars for ministers, CPSs and government’s advisers. The Finance Minister said since the cars of these VIPs had turned old, the department would make provisions to buy new cars in next few months.
Chandigarh: