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Field Jaitley from Amritsar: Joshi group
Govt raises MBBS, BDS fee by 10%
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Act against MLA Jagir Kaur for using MPLAD fund: Khaira
Anganwari workers protest outside minister’s house
Bhagwant Mann, Chhotepur on AAP list
Badals in a fix over campaigning for INLD
In Jalandhar, BSP’s Kotli may eat into Cong votes
Meet demands, get votes: Farmers to parties
BJP gets going in Gurdaspur
Akalis collecting ‘gunda’ tax to fund poll: Bittu
Ghubaya keeps BJP workers waiting for poll meeting
Patiala school caught stocking 150 expired juice cartons
US lawmakers want leeway for Sikhs in military attire
US researcher out to find Ghadar Party’s origin
Heavy police to be deployed for fest
Code of conduct goes for a toss
Year after panchayat poll duty, employees yet to receive dues
Sikhs celebrate Fateh Diwas at Red Fort
Kalianwala Khu
PTU rolls out new admission policy
State battles addiction as poppy husk trade booms in Rajasthan
Women voters outnumber men in Muktsar district
Flying Sikh confers degrees on Ferozepur college students
Engineering student drowns
Students fall ill after consuming midday meal
EC bars 10 leaders from contest
EC won’t seek forgery case against Minister
EC yet to hear of MLA’s resignation
Brahmpura holds meet in gurdwara, ‘violates’ code
Govt gets police panel members, violates SC orders
SI, wife found dead in Bhikhiwind
Officer quits, to contest poll
HC pulls up Punjab for poor record on parole-jumpers
Hardcore criminal sent to police custody
Police acting under pressure: Assault victim
Couple killed in mishap
Teacher found killed in tube well room, suspect booked
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Field Jaitley from Amritsar: Joshi group
Amritsar, March 10 Talking to mediapersons, Joshi claimed: “Fielding Jaitley from Amritsar will have a positive impact not only in Amritsar but all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.” State BJP vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, one of the contenders for the party ticket, was present at the press conference. Others present were state BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh, Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, district BJP president Naresh Sharma and several councillors considered close to Joshi. “We are not rejecting anybody’s claim,” said Joshi, referring to three-time MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. He contended that if Jaitley was allotted the Amritsar seat, residents could look forward to key development projects coming to the border city. To a query whether Sidhu had failed as an MP, Joshi said Sidhu had done a good job and brought a number of projects to the constituency. Though the BJP leaders showered praise on Jaitley they refrained from criticising Sidhu. The "veiled attack" on Sidhu is significant as the party is expected to announce its candidates for Punjab on March 13. Sidhu had met the BJP top brass regarding his candidature from Amritsar a couple of days ago. The tussle between Sidhu and his rival BJP group has come out in the open. Both Joshi and Chhina were once Sidhu’s confidants. It was Sidhu who had brought Joshi into the political arena. Even if the cricketer-turned-politician gets the party ticket from Amritsar, he may not get the support of local leaders. Sidhu fell out with Joshi and Chhina after the last Lok Sabha elections. He had trailed behind his rivals in their assembly segments. Sidhu accused the leaders of not supporting him wholeheartedly. Joshi had won the Amritsar North seat in the 2007 assembly elections, while Chhina had lost from Amritsar West. Those backing Minister
Why the bad blood with sitting Member of Parliament Sidhu
Trouble for Navjot Sidhu has done a good job and brought a number of projects to the city... Fielding senior leader Arun Jaitley from Amritsar will have a positive impact not only in Amritsar but all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Jaitley Sahib is my guru. He is welcome to contest from Amritsar. I am ready to give everything to the party. What I will keep are my principles.I would rather die than contest from another seat, just to get a plum
post.
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Govt raises MBBS, BDS fee by 10%
Chandigarh, March 10 The notification related to the hike mentions that the students will also have to pay an additional 10 per cent as hostel fee. Medical students will now pay Rs 16,500 per year for a single room and Rs 26,400 for a special room (the electricity charges are not included in this amount). A security of Rs 27,500 will also have to be deposited. The government has directed various colleges to collect the fee yearly at the start of the session rather than the full amount for the course in advance. In case of shifting from one college to another during subsequent counselling in view of the waiting list, the fee will be refunded or adjusted within a fortnight. Failing this, the institution will be liable to pay the amount with bank interest. This is the second fee hike in as many years by the government. Last year, a committee was constituted on whose recommendations the fee hike was enforced. But this time round, the government did not feel the need of any such committee and the fee hike has been enforced on the proposal of the Department of Medical Education and Research. There are 10 medical colleges in the state, of which three are in the government sector. They have 950 MBBS seats in all. There are two government and 14 private BDS colleges with 1,300 seats. In these colleges, 15 per cent seats are reserved for NRIs whereas 35 per cent seats are filled under management quota. The Punjab Director, Medical Education and Research, Prof Tejbir Singh, said the fee hike was an annual feature. Total seats
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Act against MLA Jagir Kaur for using MPLAD fund: Khaira
Chandigarh, March 10 Besides Bibi Jagir Kaur, the communication has named Kapurthala Zila Parishad chairman Bhupinder Singh, an Executive Engineer (XEN) in the Panchayati Raj Department, and the sarpanches of Fatehpur and Bajaj villages in Nadala block of Kapurthala district. “Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Chowdhary had announced Rs 10 lakh from her MPLAD fund to build community centres in Fatehpur and Bajaj villages in the memory of 27 Dalits killed in a road accident near Hoshiarpur on October 9, 2013,” Khaira said. The minister had allocated the amount to the Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner through a letter dated October 12, 2013, the Congress leader said, adding that Bibi Jagir Kaur forced the XEN to organise foundation stone laying ceremonies in both villages on March 2. Chowdhary had written to the minister concerned on March 3, complaining of encroachment of her rights and duties as an elected Member of Parliament. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh said the complaint had been forwarded to the Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner, seeking his comments before taking any action, in case required. }Union Minister Santosh Chowdhary had allocated ~10 lakh from her MPLAD fund to build community centres in Fatehpur and Bajaj villages… Bibi Jagir Kaur forced the XEN to organise foundation stone laying ceremonies in both villages on March 2~ Sukhpal Khaira, congress leader In line of fire Sukhpal Khaira has written to the EC, demanding legal action against the Bholath MLA
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Anganwari workers protest outside minister’s house
Fazilka, March 10 Addressing the gathering, Anganwari Workers Union president Saroj Chhapriwala and ASHA Workers Union president Amarjit Kaur alleged that the state government had been “overlooking” labour laws and that they were being treated as bonded labourers. They raised slogans against the minister. “The anganwari and ASHA workers should be treated as regular employees and paid Rs 6,200 and Rs 7,810 per month, respectively. They should be granted winter and summer holidays,” demanded the workers. They alleged that the state government had backtracked from its promise to pay them an honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month. They demanded that a seniority list of ASHA workers be prepared and those who had done matriculation after June 3, 2011, be promoted as facilitators.
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Bhagwant Mann, Chhotepur on AAP list
Chandigarh, March 10 Earlier, AAP had announced the candidature of HS Phoolka and Dharmvir Gandhi from Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively. Bhagwant Mann, who has been made party candidate from Sangrur, is a famous comedian and political satirist of the region. A native of Satoj village near Sunam, Bhagwant started his career as a comedian in 1990s. “I was pursuing B.Com from Government College, Sunam, when stage acts gained popularity. I later quit my studies to pursue a career in this field,” he said. Most of his works are a satire on the functioning of the government. "While entertaining people I give them a message against corruption and other social evils", Mann said. He is working in three Punjabi films, of which two are nearing completion. He is playing the lead role in one film. He founded the Lok Lehar Foundation through which he got hand pumps installed in certain villages facing drinking water problem. He had joined hands with Manpreet Singh Badal three years ago and was one of the leading members of the People's Party of Punjab (PPP). He recently parted ways with Manpreet after the latter entered into an electoral alliance with the Congress while Mann wanted an alliance with AAP. In the last assembly elections, he contested against former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and secured 27,000 votes. This time, he is pitched against two sitting MPs — SAD stalwart Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Congress leader Vijay Inder Singla. Prof Sadhu Singh has been given ticket from the Faridkot constituency. He had taught English at Government Brajindra College in Faridkot for 29 years. He later served as principal of KK Marwaha Girls College for 11 years. An author of two books in Punjabi poetry and a member of the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Prof Sadhu Singh is associated with APP since its inception. Born in Manuke Gill village near Bagha Purana, he did MA in English from evening college of Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1970. "While working as draftsman in the Irrigation Department, I joined the evening college for doing Masters in English", he said. He remained associated with the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation and was also president of Faridkot unit of the Government College Lecturers Association. Literature and culture continues to be his first love. He has won laurels in this field at various levels. The third candidate, Sucha Singh Chhotepur has been nominated from Gurdaspur. He was a minister in the Barnala government. He had resigned in protest against the police entry inside the Golden Temple. He graduated from Government College, Gurdaspur. He was elected MLA twice from Dhariwal in 1985 and 2002. Last time, he lost from the Qadian constituency. He became sarpanch of his village when he was a college student. At 23, he became the youngest chairman of the Dhariwal Block Samiti and the Cooperative Land Mortgage Bank, Gurdaspur. "For me, politics is not a profession, but a mission. I never hesitate to speak against what is wrong. In college also, I was the student union leader," said Chhottepur. He also remained a member of the SGPC for about 17 years. About the candidates
Sucha S Chhotepur Gurdaspur
Prof Sadhu Singh Faridkot
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Badals in a fix over campaigning for INLD
Highly placed sources said BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had suggested Badal not to campaign for Chautala’s INLD in case the pact did not materialise. The suggestion was made at a meeting between the two leaders here last Saturday. Modi, it is learnt, reasoned that Badal’s campaigning for the INLD “would dilute the NDA’s attack against the Congress, especially in Haryana and Punjab”. Chautala, INLD president, and his elder son Ajay Chautala have been serving a 10-year sentence in Tihar Jail for illegally recruiting more than 3,200 teachers during their stint in power in the state. The issue cropped up in the meeting after Badal failed to get categorical assurance from Modi on a possible BJP-INLD tie-up. The Punjab Chief Minister reportedly played his trump card saying he may have to campaign for INLD nominees as the SAD not only was an electoral ally of the INLD in Haryana, but he also had family relations with the Chautalas. In the 2009 assembly elections in Haryana, the SAD contested from Ambala City and Kalanwali (Sirsa) constituencies (the state has 90 seats) in an alliance with the INLD. The Akalis bagged the Kalanwali seat, thus opening their account for the first time ever in Haryana. Modi is learnt to have told Badal that the coming parliamentary election would be an “extraordinary” affair in the country’s politics and the focus would be on corruption. The Gujarat Chief Minister tried to impress upon his Punjab counterpart that in the larger interest of the NDA, it would be difficult for the BJP to ally with the INLD as long as the court’s status quo remained on their jail sentence in the job scam. Modi reasoned that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was also strongly opposed to any dilution of the corruption issue. In the end, Modi is learnt to have showed flexibility on the SAD campaigning for the INLD by leaving it to Badal’s “conscience”. He is said to have made it known to Badal that the SAD’s decision would have no bearing on BJP’s “old and tested” relationship with the
Akalis. Political predicament
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In Jalandhar, BSP’s Kotli may eat into Cong votes
Jalandhar, March 10 While the SAD-BJP has already announced Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and Adampur MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu as its candidate, the Congress is expected to announce its nominee in a few days. The Jalandhar seat has a sizeable Dalit population. The BSP hopes to get a majority of Dalit votes. In the 2012 assembly elections, SAD’s Tinu, BSP’s Sukhwinder Kotli and Congress’ Satnam Singh Kainth had contested the Adampur (SC) seat. Tinu won the seat with 48,171 votes. Kainth and Kotli secured 28,865 and 25,500 votes, respectively. Kotli is likely to eat into the Congress votes, say observers. Tinu claimed that with Kotli in fray, it was advantage SAD. Caste counts
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Meet demands, get votes: Farmers to parties
Chandigarh, March 10 The community constitutes more than 50 per cent of the total voters in the state. Parties are faced with the challenge to tap voters in around 10.58 lakh farmer families, besides a population of 15.90 lakh farm labourers, said sources in Punjab Agricultural University. The Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) were separately approached by the SAD, BJP and AAP, seeking feedback on issues concerning them. Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president, BKU (Lakhowal), said: “A formal decision to support any political party will be taken after a meeting on March 15”. Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), said: “We have been approached by the Akalis. We have apprised them of our concerns. We were also approached by the Ambala unit of the BJP. We want commitment from parties that decisions of the Bali conference such as doing away with the minimum support price will not be implemented. We will support the party that will promise a concrete social security plan for farmers”. Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, general secretary, BKU (Ugrahan), said: “We were approached by the Aam Aadmi Party. We have not yet made any commitment to any party. We are disillusioned with the government’s response on issues concerning us. The government failed to revise its list of farmers who committed suicide”. Lakhowal said: “We may support the Akalis because they approached us on vital subjects concerning welfare of the farmers. They have assured us that our demands will be taken care of”. Hefty vote bank
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BJP gets going in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, March 10 The constituency comprises two revenue districts — Gurdaspur and Pathankot. Activists of the RSS have fanned out in all nine Vidhan Sabha segments of the constituency. They are working in small groups of six or seven. With 14.72 lakh enrolled voters, the constituency is considered one of the largest in the state. “The BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi is an RSS man.This is why the RSS is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of BJP candidates throughout the country,” said an RSS worker. Congress leaders, on the other hand, say they will start working in the field once the party announces its candidate. The BJP will have at least 10 young workers manning each booth. “Our young workers are highly motivated. They are not waiting for the announcement of the candidate. They are already being trained on booth management, ” said Dr Samrendra Sharma from Pathankot. “Keeping in view the constituency topography, with a large number of villages inaccessible, it is imperative that the parties announce their candidates at the earliest,” said a former minister. Leaving no stone unturned
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Akalis collecting ‘gunda’ tax to fund poll: Bittu
Ropar, March 10 The funds collected from there, the sitting MP alleged, was to be used by the ruling coalition in the election campaign. Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting for Hola Mohalla preparations, Bittu said he as well as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Partap Singh Bajwa had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. He alleged the SAD was also violating the code of conduct by convening meetings of party workers in
gurdwaras. The Congress candidate said he had also sought the Election Commission’s intervention in preventing the SAD from holding its political conference on the ground of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib. The act would violate code, he claimed. The SAD every year holds its conference on the ground, which is managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, he said. About the Congress leaders who were likely to attend the Hola Mohalla political conference, he said the decision would be taken after the electoral pact with the People’s Party of Punjab would be signed in Chandigarh tomorrow (Tuesday). In a statement issued from
Chandigarh, Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that in his letter to the poll authorities, he had sought directions to prohibit the SAD from holding its political conference on the gurdwara premises. The letter read, "The ruling party, SAD, is going to hold a political conference on March 16 in the complex (parking place in front of the gurdwara
sarovar) in Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Holla Mohalla, an annual religious function of the Sikhs. The conference will violate the model code of conduct, which has come into force with the announcement of the General Election
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Ghubaya keeps BJP workers waiting for poll meeting
Abohar, March
10 Ghubaya sought to explain he could not wind up the preceding meetings held to kick start campaigning in other segments. Sources said BJP IT cell district chief Sarita Chaudhary, grand daughter of former minister Chaudhary Satya Dev of Choohriwala Dhanna village took lead in organising the first meeting here to discuss the campaigning stratergy for
Ghubaya. This was probably not relished by some other factions in the saffron party. Social Welfare Board chairperson Vijay Laxmi
Bhadoo, BJP district president Sita Ram Sharma, and Panchayat Samiti chairperson Sulochana Poonia were present, but other factions conspicuously abstained. After a three-hour wait, party workers decided to disperse. Some of them said Ghubaya had never addressed their problems and responded in negative to requests for providing funds for development from the MPLAD quota. Another meeting was held today at a banquet hall in Khuyiansarwer village, in which only two senior leaders of the BJP were present. Some of the sarpanches and panches used the occasion to criticize Ghubaya strongly for not visiting the villages for past five years.
Ghubaya sought to explain that the Ferozepur constituency consisted of some segments of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's home turf, where he had to register presence. He could not convince workers over the unutilised MPLAD funds, sources said.
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Poll Pot
n Chandigarh: The Congress expects the byelection to the Talwandi Sabo Vidhan Sabha seat will be held along with the Lok Sabha poll on April 30. Hence, it has started preparing for it. Former Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi, who paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday, said he would seek the party ticket for his son Sunpreet Singh. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh resigned to join the SAD. Jassi has represented the Talwandi Sabo constituency in 1992 and 1997. The SAD is likely to field Jeet Mohinder Singh from the constituency. — TNS SAD (A) fields Narike from Sangrur
n Sangrur: Simranjit Singh Mann of the SAD (A) will not be in the fray from Sangrur. Instead, party general secretary Master Karnail Singh Narike will contest the seat this time. In 2009, Mann could secure only 33,714 votes while in 2004, he had got more than 2.16 lakh votes. In 1999, Mann had won the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, securing more than 2.98 lakh votes. In the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, he had got 2.15 lakh votes while in 1996 elections he had secured more than 1.62 lakh votes. Sources said Mann had been shifted to the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency as the party believed he had good chances of winning the Khadoor Sahib seat. Narike, a former schoolteacher, has unsuccessfully contested the SGPC elections thrice from Amargarh in Sangrur district. He contested the Dhuri assembly seat in 2007 and was defeated. — TNS NAPA pleads for online voting
n Phagwara: Indian expatriates in North America have called upon the Indian Government to allow them to vote online for the General Election. Dalwinder Singh Dhoot, chairman, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said it was time that the government considered bio-metric voting. — TNS
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Patiala school caught stocking 150 expired juice cartons
Patiala, March 10 The team collected five samples of juice, and a sample each of rice and a vegetable. Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr HS Bali said the team conducted the raid on a complaint that the school authorities had stocked expired cartons of fruit juice. Nearly 150 cartons of expired juice were lying in the stores. The cartons’ date of manufacturing was June 2013 and expired about two months ago. “The samples have been sent to a Chandigarh laboratory. We got the cartons destroyed,” he said. Nearly 175 students study in the school and, of them, 43 stay in the hostel. Devendra Navjivani School Trust secretary NS Sodhi said a firm had donated cartons of juice to the school a month ago. “Since the weather is cold, the caretakers kept the cartons in the store without checking the expiry dates. However, we would have certainly checked the expiry dates before consuming juice. As soon as we learnt that juices are not fit to consume, we discarded them,” the school trust secretary added. Medicines stored illegally seized Ropar: Health Department officials on Monday raided a house in Ranjit Avenue locality and seized medicines and powder stored illegally. The raid was conducted on a complaint against Anil Kumar and Kulwidner Singh, both residents of Assandh near Karnal in Haryana. The team of the health department, along with the police, visited the locality and recovered medicines from Kulwinder. He told the officials that he and Anil, a registered medical practitioner, used to give the medicines for the treatment of joint pains. The team took 13 samples. — TNS
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US lawmakers want leeway for Sikhs in military attire
Washington, March 10 “We believe it is time for our military to make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception,” Representatives Joseph Crowley, a Democrat, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican, said in a bipartisan letter to Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, signed by 105 lawmakers. The letter comes six weeks after the Pentagon adopted a new policy aimed at giving individual troops greater latitude to groom or dress according to their religious beliefs. With the new policy, recruits still have to request a waiver of regular military attire policy, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, under the policy, these requests should receive a response within a month. Still, six weeks after the policy was announced, one Army recruit has yet to hear on a pending request for a waiver, defence officials said. Amardeep Singh, a spokesman for the Sikh Coalition, said the Pentagon had, so far, been unwilling to commit to accepting people whose religion included dress and grooming requirements. — Reuters
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US researcher out to find Ghadar Party’s origin
Jalandhar, March 10 She is expected to pen a book on the Indians in Oregon and the Ghadar Party in the US by the year-end. Ogden was at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here today for her research. “The moot point of my book is that the Ghadar Party had its beginnings in Oregon and later shifted base to San Francisco, where it had an office and a press,” Johanna told The Tribune. “I will document the period of 1900, 1905 and 1915 in Oregon, which is significant because of the Indian community who lived along the 200-mile stretch of the Columbia river. I want to document where they lived and what kind of community it was,” she said. Johanna said the research involved talking to people, mainly radicals, from Vancouver, Canada and California. “I will dig up the initial meetings of the Ghadar Party in Oregon and focus on why such an important story was lost. What were the reasons behind it?” she asked. The research scholar said her focus was on riots that took place in St Johns at Oregon in 1910. “To study those riots was very significant for my research. There were series of riots in Bellingham and Washington in the US and Vancouver (Canada) in 1907 and later on spread to West Coast.” “Oregon was the only place where local city officials, regional government, state government, federal government and British Council prosecuted the rioters. The trial took two years to complete. And it was the same time when Ghadar Party meetings started in Oregon,” she added.
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Heavy police to be deployed for fest
Anandpur Sahib, March 10 More than 1.5 million people are likely to visit the two religious places. A horse polo tournament, Sikh martial arts, and conferences by the Congress, SAD (A), SAD (B) and AAP will mark the festival. The first three-day celebrations will be held in Kiratpur Sahib before the festival moves to Anandpur Sahib to conclude on Holi. — TNS
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Code of conduct goes for a toss
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 10 People feel that since officials in the District Administrative Complex continue to show disregard to the directions of the Election Commission (EC), how one could expect smooth and fair elections in the parliamentary constituency. When the issue was raised, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Election Officer Arun Sekhri said all government offices in the district would be inspected. “If any calendar carrying pictures of ministers and other leaders is found in the government offices, it will be removed immediately.” He added that no one would be allowed to violate the model code of conduct.
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Year after panchayat poll duty, employees yet to receive dues
Muktsar, March 10 There has been no word on the pending payments even as the employees have been told to prepare for the General Election. In a letter sent on May 8 last year (The Tribune has a copy), the Under Secretary, Elections, had directed all district election officers that the staff deployed on election duty be given the TA/DA by their respective departments. On being contacted, a few teachers, who have to be paid Rs 1,500 each per day, said the order was yet to be implemented. Boota Singh, a teacher, said, “The government has not released anything for availing our services during the zila parishad, panchayat samiti and gram panchayat elections.” In Muktsar district alone, around 3,200 teachers are awaiting dues. Kulwinder Singh, Government Teachers’ Union state vice-president, said, “In the assembly and parliamentary elections, the election staff gets TA/DA and honorarium on the day of polling itself from the Election Commission of India. But the dues for panchayat elections have to be cleared by the State Election Commission.” District Education Officer Devinder Kumar Rajoria said, “We neither received any notification directing us to pay TA/DA to teachers nor any budget has been earmarked for the purpose. It is up to the election authorities to clear the payment.”
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Sikhs celebrate Fateh Diwas at Red Fort
New Delhi, March 10 Eighteenth-century Sikh warrior Sardar Baghel Singh had unfurled the saffron Nishaan Sahib on ramparts of the Red Fort March 11, 1783, for the first time. This historic event was 231 years later being marked by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee in a two-day event March 8-9. “This unforgettable day is a matter of great pride for all Sikhs. We are proud of the fact that our community spreads the message of brotherhood around the world,” said Ravinder Pal Singh, a resident of Rajouri Garden area in west Delhi. The celebrations at the sprawling Red Fort grounds were highlighted by various programmes depicting the rich cultural traditions of Sikh community and displays of tradition martial art forms. Amritsar-born Baghel Singh (1725-1802) was one of the greatest Sikh warriors of the 18th century who prepared the foundation of Sikh rule in Punjab and beyond. He established seven gurdwaras in the capital city. — IANS About the event
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Kalianwala Khu
Amritsar, March 10 SS Channy, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs and Archaeology Department, said the committee would also try to build a consensus on whether or not to raise a memorial at the site. He said the state would seek the assistance of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to chart out the way ahead. Besides, they would ask the Union Ministry of External Affairs to seek the help of UK Government to establish the identity of the martyrs. Meanwhile, a team of doctors from the Government Medical College, Amritsar, led by Civil Surgeon Dr Usha Bansal today visited the site. About the committee
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PTU rolls out new admission policy
Jalandhar, March 10 A press note issued by the university stated that the admissions for the BTech courses would be made through the JEE-2014 and the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores would be considered for admission in MTech. The Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test scores would be considered for the MPharmacy course admissions. For admission in the BArch course, an aptitude test conducted by the CBSE would be the criteria. The admissions would be made on the merit basis and the seat matrix would be uploaded on the college website as per existing reservation policy of the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Government of Punjab. Each college would conduct counselling sessions and upload the merit list and seat allotment on its website. The students would have to deposit the fee within seven days. Dr Rajneesh Arora, Vice Chancellor, PTU, said, “Colleges have been cautioned not to profit from the process by way of charging capitation fee. Miscellaneous charges like admission fee, security, student fund etc. will have to be in strict accordance with the university and Punjab Government guidelines.”
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State battles addiction as poppy husk trade booms in Rajasthan
Abohar, March 10 While liquor is normally sold at cheaper rates by the end of a financial year, poppy husk has become dearer, as most of the contractors in Rajasthan have not been able to emerge as successful bidders for the next year beginning April 1. People were today seen thronging licensed vends in Sadulshehar, 31 km from here, on the Abohar-Hanumangarh highway. The number of buyers went up this evening. Reports said some of the unsuccessful bidders had allegedly created shortage of poppy husk that is sold against permits issued by the district administration. Some of the buyers outside these vends said salesmen were demanding Rs 1,500 against the fixed price of Rs 600 for each kg. "We were told to collect poppy husk from some tea stalls or roadside eateries,” a Dhaulipal villager said. For the past two days, most of the vends in the Sangria segment of Hanumangarh district had shut doors. Buyers travelled 30 km to buy the substance. “A 100-gm pouch of poppy husk powder was available for Rs 60 last week at tea stalls and grocery shops. The price has now jumped to Rs 150. This is possible only with connivance of the administration,” said a buyer from Roranwali village. Some of the buyers said most of the people demanding poppy husk were from the neighbouring Abohar subdivision. Excise officer Shanker Lal Sharma said on the complaints received from some outgoing contractors, police teams were rushed to the spot, forcing the contractors to make poppy husk available immediately. Stocks are likely to be ensured at vends in Sriganganagar, Banwala, Sadulshehar and Srikaranpur by tomorrow. "There could be some foul play on part of the salesmen,” an official indicated, adding that those indulged in black-marketeering would not be spared. Two persons were recently arrested by the Abohar police for possessing 5 kg of poppy husk each.
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Women voters outnumber men in Muktsar district
Muktsar, March 10 The data procured from the district election office reveals that over 1,280 women and only 804 men have got themselves enrolled as voters in the Lambi Assembly segment. In the Muktsar Assembly segment, 2,409 new voters were registered, which included 1,226 women and 1,183 men. In the Gidderbaha Assembly segment, 1,677 persons got enrolled as new voters, including 960 women and 717 men. The Malout segment registered the enrolment of 1,348 new voters, which included 691 women and 657 men. The maximum number of women enrolled as new voters are above the age of 19. In the 18-19 age group, the newly registered women voters were lesser in number than men. Raman KP, a social activist, said, "With much publicity by the Election Commission and media, women have become aware of their right to vote. Their enrolment is a positive sign for the country.” He further it had been seen that women were reluctant to get registered as voters after getting married. But now the trend was undergoing a change, he said. New voters
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Flying Sikh confers degrees on Ferozepur college students
Ferozepur, March 10 Milkha said most of the sports associations had been taken over by politicians, which was not conducive for the overall development of sports. “We should have able sportspersons as administrators at the helm of these sports bodies,” he maintained. He said much of the potential remained trapped due to poor management and erroneous policies of these leaders. About the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Milkha said though he was not for or against any political outfit, he wanted honest and well-intended people to be elected as MPs. Earlier, Milkha conferred degrees on the graduates. The students who had excelled in various academic, sports and cultural events were also honoured on the occasion.
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Engineering student drowns
Abohar, March 10 While rescuing a friend, Raghav fell into the river and drowned. His body was fished out after an hour. In another incident, the body of a girl was found near a canal in Usmankhera village. The body has been shifted to the Civil Hospital for postmortem and identification.
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Students fall ill after consuming midday meal
Amritsar, March 10 However, the Education Department officials claimed that they fell ill after consuming a fruit from a tree near the school. The incident occurred in the afternoon when the children started vomiting while playing on the ground. They were rushed to a nearby SGPC-run hospital where for treatment. The school headmaster said the students had consumed fruits following which they fell ill. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate has ordered a probe into the incident. Deputy District Education Officer Kulwant Singh also blamed fruits for the students’ condition, and said it had nothing to do with the meal.
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EC bars 10 leaders from contest
Chandigarh, March 10 The list has been released following a communication from Election Commission. Kulwinder Singh, Hans Raj (both Jalalabad) and Kulwinder Singh (Muktsar) have been barred to contest elections till May 9, 2014. Karnail Singh, Swarn Singh, Gurdev Kaur, Prabhjot Kaur (all Faridkot), Nirmal Singh (Bhadal Thuha village) and Prem Kumar (Nabha) have been barred from the contest till August 7, 2016. The names have been put on the list of disqualified leaders on account of their failure to provide details of the election expenses.
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EC won’t seek forgery case against Minister
Chandigarh, March 10 “We have received a second complaint with complainants expressing dissatisfaction over the action taken in the case. They have demanded that the minister be booked on charges of forgery. But the EC has already decided on the issue and action has been taken accordingly,” said Dr Alok Shukla, Deputy Chief Election Commissioner. The Congress has been demanding that Joshi be booked for forgery. Auction of vends
Several state government departments have written to the State Election Commission, seeking permission on various issues.The Excise and Taxation Department has sought permission to auction liquor vends, arguing this is an annual exercise. New recruits
The Police Department and the Jails Department have sought that new recruits be allowed to join the departments. The Public Works Department (PWD) has sought permission to carry on land acquisition by imposing Section 6 of Land Acquisition Act, for widening National Highway-I. Fazilka DC to stay
A complaint against the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner, Basant Garg, has been dismissed by the State Election Commission. Sarpanches of some villages in Fazilka had sought that Garg be transferred as he had been on the post for more than three years. However, the Personnel Department informed the State Election Commission that the officer had been posted there on July 27, 2011, and had yet to complete three years as DC. No house visits
The State Election Commission has asked the returning officers of all 13 parliamentary constituencies and other poll officials not to visit any minister at his residence. They could do so at government rest houses.
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EC yet to hear of MLA’s resignation
Chandigarh, March 10 “If by April 2 we receive a report from the state government and the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly that the sitting MLA has resigned and the Talwandi Sabo Vidhan Sabha constituency has fallen vacant, a recommendation will be sent to the Election Commission to order a byelection in Talwandi Sabo along with the Lok Sabha elections,” said an official in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. A notification for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab is to be issued on April 2. But former legislator Harminder Singh Jassi, who is eyeing the Congress ticket for his son for the Talwandi Sabo assembly seat, said he had information that the state government was keen on a byelection in Talwandi Sabo. NOTA option Sangrur: During the 2013 assembly elections in four states, about 16.84 lakh voters had used the “none of the above (NOTA)” option, rejecting all contestants. In Delhi as many as 49,774 voters, in Madhya Pradesh 6,43,144 voters, in Rajasthan 5,89,949 voters and in Chhattisgarh 4,01,056 voters pressed the NOTA button. — TNS
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Brahmpura holds meet in gurdwara, ‘violates’ code
Amritsar, March 10 The Congress has submitted a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission along with “photographs” of the meeting. Talking to The Tribune, gurdwara manager Sulakhan Singh Bhangali confirmed that the SAD leaders had held a meeting at the langar hall yesterday, but said he was not aware of the purpose. He said the party leaders often came to pay obeisance at the gurdwara. As per the code, no election-related meeting could be held at a religious place. Sources said a meeting of the SAD supporters was held under the leadership of Baba Bakala MLA Manjeet Singh Manna at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara at Baba Bakala. Brahmpura was also present at the meeting where an appeal was made to the party activists to work for his victory. Congress leader Rajinder Singh Tapiala said it was a violation of the code of conduct as the SAD not only held a meeting of party workers on the gurdwara premises but also served them tea. Baba Bakala SDM Rakesh Gupta said he had not received any complaint in this regard. He, however, said if any such meeting had taken place inside the gurdwara, it was a violation of the model code of conduct. He said he would initiate action on only after getting a complaint. The charge A meeting of SAD supporters was allegedly held under the leadership of Baba Bakala MLA Manjeet Singh Manna and SAD candidate from Khadoor Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahmpura at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara at Baba
Bakala. Officialspeak Rakesh Gupta, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Baba Bakala, said: "I have not received any complaint in this regard. If an election related meeting has taken place inside the gurdwara, it is a violation of the model code of conduct".
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Govt gets police panel members, violates SC orders
Chandigarh, March 10 The government has already issued a notification regarding constitution of the PCA with retired IAS officer DS Bains as its chairperson and retired IPS officer and former DGP Sube Singh and BR Garg as its members. The notification was issued on March 4, a day before the model code of conduct came into effect. The government has made these appointments despite the state Legal Remembrancer reportedly telling it about the selection process. The procedure says the chairperson is to be appointed from among three retired High Court judges shortlisted by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned. The other members are to be appointed on the recommendation of a selection panel consisting of the PCA chairman; chairperson of the state public services commission; chairperson of the state human rights commission, or in his absence Lokayukta or chairperson of the state vigilance commission. However, taking advantage of the fact that Punjab has not made the necessary amendments to the legislation, the government made these appointments at its sole discretion. It may be mentioned that Punjab and Haryana High Court today restrained Haryana from appointing chairperson of the State Police Complaints Authority otherwise than by inviting a panel of names of retired judges from the Chief Justice in a case filed by lawyer HC Arora. The Punjab Government is already facing a contempt notice, listed for April 4, on the issue of setting up the Police Complaints Authority. What rules say
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SI, wife found dead in Bhikhiwind
Tarn Taran, March 10 Baljinder Kaur was a staff nurse with the Health Department. The couple’s 18-year-old son studies in a college at Amritsar. The couple is suspected to have died late last night. Harwinder Singh Sandhu, Superintendent of Police (Detective), said the door of the couple’s room was bolted from inside. Despite several attempts, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) could not be contacted. The service revolver of the deceased SI was found missing, said sources. — OC
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Officer quits, to contest poll
Chandigarh, March 10 The officer, who hails from Jharkhand, has tendered his resignation. He is reportedly contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Jharkhand on the Congress ticket. His wife, Geetashree Oraon, is Jharkhand’s HRD Minister. Oraon was on deputation in Jharkhand since 2009. — TNS
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HC pulls up Punjab for poor record on parole-jumpers
Chandigarh, March 10 The observation came as the High Court directed the two states to file affidavits through their Home Secretaries on steps taken for re-arresting the parole-jumpers. The directive came on a petition filed by Advocate HC Arora before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli. It has fixed April 29 as the next date of hearing. Arora has challenged the policy of premature release of life convicts by the Punjab and Haryana governments. He has alleged that the policy did not lay down appropriate guidelines; and life convicts were being released on the completion of minimum sentence of 10 years. The petitioner also alleged that the two governments were not taking interest in re-arresting parole-jumpers. In an affidavit filed by Haryana, it was stated that of 207 parole-jumpers, five were re-arrested after January 1. Punjab, on the other hand, neither gave details of steps taken by it nor the number of parole-jumpers as on date.
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Hardcore criminal sent to police custody
Abohar, March 10 Lawrence and Javed Jhinjha of Beganwali
(Fazilka) were arrested by the Rajasthan police for indulging in a brawl with a bus driver near Ranoli last week. When passengers protested and tried to nab them, they started firing guns in the air. They fled after the incident but the police managed to nab them. The duo tried to mislead the police about their credentials, saying they were Muktsar residents. Lawrence Bishnoi has been booked under the Indian Penal Code for various offences, including murder. Sources said the accused had been roaming freely but no one dared to arrest them owing to their political connections.
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Police acting under pressure: Assault victim
Jalandhar, March 10 The victim, Gurdev Singh (54), said the accused had injured him, his wife and two daughters after barging into their house on January 14, but the police failed to charge the accused with relevant sections of the IPC. Gurdev said the police should have registered a case under Section 452 (house trespass) of the IPC. “The police have booked the accused, Balwant Singh, his son Kuldip Singh, wife Mohinder Kaur, Tarsem Lal, Sukhwant Singh, Balwinder Singh and Gurjit Kaur under Sections 323, 324, 148, 149 of the IPC.” The police had arrested only three of the accused, Balwant and his two sons, while the remaining were roaming freely in the village, he added. Denying any political pressure, SSP Dhanpreet Kaur said the complainants were creating pressure on the police. — TNS
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Couple killed in mishap
Abohar, March 10 The deceased were returning to Dhaani Kumharanwali village after paying obeisance at a temple at Salasar village when their vehicle rammed into a tractor trailer, said the police. A case has been registered in the case. The police said the Polish Embassy in New Delhi had been informed about the mishap.
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Teacher found killed in tube well room, suspect booked
Gurchetan Singh, deceased’s father, has alleged that a man, who had earlier mediated his son’s marriage, had murdered him. The Tanda police have booked Pola, the mediator, on the murder charge. The deceased’s father said his son, Arvinder Singh, was a physical education teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya at the Air Force Station, Adampur, and his marriage was proposed for March 23. He had left home yesterday morning to buy some items for his marriage, but did not return. People of his villagers started a search and found his bike near the tube well room of Harminder Singh near Focal Point, Tanda. They found his body in the tubewell room. His father alleged that Pola of Saggran village in Jalandhar district had been threatening Arvind ever after his refusal to the marriage proposal. Pola has been booked for murder under the Indian Penal Code.
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Fazilka, March 10
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New Delhi, March 10
Hoshiarpur, March 10