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CEO seeks inquiry report against Sangrur DC
Singla alleges yet another poll code violation
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BJP identifies ‘vulnerable’ segments in Gurdaspur
AAP’s candidate reaches out to disgruntled leaders
New policy on allotment of industrial land fair: HC
School education board revises list of evaluators
It's SAD, BJP alliance that is unholy: Cong
CPI says no to pact with Cong
Congress leaders protest in Ropar on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Riot-hit Sikhs divided over support to SAD
Sidhu meets BJP senior leaders
Sukhbir kickstarts campaign in Faridkot
POLL POT
Drug racket: ED summons minister’s son again
Credit game puts rail project in limbo
DC orders special health camp in Kanakwal village
Farmer training camps from March 15
Engineers to observe work-to-rule till March 26
Hola Mohalla kicks off
HC upholds fee fixed for NRI students
Missing files case: Accused gets bail
Two injured in Tarn Taran shootout
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CEO seeks inquiry report against Sangrur DC
“Congress MP Vijay Inder Singla has alleged that the DC played a role in the arrival of bicycles meant for distribution among students. On confirmation, we found that the DC had asked the programme officers concerned to stop the distribution of bicycles. We will wait for the inquiry report before taking any action,” Singh told the media here today. In violation of model code of conduct, two trucks carrying 2,238 bicycles with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s pictures were being unloaded for distribution among girl students of Government Senior Secondary School at the district’s Dhadhogal Kherri village. The CEO’s office received a similar complaint from Moonak village today. “It will be a matter of investigation that the programme officer failed to communicate the DC’s order of canceling the distribution bicycles,” Singh said. He, however, denied any immediate action against the programme officer. “The distribution of such bicycles was a violation of the model code of conduct.” On the possibility of Talwandi Sabo byelection with the Lok Sabha poll, the CEO said his office had not received any communication from the Vidhan Sabha in that regard. “Whenever there is a word on the issue, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission (EC),” he said. To another query, Singh said no new cards could be issued under Atta-Dal Scheme, but people could avail the scheme’s benefit as it was meant for the poor. “The wheat bags should not have a picture of a politician,” the CEO said. He said the DCs had been directed to recommend cases of parole of only those prisoners, who had a valid compassionate reason and no political inclination. “The DCs will send the cases to the Home Department and, later, refer them to the EC for necessary approval,” the CEO said. In anther development, the EC has ordered to adopt a mechanism to ensure that the entire polling staff, including civil and security, could use their right to franchise. The department will issue postal ballots or election duty certificates, as per the requirement.
The cycle row
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Singla alleges yet another poll code violation
Sangrur, March 12 In past few days, 267 bicycles have been assembled in the school for distribution among girl students under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme. On MP Vijay Inder Singla’s complaint, Moonak Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)-cum-Assistant Returning Officer for Lehra assembly segment Bakhtawar Singh sealed three rooms of the school. There were bicycles in one of the rooms, while material to assemble the bicycles was stocked in other two rooms. “On a tip-off, I visited the school today and found labourers assembling bicycles in the school. Later, I informed Sangrur Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Indu Malhotra, who sent the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to take action,” Singla told The Tribune. The parliamentarian said he would file a complaint with the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, demanding action against the erring officials. Photos on Ambulances 108 covered Bathinda: The pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Ambulances 108, which had evoked Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s ire, have been covered with paper. The district has 12 such ambulances available at a phone call. The ambulances function in Rampura, Goniana, Nathana, Bathinda I, Bathinda II, Sangat Mandi, Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Bhucho Mandi, Balluana and Raman Mandi. The Congress had objected to CM’s photo on ambulances, which could influence voters. — TNS
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campaign trail
bathinda seat
Bathinda, March 12 She was at the residence of former MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu who joined the SAD a few days ago. Harsimrat admitted that the people had voted for her in 2009 for being the Badal bahu. "But this election, I am seeking votes on the basis of the work I have done in my constituency. I have made many women self-dependent and have saved lives through the Nanhi Chhan programme," she said. On her being pitted against Manpreet Badal, her husband's estranged cousin, she seemed unperturbed. "We have always been forced to contest against our kin. My father-in-law faced this situation and emerged a winner. So will I. We can't be blamed if a family member quits party, forms his own and then joins our archrivals,” she observed. Her face lit up as she talked about her children. “My younger daughter Gurleen cried when I left home for canvassing. The children want me to spend more time with them. But I have a duty towards my constituency too. I would like to think they are becoming more independent and, hence, better equipped to face the competitive world.” Harsimrat's elder daughter Harkeerat has turned 18 and will be voting for the first time. She will accompany her mother for campaigning. "Harkeerat says she will vote for me only if she is convinced that I have done good work,” said the MP in a lighter vein. She dismissed media reports on differences between her father-in-law and her brother. “My father-in-law loves to indulge in a banter. The media at times is unable to comprehend his humour and creates news when there is none," she explained. On whether her brother, Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, would campaign for her, she said the CM wanted him to concentrate on the Majha region. "The CM calls him up everyday for updates. But I have put down my foot. I want my brother to campaign for me and he will have to listen to his sister,” she said. On who would be the star campaigners for her, she quipped: "Do you think I need any. The Congress has done us a great favour by fielding Manpreet. He will lose badly.” Acknowledging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was drawing crowds in urban areas, she said it would take the party a long time to make inroads into the countryside.
Different strokes This time, I want the people to vote for the work done by me and not just the Badal
surname. The Chief Minister wants Bikram Majithia to concentrate in Majha region. But this election, I want my brother by my
side. We have been forced to contest against our kin. My father-in-law emerged a winner. So will I. Harsimrat Kaur
Badal, Bathinda MP
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Confident Manpreet begins campaign
Bathinda, March 12 Manpreet also met leaders of the Malwa Brahmin Sabha and the Mini Bus Operators Union. Talking to mediapersons at Budhlada, Manpreet said the Chief Minister seemed to have "lost his mental balance" by claiming that he (Manpreet) had committed political suicide by joining hands with the Congress. He said he would formally launch his campaign on March 14 from Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. He said the CM had no right to question him as he had himself fought on Congress ticket and symbol in 1957. Manpreet was all praise for the Congress saying that at the time of independence less than 400 villages had power supply but now more than six lakh villages were covered. He claimed that the battle for Bathinda would be one of the toughest in the country, but he was confident of victory as he was fighting for principles. "The Badal family did not worry about their relative when they threw him out of the party," he said. On allegations that he betrayed the PPP workers and leaders and left the path he had claimed to follow at Khatkar Kalan, Manpreet said the PPP was very much alive as he would fight the election on its symbol (kite) and not the Congress symbol. He said the PPP would have ceased to exist had he followed Bhagwant Mann who wanted the party to merge with the Aam Aadmi Party. Manpreet was accompanied by Congress disciplinary committee member and former Deputy Speaker of Vidha Sabha Jaswant Singh Fafre. He met Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, Congress MLA from Sardulgarh, and Bikramjit Mofar, president, Mansa District Congress Committee. In Bathinda, Manpreet held meetings with MLA Ajaib Singh Bhatti and local Congress leaders. He had reportedly met former Congress MLA and Bathinda ticket aspirant Harmandir Jassi two days ago.
On Badal's comments The Chief Minister seems to have lost his mental balance by claiming that he (Manpreet) has committed political suicide by joining hands with the Congress. He has no right to question me as he himself had fought on the Congress ticket and symbol
in 1957. On PPP's future The PPP is very much alive as I will fight the election on its symbol (kite) and not the Congress symbol. The PPP would have ceased to exist had I followed Bhagwant Mann who wanted the party to merge with the Aam Aadmi Party. Manpreet
Badal, PPP Chief
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BJP identifies ‘vulnerable’ segments in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, March 12 In the last elections, three-time MP and former Union minister Vinod Khanna lost the seat to PPCC chief and sitting Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa by a margin of 8,000 votes. There are nine assembly segments of Gurdaspur Parliamentary seat, which under the BJP-SAD seat-sharing agreement, have been allocated to the BJP. The party’s election strategists have identified Qadian, Batala and Dinanagar as “vulnerable” seats. Senior leaders have asked workers to spread the message of “secularism and development” in these areas. The party is laying special emphasis on the Batala seat, where Bajwa ran up a massive lead of 18,000 votes, which in the final analysis proved to be the “clincher” for him. Sources claim that the main reason that the BJP had to eat humble pie was the decision of the then Batala BJP MLA Jagdeesh Sahni to make his daughter Ambika Khanna the president of the Batala Municipal Committee. “This decision of Sahni was not accepted by the masses, who took out their anger against the BJP candidate during the elections. Another reason was that the sitting MP Vinod Khanna, despite making efforts, failed to revive the sagging industry, particularly the foundries, in this steel town,” said a senior leader. The party is also concentrating on Bajwa’s home turf of Qadian. Bajwa had a lead of 5,500 votes from this seat, which is now represented by his wife Charanjit Kaur Bajwa. “We have to work hard in Qadian. In the last assembly elections, Charanjit defeated former Cabinet Minister SS Sekhwan by 16,000 votes. This proves that Bajwa family has a firm grip on the seat. However, we have asked our office-bearers there to reach out to the voters, particularly those belonging to the dominant Ahmadiya cast and listen to their grievances,” said Dr Samrendra Sharma, a BJP spokesman. The party is also facing problems in the Dinanagar seat. “Internal wrangling between the two alliance partners — the SAD and the BJP — is sure to damage the party’s prospects in Dinanagar. A senior SAD leader and the Dinanagar halqa in charge do not see eye to eye with each other. This development does not augur well for the BJP’s candidate. We will be sending senior leaders there to ensure that the SAD-BJP rivalry ends,” said a leader.
Party leaders at work
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AAP’s candidate reaches out to disgruntled leaders
Gurdaspur March
12 Sources said he was reaching out to AAP leaders, who did not get the party nomination. These include a prominent Rajput leader, Davinder Darshi. The Rajput community holds a considerable sway in the three seats of Bhoa, Sujanpur and Pathankot city. Chottepur today held a breakfast meeting with Darshi, where the latter assured him his “unstinted support”. Darshi is also the president of the Punjab Rajput Mahasabha and the Rajput community, which has nearly two lakh votes in the constituency. Having remained an SGPC member for 17 successive years from 1982 to 1999, he also enjoys a clout amongst the Sikh clergy, which will boost his chances to win. “Arvind Kejriwal has become a metaphor for change in an environment sullied by opportunism and political corruption. Thanks to popular disillusionment with modern day political parties, the AAP is gaining a strong foothold in the Gurdaspur seat,” said Chottepur. Chottepur contested the last assembly elections from Qadian seat — the home town of PPCC chief and sitting Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa. Considered to be close to former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, he was lured into the Congress fold but at the last minute, he decided to contest as an Independent. He managed to get 16,000 votes but he could not thwart the victory of Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, wife of Partap
Bajwa.
Sucha Singh Chottepur (in pic) is expected to get a massive chunk of the Sikh Jat vote bank, said a former minister. The Gurdaspur seat comprises nine Vidhan Sabha seats, out of which six are dominated by Sikh Jat voters.
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New policy on allotment of industrial land fair: HC
Chandigarh, March 12 The observation came in connection with the allotment of land for industrial purposes. The High Court was dealing with “off the shelf scheme for allotment of semi-developed/developed land”. As per the scheme, land was sought to be carved out in different sizes for allotment of plots for industrial purposes as focal points. Taking up the matter, the Bench asserted that the procedure for allotment previously adopted was undoubtedly “not the most transparent one”, but the new policy met the test of “reasonableness, fairness and equal opportunity”. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli added that the checks and balances in the new policy would apply to earlier allotments also. The Bench also made it clear that auction was not the only methodology that should be adopted. “It can be any methodology which is transparent in character and gives equal opportunity to all”. The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by Manav Samaj Sewa Swasth Sangthan against the State of Punjab and other respondents. Challenging the manner of allotment under the scheme, the petitioner had contended that proper advertisements were not issued and auctions were not held. Allotment was made to persons just on applying. Moreover, the plots were not used for the purposes for which the allotment was made and were resold out without restrictions. The plots also remained vacant for long durations without achieving any objective. Acting on the petition, the High Court in December, 2011, prima facie made observations on the lack of transparent methodology for inviting applications, while staying further allotments. The interim orders coupled with the nudge from the court apparently persuaded the authorities to review the policy; and a new policy was placed on record as it sought to remove the inadequacies. The procedure for inviting applications was sought to be modified in it by floating on the web the information on available plots, coupled with advertisement. Disposing of the petition, the Bench asserted: “This is an ongoing process and, thus, the plots available would form the subject matter of the advertisement. The Bench added: “An elected government always has the right to lay down an economic policy and philosophy stating the direction in which it would like to move. However, any such policy to encourage industrialisation has to be transparent so that the objective is achieved and everyone gets an equal opportunity….”
Flaws in previous policy
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School education board revises list of evaluators
Earlier, the PSEB had a list of evaluators numbering 3,000 and it had not been updated for the past several years. It carried names of staff members who either retired or died. The Punjab School Education Board has now removed their names. Tejinder Dhaliwal, PSEB chairperson, said: “We have brought on board new evaluators after finding out that the Superintendents hired unqualified persons to check answersheets, resulting in poor evaluation of answer books. The reason behind the PSEB’s move is acute staff shortage.” She said that after review, it was found that the requirement was of 8,800 evaluators. “We now have nearly 5,600 teachers on the panel. For Class XII, the PSEB’s requirement was 5,200 teachers, but we have nearly 3,500 evaluators on the panel. Earlier, there were only 2,200 evaluators.” “The process of roping in evaluators is complete in 19 districts. Inputs are awaited from Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Sangrur and Patiala,” Dhaliwal said, adding that after the process is complete, a report would be prepared for consideration while preparing instructions for correction in the future. In another change, besides the Central staff, the District Education Officers (DEOs) concerned will face department action in case cheating or unfair means were reported from their respective areas during the ongoing examinations. A letter from the office of the Director General, School Education (DGSE), addressed to the District and Block Education Officers, has sought that the school main gates be not locked to facilitate surprise inspections during examinations. Schools have also been instructed that no examination centres be allotted on the second floor of the school buildings. The order has underlined action against Superintendents and Examiners in case raiding teams detected any questionable study material or guides found dumped in corners or toilets in the examination
centres.
On course
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Badal, Harsimrat on Lambi tour, train guns at Manpreet
Lambi, March 12 With Manpreet Badal, Congress-PPP candidate, in the fray, local Akali leaders have been assigned duties in specific areas.They have been told to ensure there is no decline in the number of votes for the SAD from any area this time. Team Sukhbir, comprising the Deputy CM's confidantes, who have been accommodated as chairmen/members of various boards, is supervising Harsimrat's campaign. At the poll meetings today, both Badal and Harsimrat criticised Manpreet for having joined hands with the Congress. They spoke little about development works. A senior Akali leader said that the Badal family had also chalked out an election plan for Holi. At Mohlan village, the CM described his younger brother Gurdas as Laxman. He said the latter had no other option but to back his son Manpreet. "Dekh lo kitey votan naa ghata deyo eis vaari te mainu sanyas laina pae jaave (Don't let the margin of votes decline this time or else I will have to quit politics)," he pleaded with the voters. Harsimrat said: "Two zeroes (PPP and Congress) can only make a big zero, nothing else. Manpreet failed to make any impact in the assembly elections and will definitely meet the same this election too".
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It's SAD, BJP alliance that is unholy: Cong
Chandigarh, March 12 In a statement, party general secretary Rajanbir Singh said the people were fed up with the "false promises of development" and the politics of vendetta. "The people of Bathinda have understood that the Nanhi Chhan campaign to save the girlchild and trees launched by Harsimrat are a mere drama with an eye on the vote bank. She has failed to express sympathy with women victims of police atrocities," he said. On the SAD criticising the alliance as "unholy", Rajanbir Singh said it was common knowledge that the BJP had been a vocal critic of the SAD for years, going to the extent of seeking a ban on the Akali Dal at one time. He said it was the BJP which had demanded the Army deployment in Punjab in the last week of May, 1984. "It is rather the SAD-BJP alliance that is unholy and unprincipled, dictated only by one aim-that of grabbing power," the Congress leader said. That the alliance was communal was substantiated by the leaders of the two parties who had all along maintained that the alliance symbolised communal harmony as the SAD was a party of the Sikhs and the BJP that of the the Hindus. "This is a blatantly communal approach," he added.
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CPI says no to pact with Cong
Chandigarh, March 12 Amarjit Kaur attended the meeting as an observer of the national body of the CPI. “This is a unanimous decision of the executive. All its 23 members, including Dr Joginder Dayal, Hardev Arshi, Jagroop Singh, Bhupinder Sambre, Kartar Singh Buianai and Harbhajan Singh, were present,” Brar said. Certain members spoke in favour of the alliance, but later all decided against it, he said. He said the CPI could not ally with the Congress because its “anti-people policies”. The executive also decided to contest four Lok Sabha seats in alliance with other Left parties in the state. The names of Kashmir Singh Gudiani for Faridkot and Amarjit Singh Asal for Amritsar were recommended to the central leadership for an approval. Names for Ferozepur and Sangrur seats would be announced later, said Brar. About party’s stand on the Bathinda seat, the CPI leader said no decision had been taken so far. On support to PPP-Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal, he said he could not say anything in this regard at this stage.
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Ropar Cong leaders threaten poll boycott
Ropar, March 12 The dissidents, including former MLA Shamsher Singh Rai, former Youth Congress president Bhupesh Sharma and former AICC member Ramesh Goyal told newly appointed district president Harbhag Singh Desumajra that they would boycott the party in the coming elections if their grievances were not addressed. They demanded the party high command resolve the ongoing dispute in the Congress’ district unit. Fissures in the Congress appeared when Desumajra was appointed district president in December last. Former parliamentary secretary Rana KP and former minister Ramesh Dutt Sharma termed him an outsider and have been opposing his appointment. Today at a meeting at the residence of party leader Bhupesh Sharma, the Congress leaders alleged Rana KP did not involve them in the preparation for the Hola Mohalla conference. Rana KP is
the chairman of the organising committee for the conference. Moreover, the party high command as well as the sitting MP and party candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu did nothing to end the animosity between the warring factions, they said. Rai and over a 100 party workers declared they would not attend the Hola Mohalla conference without a formal invitation from party high command. They further threatened to boycott the upcoming elections if their grievances were not addressed. Desumajra said he would talk to party president Pratap Singh Bajwa in this regard tomorrow.
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MLA bungled funds, say SAD workers
Amritsar, March 12 The workers warned that if their grievances were not redressed within a week they would not campaign for the party. Among the agitators are Block Samiti members, incumbent sarpanches and former sarpanches. They alleged that development funds were being granted to only those villages whose panchayats were ready to part with a certain percentage of it. They alleged SAD workers were being implicated in false cases. They claimed that Sathiala village sarpanch Sucha Singh was falsely booked in a theft case. The workers also took out a protest march in Baba Bakala. Manna, meanwhile, rejected the allegations levelled against him and dubbed these as baseless and politically motivated.
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Riot-hit Sikhs divided over support to SAD
Ludhiana, March 12 Some of them questioned the president as to what the Akalis had done for them all these years, despite promises. Society members Gurdeep Singh Kahlon and Amrik Singh walked out of the meeting but were brought back. Kahlon said the members should vote for Jagdish Kaur, a riot victim, who planned to contest the Amritsar seat, "irrespective of the party she represents, except the Congress. Some members said that they would not vote for the SAD and strengthen the hands of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi who had a "tainted" past. Another section said they would vote for the AAP nominee for the Ludhiana seat, HS Phoolka, who had fought for the riot victims for the past 30 years.
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Sidhu meets BJP senior leaders
Amritsar, March 12 This has come to light after the three-time MP held another round of meetings with the BJP top brass in New Delhi today. Sources say the BJP leadership is apprehensive whether Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will help Sidhu in the elections. At the root of the BJP's fear is the fact that Sidhu has been at loggerheads with the Badals over the alleged delay in various development projects in Amritsar. The sources say the party leaders offered him other seat such as West Delhi and Kurukshetra in Haryana, but Sidhu made it clear that he would contest only from Amritsar. Sidhu said, "I have done nothing wrong. I am not fighting for any personal gains. My only agenda is the development of Amritsar." On whether he is skeptical about getting SAD support if he contests from Amritsar, he said he was not worried at all. The BJP is expected to release another list of its candidates tomorrow, which may include the names of party candidates from three seats of Punjab, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur.
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Sukhbir kickstarts campaign in Faridkot
Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Faridkot MP, minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra, former member Rajya Sabha Gurcharan Kaur, Kotkapura MLA Mantar Singh Brar, Baghapurana MLA Maheshinder Singh Nihalsinghwala, Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain, Rawinder Kaur Bhagi ke, Baljinder Singh Makhan Brar, Avtar Singh Brar, Sant Singh Brar, Hardeep Singh Dimpi Dhillon and Suba Singh Badal addressed the party workers. — TNS
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POLL POT
Fatehgarh Sahib: To keep a tab on poll expenditure, the District Election Officer has constituted 18 teams in three of the nine assembly segments in this reserved parliamentary constituency. Additional DC-cum-District Election Officer Malwinder Singh Jaggi told mediapersons on Wednesday that there would be three check points in each assembly segment. A media certification and montiroring committee had been set up. It would keep a warch on advertisements and paid newsby candidates and their supporters.
— TNS Lawyers’ meet in Delhi tomorrow
Phagwara: Veteran BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani will hold a meeting of lawyers from different states at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on March 14. Punjab BJP legal cell convener Lokesh Narang said more than 200 lawyers from Punjab would attend the meeting.
— OC Catching young
voters on Facebook
Jalandhar: To create awareness about the electoral process, Nawanshahr District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Aninditta Mitra has launched a facebook page: www.facebook.com/oursbsnagar. "Most youths have a facebook account. It is the need of the hour to exploit social networking websites to mobilise them to participate actively in the electoral process," she said. Of the 21,000 new voters enrolled, at least 7,000 voters were in the age group of 18 -19 years, she said. Appreciation letters would be given to
first-time voters, she added. — TNS PPP gets new youth wing chief
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Police remove barricades set up by Ropar sand mafia
Ropar, March 12 The police personnel swooped on the barricades in the morning. While people managing the barricades had already fled the spot, the police removed their belongings. The mining contractors across the state have been allegedly charging “gunda tax” on sand and gravel over and above the royalty allowed as per rules. The “gunda tax” is the protection money that the musclemen deployed by the contractors charge from truck drivers. The amount is further passed on to the retailers and then the buyers. The police raids, however, have failed to prove a deterrent on the sand mafia. Inquiries show that now the stone crusher owners have been asked to charge protection money from truck drivers and deposit with the mafia. In a related development, the State Election Commissioner has directed the Principal Secretary, Home, to file a reply on the issue following which Ropar Senior Supreintendent of Police (SSP) GS Toor has marked an inquiry into the matter. Dinesh Chadha, RTI activist, who led a protest against “gunda tax” at Nurpur Bedi last week, lodged a complaint with the Election Commissioner in this regard. Chadha, in his complaint, stated that “in case I am attacked, the Ropar police and collectors of “gunda tax” and politicians behind the malpractice will be responsible”. The SSP said the police raided the nakas today, but no one was found charging “gunda tax” from truck drivers. The report on inquiry into Chadha’s complaint would be submitted soon, he added.
Sand prices fall
Faridkot: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, sand prices have reduced by 30 to 40 per cent in the area. The sand is now available at controlled rate ranging between
Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,600 per 100 square feet in Faridkot, Kotkapura, Sadiq, Bajakhana, and Jaitu towns. Earlier, the sand was available for
Rs 4500 to Rs 5000 per 100 square feet. The steep rise in the prices of sand and gravel had postponed the plans many people to construct houses. The prolonged lull in the construction activity had left many labourers hapless. “Think of daily wage earners already struggling to eat two meals a day,” said Sadhu Singh, the AAP party candidate in Faridkot.
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Drug racket: ED summons minister’s son again
Chandigarh, March 12 Damanvir had left for Dubai on February 24, four days before the ED had summoned him for questioning and since then his whereabouts are not known. ED sources told The Tribune that following Damanvir’s failure to appear before the ED on February 28, they have issued fresh summons to him. “We have asked him to report at our zonal office in the last week of March. This is the standard procedure we adopt when we summon people for questioning in a case. So far, we have no reason to believe that Damanvir could have absconded and thus we have summoned him again, giving him sufficient time to appear before us,” said a source in the ED. Damanvir Singh and a Goraya-based businessman Chunni Lal Gaba were named by alleged mastermind of the synthetic drug racket Jagdish Singh Bhola. Both Damanvir Singh and Gaba had been issued summons for February 28, but both of them did not appear before the ED. ED officials said they had also issued a second summon to Gaba, asking him to appear before the ED in the last week of this month. Attempts to contact Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur proved futile. His phone was answered by his aide, who kept saying that the minister was busy. The aide confirmed that Damanvir was not in Punjab, but did not disclose if he was still in Dubai. On February 24, the minister had told The Tribune that his son had gone to Dubai on a pre-planned visit and would be back on February 27. The minister had also denied that any summons had been issued to his son. During an interrogation, Bhola had reportedly named Damavir saying that he had introduced Varinder “Raja” - a Delhi-based synthetic drug supplier who is currently lodged in Patiala jail - to Chunni Lal Gaba. The officials claimed Gaba had a drug manufacturing unit in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and the ED suspected that Gaba and Damanvir were partners in the business. Bhola had alleged Gaba was supplying pseudoephedrine (which is used to make ICE) to Raja, who in turn was supplying synthetic drugs to his partners in Canada.
Bhola connection Druglord Bhola had reportedly named Damanvir Singh, saying that he had introduced Varinder ‘Raja’, a Delhi-based synthetic drug supplier, who is now
in Patiala jail
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Credit game puts rail project in limbo
Abohar, March 12 They demanded that the work should start soon. But the tussle notwithstanding, the model code of conduct will not help matters. “The construction will start only when the Punjab Government releases funds to the Railways,” the DRM said. The project’s entire cost is to be borne by the state. “The government had sanctioned the funds, but not released the amount. The Railways had reduced the width of the bridge from proposed 12 feet to 8 feet to bring down the estimated cost Rs 6 crore to Rs 4 crore,” Kathpal said. At the heart of project delay lies Jakhar and Ghubaya claiming credit for the project. On February 6, Jakhar had “unofficially” laid the foundation stone of the project in the presence of his supporters. Since the function did not have the official stamp, foundation stone with Jakhar’s name was removed from the bridge site. Jakhar’s supporters raised slogans against Ghubaya. Fazilka Deputy Commissioner (DC) Basant Garg reportedly wanted the names of Ghubaya and Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, both of the SAD, to be inscribed on the foundation stone. It was learnt that the Railways authorities had postponed the official function allegedly at the behest of ruling SAD leaders. Consumer Movement president Satpal Khariwal and councillors Vimal Thatai and Prem Kalra said Ghubaya had no role in getting the RoB sanctioned.
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DC orders special health camp in Kanakwal village
Bathinda, March 12 Not taking chances, the district administration has ordered a special medical camp for pregnant women as well as the newborn. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav has asked the Max Super-Specialty Hospital to hold the camp on March 20. A delegation of villagers had met the Deputy Commissioner a few days ago, seeking his intervention on the issue. The villagers may boycott the Lok Sabha elections. They had boycotted the panchayat elections last year. The village is part of the Bathinda parliamentary seat represented by Akali MP Harsmirat Kaur Badal. She is seeking a re-election. Manpreet Badal, Congress-PPP candidate, will be contesting against her. None of them have so far come forward to help the villagers. A blast in the Bathinda refinery in April last year saw village residents taking to the streets, forcing Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to visit the village where he announced that the residents would be relocated near Talwandi Sabo.
Paying a heavy price Villagers say pollution from nearby refinery affecting expectant mothers
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Farmer training camps from March 15
Chandigarh, March 12 A spokesman of the Agriculture Department said these district-level training camps would be held under the supervision of headquarter-level officers. He said the first camp would be organised in Patiala (Rakhra) on March 15, in Nawan Shahr and Jalandhar on March 17, Faridkot on March 19, Tarn Taran and Amritsar on March 22, Pathankot on March 24, Ferozepur and Fazilka on March 25, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib on March 26, Ropar and Mohali on March 27, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur on March 28, and Barnala and Mansa on March 29. He further said the camps would be organised in Bathinda on April 3, Muktsar on April 4, Ludhiana and Kapurthala on April 5 and Moga on April 19.
Boost for agriculturists
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Engineers to observe work-to-rule till March 26
Patiala, March 12 Members of the PSEB Engineers’ Association will now perform their duties strictly as per rules from 9 am to 5 pm and will not carry out the duties of subordinates. They said in case a fault arose in the transmission or the distribution system during off-duty hours, the state government and the management would be held responsible. The have been agitating against the move to raise the retirement age of chairman-cum-Managing Director and Directors from 62 to 65 years. They also oppose the entry of IAS officers in the management.
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Hola Mohalla kicks off
Kiratpur Sahib, March 12 Today the ‘akhand path’ began at Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib and the bhog will be held on March 14. Giani Mall Singh extended greetings to the Sikh community all over the world on the occasion. All the gurdwaras and the streets leading to the towns of Kiratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib have been decorated to mark the occasion.
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HC upholds fee fixed for NRI students
Chandigarh, March 12 The development is significant as a bunch of five petitions were filed by Sukhmani Kaur Brar and other petitioners alleging that “NRI candidates have been charged an unrealistic high fee” Their contention was that the high fee was a ruse to discourage the genuine NRI candidates so that the seats could be shifted to the special management quota. The petitioners had contended that the fee for NRI students in terms of notification dated January 21, 2011, was sought to be raised from $55,000 to $1, 25,000 for the full course. The petitioners added the move would result in a jump from approximately Rs 33 lakh to Rs 75 lakh after taking into account the prevalent exchange rate. Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli asserted: “It has been averred that there is no special management quota seats in the notification for 2013 and no such admissions have been made since the year 2011. “The leftover NRI seats are transferred to the management quota and the relevant fee of the management quota is charged. Thus, the plea that this mode is being used as a form of capitation fee does not hold good. “It is not as if a free hand has been given to the private institutions to fix their fee as they please but a committee has been appointed, which would scrutinise the requirement of revision of fee based on certain well established parameters so that such profiteering is avoided…..
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Missing files case: Accused gets bail
Chandigarh, March 12 The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal granted him bail after he furnished bonds of Rs 35,000. In his bail plea, Yograj alleged that he was made a scapegoat by the police and there was no evidence against him. He alleged the inquiry pertained to various IAS and PCS officials whose files had been missing. “This clearly indicates the presumption that they can be interested persons to cause loss of the files. Despite this, they have not been named and only a case has been registered against him,” he had alleged in his plea. A total 35 files had gone missing from the Civil Secretariat. Later, seven files were located in March, 20011.
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Two injured in Tarn Taran shootout
Tarn Taran, March 12 Four others are yet to be identified. The injured are Arwinder Singh and his relative Jatinder pal Singh of village Nangal Guru. The police are yet to arrest the accused. Sources said old rivalry was a reason of the incident.
One hurt in firing
Abohar: Amandeep Singh of Patrewala village was injured when some miscreants allegedly fired bullets on him at a bus stop on the Abohar-Fazilka national highway this evening. The victim told the police that his cousin brother Sampuran Singh and others were to blame. The police have started the investigation. — OC
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Chandigarh, March 12
Eying Sikh Jat votes
Chandigarh, March 12
Faridkot: Kickstarting the party campaign for the Faridkot seat, SAD president
Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday met party leaders of Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar and
Bathinda districts at Kotkapura.
Moga: The People's Party of Punjab (PPP) has appointed Devinderjit Singh Dhos alias Laddi Dhos as president of its youth wing. Party chief Manpreet Badal said Laddi and his father Kuldip Singh had been working for the party ever since its inception. Kuldip Singh, who is senior vice-president of the PPP, was the first person to quit the SAD after Manpreet resigned from the state Cabinet and decided to form his own party. Laddi hails from Kaila village in Moga district.
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TNS