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Jain assumes charge as Warehouse chief, Cong alleges code violation
EC puts Akali, BJP leaders on notice over illegal posters
I’m no outsider, claims Jaitley
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Congress dares Jaitley to open debate
After HC orders, police probe graft case
AAP scrutinising ticket aspirants, says Jairath
Abohar SAD a divided house
Ambika Soni expected to unite party cadre
Manpreet refuses security
Lal Singh trying to unite warring Cong factions
Patiala, March 21 Though the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) campaign is picking up in various cities of Patiala constituency, the outfit faces a challenge when it comes to wooing the rural electorate.
poll pot
Economy collapsing, warn experts
42,000 students not to get books until poll ends
Talwandi Sabo power plant to get coal in a week
Notice to state over delay in forensic reports
Farmers burn effigies of govt in Sangrur
Transport, labour unions
protest in Moga
AAP worker alleges police harassment
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Jain assumes charge as Warehouse chief, Cong alleges code violation
Vijay Sathi, senior Congress leader whom Jain defeated in the Moga assembly bypoll last year, has demanded that the Election Commission should cancel the appointment as the “poll code had been violated”. Sathi said he had informed Punjab Additional Chief Electoral Officer Raminder Singh that Jain had assumed charge from back date allegedly through forged documents. He demanded that the Election Commission should summon the record of his joining and hold a magisterial probe into it. When contacted, Jain confirmed he had assumed office but clarified that the official ceremony was held before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Sources in the corporation said Jain had joined Wednesday. A formal meeting of the Warehouse board of directors was also reportedly held after the joining ceremony. The last board meeting was held on May 12. Jain had resigned from the Congress on December 26, 2012, and a day later he was appointed the Warehouse chairman by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The appointment was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by advocate HC Arora. He alleged that rules were not followed as the processing of Jain’s appointment file as well as the notification appointing him the Warehouse Director and Chairman were issued the same day. Agreeing to the petitioner’s contention, the High Court had quashed Jain’s appointment on October 31, 2013, asserting that it was not done in consonance with the law. The court also took into account a couple of criminal cases pending against him. In January this year, the Punjab Government again appointed Jain as the chairman without holding a meeting of the corporation’s board of directors. Arora again served a legal notice on Badal asserting that the government had no right to re-appoint him as his appointment was cancelled by the High Court. Badal referred the matter for legal opinion to the Advocate General’s Office, which reportedly gave clearance to Jain joining the office.
HC quashed his appointment once
I have assumed office… but the official ceremony was held before the announcement of the Lok Sabha
elections Joginder Pal Jain, warehouse corp chief Ji haan, ohna ne office da charge lai lia hai (yes, he has taken
charge) Arvinder Singh Bains, warehouse md Jain has assumed charge in back date by forging documents. The Election Commission should summon the record of his joining and hold a magisterial probe into
it Vijay Sathi, Congress leader
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EC puts Akali, BJP leaders on notice over illegal posters
Gurdaspur, March 21 The Dinanagar area chief of the BJP, BD Dhuppar, and Batala area chief of the SAD, LS Lodhinangal, have been served notices for violating the model code of conduct. Both Dinanagar and the Batala assembly seats are part of the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency. The BJP Batala unit, Suresh Bhatia, is also under the scanner for “installing an unauthorised hoarding on the Batala-Gurdaspur road”. “On way to Gurdaspur for a meeting yesterday, I saw a board having a picture of Modi. I intimated Bhatia about it, following which the board was removed. However, the board was put up again today at the same place. I will apprise the DEO of the issue,” Batala Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Lovejit Kalsi said. The DEO has, meanwhile, constituted a four-member committee to look into the violations of the code of conduct and complaints regarding paid news. The committee, headed by the DEO, comprises Assistant Returning Officer (who is the ADC-Development), District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) and the Additional DPRO, Batala. Sources say that if the ruling parties fail to reply to the notices, the DEO will be left with no option, but to forward the complaint to the state Chief Electoral Officer. Congress’ Gurdaspur district president and Dera Baba Nanak legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the party was keeping a watch on violations of poll code by leaders of the ruling alliance.
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I’m no outsider, claims Jaitley
Attari (Amritsar), March 21 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia called him “Amritsar’s grandson”, informing the gathering that his mother hailed from the holy city. Badal and Majithia didn’t stop at that. They went on to project Jaitley as the “saviour of Punjab”, who would promote the state’s interests if the NDA was voted to power at the Centre. Jaitley said: “During my initial visits to Punjab, my colleagues were surprised to hear me speak fluent Punjabi. They were further astonished when I told them about my roots in the Majha region. Ever since Badal Saheb had been persuading me to contest from Punjab. And today his wishes have come true. I consider myself fortunate to have got an opportunity to fight my first Lok Sabha elections from Guru ki Nagri.” Trying to strike a chord with the residents of the border town, he invoked the great Sikh general, Sham Singh Attariwala. He said Badal wielded an immense clout during the NDA regime (1998-2004) and Punjab benefited from it. “However, for the past 10 years, the UPA Government has paid no heed to the woes of the people in states ruled by the Opposition,” he alleged. He also recalled how he first met Badal inside a jail during Emergency. Responding to the demands of the border residents, Jaitley said the issues could have been resolved by allocating a few hundred crores. This sum was nothing compared to the lakhs of crores that had been embezzled in scams under the UPA regime, he said. He said the people wanted industry, but they must know that 50 per cent of all industrial units in the country had downed shutters. “There is a policy paralysis and files on infrastructure projects worth Rs 7 lakh crore are gathering dust,” he alleged. Earlier, Badal said they had found a “competent lawyer” in Jaitley who would bring Punjab out of its troubles. He showered praise on him for speaking in ‘khalis’ (pure) Punjabi. He said if the NDA came to power, Jaitley would help resolve all problems being faced by Punjab. He urged Aklai leaders of all nine segments of the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat to ensure that Jaitley won by a record margin. Majithia said Jaitley would act as a troubleshooter for Punjab if the NDA came into power. Jaitley will act as troubleshooter: CM We have found a very competent lawyer in Jaitley who will bring Punjab out of its troubles, if the NDA comes to power... Akali leaders of all nine segments of Amritsar seat should ensure that Jaitley wins by a record margin~ Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister I consider myself fortunate to have got an opportunity to fight my first Lok Sabha elections from Guru ki
Nagri
Arun Jaitley, BJP leader
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Congress dares Jaitley to open debate
In a statement, PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said Jaitley must clarify his stand on the issue of Sikh farmers in Kutch as the Gujarat Government was yet to withdrawn the SLP from the Supreme Court despite an assurance by Narendra Modi in this regard during the Jagraon rally. He asked him whether he supported the views of LK Advani, who in his autobiography “My Country My Life”, had claimed credit for mounting pressure on then PM Indira Gandhi to undertake Operation Bluestar. He asked him to spell out his stand on the Anandpur Sahib resolution and the Akalis’ demands on the transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas, increase in the quota of Sikhs in the defence forces and clemency to Balwant Singh Rajoana and Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. He also sought his views on the Akali demand for an amendment in the Constitution to declare Sikhs a separate religion, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the SYL canal issue. “The Congress challenges Jaitely to a public debate on these issues. If he fails to clarify his views on these matters, he is urged to withdraw his candidature from Amritsar. The Punjabis and Sikhs are not puppets in the hands of the Badal-Majithia clan,” Khaira added.
Sukhpal Khaira’s posers to BJP candidate from Amritsar
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Amarinder submits to party’s wish
Chandigarh, March 21 The Congress was searching for a Sikh face for the Amritsar seat that has 64 per cent Sikh voters. Since the BJP has fielded a Hindu candidate (Arun Jaitley) from Amritsar, the Congress felt it stood a better chance if a Sikh leader was fielded from there. Initially OP Soni was one of the front runners. But with the BJP replacing Navjot Singh Sidhu with Jaitley, voices within the Congress in favour of Amarinder grew louder. “I had explained to Sonia Gandhi my reasons for not being able to contest. She told me that the party was convinced I was the best candidate for the Amritsar seat. So I submitted to the party’s wishes,” he said. The former CM had met the Congress president three weeks ago and expressed his inability to contest the elections, explaining that his wife, Congress candidate from Patiala, Preneet Kaur, was engaged in a triangular contest and was defending her turf not just against the AAP candidate, but also her former aide, now the SAD candidate. He had told the Congress president that it would be difficult for him to concentrate on two parliamentary seats at the same time. Also, he had told the party candidates that he would canvass for them in their constituencies. Amarinder had on Wednesday night met Sonia’s political secretary Ahmad Patel and reiterated his inability to contest the elections.
A new chapter
— Jupinderjit Singh
Congress workers see ray of hope Congress workers, lying low for some time, have been enthused by Amarinder’s candidature. They will unite and support him wholeheartedly Prof Darbari Lal, former deputy speaker We thank the party high command for fielding Amarinder Singh. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure he emerges a winner Rajkumar Verka, amritsar west legislator The SGPC should make it clear whether or not it will support a Sikh candidate from Amritsar Bhai Ashok Singh Bagarian, sikh scholar Amarinder has gone on record saying even if elected, he will not be able to do justice to Amritsar Bikramjit Singh Majithia, cabinet minister
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After HC orders, police probe graft case
Abohar, March 21 The petitioners submitted that Badal had released Rs 10 lakh as grant on their request during a “sangat darshan” programme in November 2009 to the village panchayat for taking up desilting/cleaning of Ramsara and Lambi (Bhitiwala) sub-canals (Rajbaha). The project aimed at ensuring supply of water for irrigation and drinking at the tail end of the canal system. However, in January 2010 the village sarpanch allegedly claimed that the grant money had been utilized but the petitioners alleged that no work had been done. They alleged that the money was embezzled by preparing bogus muster rolls for the project by panchayat secretary in connivance with the then sarpanch and government officials. The villagers --- Krishan Kumar, Mahabir, Dharampal, Dal Chand, Shanker Lal, Devinder Kumar, Krishan Lal, Sarwan Kumar and Anurag --- alleged that the Block Development and Panchayat Officer and Anti-Fraud Squad of the district police had exonerated the "erring" persons under political pressure as government officials and political workers had worked hand in glove to siphon off the money. The local inquiry officers even allegedly ignored the death certificates of some villagers, who were marked present on the muster roll. Some of the other villagers, whose name figured on the rolls, claimed they had never worked on the project. The Executive Engineer (XEN), Abohar Canal Division, on November 28, 2013, stated in his reply under the RTI that no desilting had been done from December 2009 to January 2010 in the canals.
‘Bogus’ roster made for desilting project
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AAP scrutinising ticket aspirants, says Jairath
Hoshiarpur, March 21 “The strict scrutiny of ticket aspirants is to ensure that persons having a clean background are fielded,” he said. Jairath said AAP had introduced a voter-oriented scrutiny system to ensure that tickets were given to the most deserving person who was acceptable to the masses. He accepted that AAP was delaying announcing candidates in the state, but “the delay is only due to the strict scrutiny of the ticket seekers”. “Those persons deserving to be people’s representative will be fielded. The party cannot compromise with its principles,” he added. He said the party would contest all 13 seats in the state. The party is yet to announce candidates from seven seats.
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Abohar SAD a divided house
Abohar, March 21 The junior Badal addressed a joint meeting of Abohar and Balluana segments here to launch the Lok Sabha election campaign. Earlier in the day, Balluana SAD MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana and former SAD legislator Parkash Singh Bhatti held separate meetings of party workers in Nihalkhera village and Bazidpur Kattianwali, the native village of BJP former legislator Ram Kumar Goyal, to motivate people turn up at Sukhbir's meeting for party workers at a resort on the Seetogunno road bypass at Abohar. Bhatti had been denied Congress ticket and contested the last elections as an Independent, facilitating safe re-election of Ghuriana to Vidhan Sabha. Bhatti later joined the SAD and was appointed chairman, Punjab SC Land Development and Finance Corporation.
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Ambika Soni expected to unite party cadre
Ropar, March 21 Sitting MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who has been shifted to Ludhiana, was not only facing anti-incumbency but also finding it hard to overcome factionalism in the Ropar district Congress, say sources. Already, a former MLA from Anandpur Sahib has revolted against the state party high command over the appointment of district president Harbhag Singh Desumajra. Desumajra’s supporters had now warned they would boycott Bittu, alleging that they were being sidelined by him. On Friday, the district Congress (Dalit cell) chairman, Mohan Singh Bhasin, resigned from the party, alleging that Bittu was “anti-Dalit.” A section of Congress workers was annoyed with Bittu who remained absent from the constituency and failed to strike a rapport with the locals. Ambika Soni’s proximity with party president Sonia Gandhi is expected to change things. All factions will have to work for her victory, lest they annoy the party high command, say local workers.
Why the change
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Manpreet refuses security
Acting on the Election Commission guidelines, the police had deployed four security personnel with Manpreet. But, he is not taking them along during his canvassing and as a result, the policemen return after sitting the entire day at his residence in Badal village. Speaking over phone, Jaijeet Singh Johal, Manpreet’s brother-in-law, said, "Four security personnel have been sent to Manpreet’s residence but he has refused to accept the security. He never favoured police protection in the past too.” Johal said though they had refused security, senior officials had directed the police personnel to remain present at Manpreet's residence. Manpreet's wife Vinu Badal had alleged that their phones were being tapped, and that intelligence personnel were “keeping tabs” on the family’s activities. Johal also alleged that the policemen and other state government agencies were getting information about their next day's schedule in advance. Manpreet’s father Gurdas Singh Badal, younger brother of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, still has security cover and an escort Gypsy vehicle.
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Lal Singh trying to unite warring Cong factions
Patiala, March 21 Lal Singh would be hosting the crucial meeting on March 25. The aim, said sources, was to tackle the alleged differences and to send message of unity among the party cadre in Patiala as well as other Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab. Amarinder Singh’s wife Preneet Kaur is the Congress nominee from Patiala. Sources said while Amarinder Singh had agreed to attend the event, Bajwa may give it a miss citing his commitments in Gurdaspur, the constituency he is re-contesting. They said Lal Singh would gather a large number of Congress workers from Sanaur and seek their support for Preneet in the presence of senior leaders. While workers have been summoned at 10 am, the senior leaders are expected an hour later. Lal Singh would also reportedly host a lunch for the senior leaders Rajbaha Road residence. “I have invited senior leaders and also asked over 2,000 workers from my constituency as well as Patiala to come and discuss poll strategy,” said Lal Singh. “We want hear and sort out the problems of our workers,” he said. The meeting also holds significance as a faction led by former Mayor Vishnu Sharma and some former disgruntled Congress councillors in the city have been voicing their opinion against the party and the Patiala candidate. Former minister Jasjit Randhawa had also opposed Preneet’s candidature.
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In Patiala, AAP finds it tough to woo rural voters
Patiala, March 21 For the last several generations, villagers in the segment have been supporting either the Congress or the SAD. Patiala parliamentary seat has around 15.50 lakh voters in nine assembly segments. The rural voters have a bigger share than their urban counterparts. Of the nine assembly seats, only Patiala (City) has 100 per cent urban population. Patiala (Rural) includes around 50 villages whereas its major portion is spread in urban areas. Aware of the high number of voters living in villages, the AAP has been roping in rural youth to influence their parents and other elderly people. Dr Dharmvir Gandhi, AAP nominee from Patiala, said the party had studied problems facing various villages and had “even planned how to solve them”. “Issues like lack of potable water and poor sanitation are common to all villages. Villagers living 2 km away from the Ghaggar are concerned about floods,” he said.
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poll pot
Chandigarh: The Election Commission has sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner of Patiala on the alleged distribution of liquor at a rally in Ghanaur addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Raminder Singh said he had sought a report from the DC.
— TNS
Women ignored
Sangrur: Of the total 218 candidates who contested the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2009, only 13 were women. Out of them only four emerged victorious with the BJP not even fielding a single woman candidate in the state. Women did not get their due share of seats despite the fact that 33 per cent of the assembly and the Lok Sabha seats are reserved for women. The four winning candidates were Perneet Kaur from Patiala and Santosh Chaudhary from Hoshiarpur, of the Congress; and Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda and Paramjit Kaur Gulshan from Faridkot, of the SAD.
— TNS
Manpreet opens office
Bathinda: The Congress-PPP candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, Manpreet Singh Badal, opened his office here on Friday. He accused the SAD-BJP Government of poor governance. He spoke in favour of employees' rights. Also present on the occasion were PPCC general secretary Harminder Singh Jassi, MLAs Ajaib Singh Bhatti and Ajit Binder Singh Mofar, Gurpreet Kangar and Jasvir Singh Dimpa. Dimpa said Manpreet's victory in Bathinda would be Rahul Gandhi's win.
— TNS
New Cong ally
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal), a constituent of the Sanjha Morcha, will extend its support to the Congress tomorrow. The party was formed after it split from the SAD in 2004 and became a part of the Sanjha Morcha in 2009, along with Manpreet Badal’s Peoples Party of Punjab, the CPI and the CPM. Sources said Manpreet, who joined hands with the Congress recently, was instrumental in getting the pact realised.
— TNS
AAP list delayed
Hoshiarpur: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has delayed announcing its candidates for Punjab because of the strict scrutiny of ticket aspirants that includes appraisal by the ‘aam aadmi’ (common people), said party spokesperson, Advocate Naveen Jairath, here today. "The strict scrutiny of ticket aspirants is to ensure that persons having a clean background are fielded," he said. Jairath said AAP had introduced a voter-oriented scrutiny system to ensure that tickets were given to the most deserving person who was acceptable to the masses. He accepted that AAP was delaying the announcement of candidates in the state, but “the delay is only due to the strict scrutiny of the ticket seekers”.
— OC
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Economy collapsing, warn experts
Patiala, March 21 The three-day conference is being jointly organised by Centre for Development Economics and Innovation Studies, Department of Economics, Punjabi University and University of California, Santa Cruz. Nirvikar Singh, Professor of Economics and Director, Centre for Analytical Finance, University of California, USA, in the keynote address said, “The green revolution combined with the lack of broader industrial development has created a potentially unstable situation. Inequality rose, partly as a natural consequence of growth but partly as a result of unequal access to inputs such as credit.” He said that instead of giving free power to the farm sector, the state should go for crop insurance, infrastructure development, marketing support and food processing. “The state needs to change its priorities. Subsidies for water and power have created huge distortions in input use and cropping decisions,” he said. He said the focus on transforming agriculture would not solve the state’s economic problems. The current patterns of production would lead to disaster in as little as a decade. Prof Sukhpal Singh, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahemdabad, criticised the state’s diversification and agriculture policy. He drew attention to the half-hearted measures taken in this regard such as enacting the Contract Act, but not amending the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act. Prof SK Goyal, Vice Chairman and Professor Emeritus, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi, said the banking sector needed to stop transferring resources from the poor to the rich states. Among others who spoke were Prof Supreet Kaur from Columbia University, Prof Pritam Singh from Oxford Brookes, University,
London. Problems
Solutions
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Food scheme: Faridkot DC orders probe into ‘poor’ quality wheat
Faridkot, March 21 At a SAD rally here two days ago, a farmer had spread out a packet of ‘rotis’ prepared from alleged poor quality wheat before Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The allegation came at a time when Badal was hard-selling the achievements of the state government, prominent among them being the Atta-Dal scheme. Sitting in front row, the farmer’s move not only left the police stunned but it also came as an embarrassment for the Akali leadership. The local Congress leaders have also accused the government of supplying poor quality wheat and pulses. Jaspreet Singh Kahlon, District Food and Supplies Controller, claimed the wheat distributed under the scheme was of good quality. “After getting orders from the Deputy Commissioner, my department officials visited several villages to collect wheat samples. But all the samples were found of good quality,” said Kahlon.
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Muktsari ‘kurta-pyjamas’ high on demand in election season
Muktsar, March 21 The politicos’ trademark dress is slim-fit kurta with collars and pyjama tight from the bottom, making it look like a slim pant. The rise in demand can be gauged from tailors giving almost a month’s time to stitch a pair of kurta-pyjama. The tailors, Manpreet Singh and his father Sukhdev Singh, credited with popularising “Muktsari kurta-pyjama”, say: “Earlier, kurta-pyjama was nothing more than a night suit, but we made it stylish. The slim-fit kurta pyjama is as comfortable as the normal one.” They charge Rs 700 for stitching a kurta-pyjama. It is double the amount of the normal kurta-pyjama. Manpreet adds, “This poll season, we have received double the orders than from the 2012 assembly elections. We receive orders across the state, but a few persons from Haryana and Rajasthan, too, approach us.” “Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal wears kurta-pyjama stitched by us. In the past few months, we have stitched nearly 50 kurta-pyjamas for him,” Manpreet claims. He adds that university and college students in Chandigarh have a fancy for “Muktsari kurta-pyjama”. Other tailors in the town, too, are flooded with orders and hiring more employees to deliver in time.
Who’s donning it Among politicians having a liking for “Muktsari kurta-pyjamas” are Sukhbir Badal, Jagmeet Brar, Ripjit Brar, Avtar Brar, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Darshan Shivalik, Sukhdarshan Singh Marar, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Naresh Kataria. Besides, religious leaders, policemen and bureaucrats like to dress in “Muktsari kurta-pyjama”.
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42,000 students not to get books until poll ends
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 21 Sources said there were over 34,000 Scheduled Caste (SC) and Backward Class (BC) students in these schools. Even though the next session is to start from April 1, the books to be provided by the state government under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan would be distributed among the students after the elections are over. The books have been supplied to the Education Department, but these are stored in its depots. Earlier, the government supplied the books to the Education Department a month prior to the new session starting April 1 and these were immediately distributed among the students. The Education Department provides free books to the BC and the general category students of Class I to VIII, while the Social Welfare Department distributes the books among the SC category students. Besides, these books are also being provided by the Zila Parishad to schools being run by the Zila Parishad and the municipal councils. Sources said there were 251 elementary schools under the Education Department, while 195 schools are being run by the Zila Parishad and 14 by municipal councils in the district. There are 218 high and senior secondary schools that provide education from Class VI onwards. The students’ parents allege if the Election Commission can permit the atta-dal scheme to run despite the model code of conduct in place, why can it not let the Education Department distribute the books among the students. District Education Officer (elementary) Malkit Singh said the books could be provided to the students after the elections process was over.
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Lt General Hariz takes charge of Chetak Corps
Abohar, March 21 He is a graduate of the Staff College, Camberly, United Kingdom, and has attended the Higher Command Course, Mhow, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. The officer has a varied exposure to combat, staff and instructional experience. He has also commanded a division that was part of the Desert Strike Corps. He held the post of Additional Directorate General of Mechanised Forces in the Army headquarters. Lt Gen PM Hariz was conferred with the Sena Medal and the Vishist Seva Medal for his distinguished services.
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Talwandi Sabo power plant to get coal in a week
Bathinda, March 21 An official spokesperson said Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), would provide them coal and the formalities in this regard had been completed. The coal supplied by the MCL was being washed before transporting to the state as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the official said. The power plant was ready about four months ago but the delay in getting coal had resulted in the delay in operations. The railway stretch was also completed four months ago and an engine, too, had entered the plant through the track on December 14. The official said the power plant had obtained all necessary licenses for the railway track.
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Notice to state over delay in forensic reports
Chandigarh, March 21 The matter was referred to Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul by Justice Surya Kant after the delay in the reports was brought to his notice by inmates of Ropar jail during his inspection of the sessions division on March 2. The inmates, in a letter, had written to Justice Surya Kant as a result of the delay in forensic science reports on suspected contraband recovered from them, their cases were pending since long. Justice Surya suggested that the desirability of setting up sufficient number of forensic science laboratories in each district should be considered. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli asserted: “The issue raised in the petition arises on account of the absence of adequate number of forensic science laboratories in the state, where there is only one existing laboratory.
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Farmers burn effigies of govt in Sangrur
Sangrur, March 21 District president Amrik Gandhuan said the effigies were burnt at Jakhepal village, Andana village and three villages in Dhuri area. He said the farmers were to stage a dharna outside the office of the Mansa DC when they were
lathi-charged.
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Transport, labour unions
protest in Moga
Moga, March 21 They gathered at the mini-secretariat today and initially refused to file tenders. Later, in the evening, District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind assured them that he would take up the issue with the state government. Thereafter, the union members agreed to file their tenders but said they would not sign the agreements till their demands were fulfilled. The opening of the tenders is slated for the next week. With just 10 days left for the beginning of wheat procurement in the state and Lok Sabha elections around the corner, the anguish of the transport and labour unions cannot be ignored by the state government. —
TNS
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AAP worker alleges police harassment
Sangrur, March 21 Charanjit’s sister Shinderpal Kaur said the Nidampur panchayat had complained that her sister and father had delivered a provocative speech, levelling corruption charges against the panchayat. She alleged her family was being harassed owing to its links with AAP. But the Kalajhar police said it had not registered any such case.
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High Court notice to state on CM’s photos on ambulances
Chandigarh, March 21 Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary had petitioned against the Union of India and another respondent. As the matter came up for resumed hearing, Justice Bahri took on record an annexure that said that photographs of CMs were not pasted on “108 ambulances” in Haryana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. The Punjab Youth Congress had protested all over the state on the issue. Earlier, a circular was issued by the Centre, directing the states adopt a uniform design for the free referral transport system. The PPCC too had submitted a complaint to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh, demanding removal of the CM's photos in view of the model code of conduct. The complaint read: "We want to bring to your notice that '108' ambulances in the state are carrying Badal's photographs. As the SAD-BJP alliance is contesting the parliamentary elections, these will influence the voters and adversely affect the holding of free and fair elections. The matter has also been reported in the print media".
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Moga, March 21
Warehouse Managing Director Arvinder Singh Bains confirmed that Jain had joined: “Ji haan, ohna ne office da charge lai lia hai (yes, he has taken the charge).”
Amritsar, March 21
Muktsar, March 21