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CEO office faces expenditure blues as state delays
Rs 120 cr...
...No fiscal crises, insists govt
Alleging frame-up, Ropar rallies for RTI activist
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Sidhu’s wife says he won’t campaign for Jaitley
Amritsar MP Navjot Sidhu and his wife Navjot Kaur. file photo
Jaitley: Cong to be reduced to ‘Club-75’, Capt won’t be in it
SAD’s ‘Plan D’ to rout Congress: Defect, demoralise and defeat
Bhagwant wanted to join Akali Dal, claims Sukhbir
Amarinder’s road show damp squib: SAD, BJP
Bir Devinder returns to Cong, will canvass for Amarinder
Cong couldn't tolerate a Dalit leader: Chaudhary
Want to know AAP’s agenda? Log on to Google today
No child found working at Sangha Farms during raid
Incorrect info on Bhagat Singh in Punjabi book kicks up row
Got Rs 102 crore sanctioned for Anandpur Sahib: Soni
MP seeks girdawari to assess crop damage
Cleaners protest, want their demands in poll manifestos
Survey for cancer centre begins
Historic Gurdwara Buddha Johad to get a facelift
Delhi gurdwara panel seeks apology from UK govt
SC contempt notice to state on plea by SPOs of terror days
Gobindpura acquisition-hit may get govt jobs, HC told
Central official in dock over filing ‘misleading affidavit’
Rapist gets 10-yr imprisonment
Woman, son get life term for murder
Tarn Taran MLA’s missing PA found dead
Ex-DSP, his associate sent to four-day remand
Security a concern as former cop to share jail with criminals he nabbed
Man commits suicide
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CEO office faces expenditure blues as state delays
Rs 120 cr...
Chandigarh, March 28 “The state has cleared the bills, but the CEO’s office is yet to receive the money. Of the sanctioned amount of ~120 crore, about ~94 crore is for administrative work, Rs 24 crore for the police wing and the remaining for unsettled bills of the Deputy Commissioners in the state,” Additional CEO Raminder Singh said. Sources said money was needed for expenditure on transportation and election help material, honorarium, creating awareness about voting and miscellaneous charges. The CEO’s office has approached the Finance Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home), seeking an early disbursal of money. With the election entering a crucial phase of nominations, the CEO's office is facing expenditure blues in making the payments. Complaint against SSP
Ex gratia aid enhanced An ex gratia payment to the family of an official who dies accidentally while on election duty has been enhanced to ~10 lakh. In cases of official’s death due to any violent act by extremists or anti-social elements such as road mines, bomb blasts, armed attacks, his family will receive ~20 lakh compensation. Trouble-makers on rise Police inputs show that the number of persons, who are potential trouble-makers, has risen to 756. They have been put on watch. Till date, 4,720 non-bailable warrants have been executed..
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...No fiscal crises, insists govt
Chandigarh, March 28 Strangely enough, thousands of employees from various state government departments have still not got their salaries for the past two to four months. A large section of these people have been visiting the Treasury office in Sector 17 here, trying to get their provident fund advances and final bills, travelling bills, and even retirement dues cleared. But they are being turned away as the government has reached an overdraft of Rs 300 crore, which is over and above its ways and means advances. The government, in a communiqué, while denying the news published in The Tribune today, said that payments totalling to Rs 1,981.85 crore had been made between March 18 and March 27. However, as had been reported in the news columns today, only the contingency bills have been cleared. These include fuel bills, telephone bills, and bills for stamp duty deposited by departments in case of affidavits. Sources in the Treasury maintain that other than releasing payments to some government contractors and contingency bills, no other bills of the employees have been cleared as the government was in an overdraft. In fact, various employee unions are now threatening to take on the state government by organising protests for non-payment of their dues. Gurmel Singh Sidhu of Punjab and UT Employees Action Committee said they had issued an ultimatum to the government to either clear all pending bills of employees before the end of this fiscal (March 31) or they would protest in front of the Treasury. A representative of the Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association said doctors had not received their salary from January onwards, whereas other staff members had not got their salary for February. “Most employees need money at this time for the admission of their wards and for investing in tax-saving schemes. But here we are, forced to borrow money as we have not got our salaries for two months,” he said. Harnek Singh Mavi, secretary of Government Teachers Union, said a large number of teachers and education staff had not been given salaries for four months now. While quoting examples, he said all staff of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kurali, and Government Middle School, Akalgarh, had not received salaries for four months now. Malwinder Singh Malhi, a social science master at Government Senior Secondary School, Gardley, in Rupnagar said he had not received his salary for three months now. Employees say not paid *
Various employee unions have threatened to hold protests if their dues are not cleared by March 31 *
A large section of these employees have been visiting the Treasury office in Sector 17, Chandigarh *
They have been trying to get their provident fund advances and final bills, travelling bills and even retirement dues cleared *
But they are being turned away as the government has reached an overdraft of Rs 300 crore, which is over and above its ways and means advances Payments made: Govt The Punjab Government, in a communiqué, while denying the news published in The Tribune on Friday, said payments totalling to
Rs 1,981.85 crore had been made between March 18 and March 27
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Alleging frame-up, Ropar rallies for RTI activist
Ropar, March 28 The protesters, claiming that Chadha was implicated in a false case at the behest of the sand mafia, issued an ultimatum to withdraw the case by April 1, or else they would sit on a dharna outside the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s (DSP) office. Chadha, an advocate in Ropar, has been protesting against the sand mafia for the past few years. Recently, he had raised the issue of “goonda tax” collected by the sand mafia from the vehicle drivers ferrying sand and gravel near Bhanuha, Kheri and Algran villages of the district. Though no quarry was operational in the areas, the sand mafia was found collecting money in the name of royalty on March 11 during a survey by The Tribune. The next day, the district police had removed the barricades set up by the mafia. Chadha, alleging that he was receiving threats to his life from the sand mafia, lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC). “In case of any physical or any other type of harm sustained on me, the Ropar police, collectors of ‘goonda tax’ and politicians behind the malpractice will be responsible,” the complaint read. Though none of the accused responsible for collecting “goonda tax” has been arrested, the police have booked Chadha under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has been registered on the complaint of Amarjit Singh, an employee of a mining contractor. He stated in the FIR that he was injured in an attack by eight persons on the intervening night of March 20 and 21. He alleged that he was attacked at the behest of Chadha. Lawyers in Ropar and Anandpur Sahib went on strike against the slapping of trumped-up charges against Chadha yesterday. Today’s protest saw Nurpur Bedi residents marching in the main market, while volunteers of the “goonda gardi virodhi action committee” staged a dharna at Bela Chowk. The Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib, Ambika Soni, and party spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira condemned the registration of a criminal case against Chadha. Soni told the media at Morinda that the Congress would not allow RTI activist’s victimisation. Khaira, in a statement, said it was an attempt to suppress the voice against the sand mafia. “Chadha was exposing the anti-people policies of the SAD-BJP alliance in the area and, for this, he has been implicated,” the statement read. Khaira said a state-level agitation would be lanuched against “goonda tax” collected by politicians of the ruling alliance. EC 'oblivious' to activist's complaints * Though RTI activist Dinesh Chadha complained to the Election Commissioner, Punjab, alleging threat to his life by the sand mafia, four times this month, Election Commission (EC) officials seem oblivious to the issue *
The complaints were filed on March 10, 15, 17 and 25 * Additional Chief Election Commissioner Raminder Singh said he was not in the know of any such complaint. "I learnt about the issue through the newspapers," he said *
The inquiries brought out that the EC had received the first complaint on March 10 and that was forwarded to the Punjab Home Secretary and DIG (Crime) *
Subsequently, Ropar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) got an inquiry conducted through Superintendent of Police (D) DS Mann and a report was submitted to EC on March 13. The report from the Home Secretary, however, is yet to be submitted
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Sidhu’s wife says he won’t campaign for Jaitley
Amritsar, March 28 Talking to The Tribune here this evening, Dr Sidhu said, “He will not be campaigning for Jaitley saheb. How can he come here and share stage with the ruling Akali Dal, which does not want to work with him? In this scenario, even if he arrives here to campaign, it may lead to a situation that may not be good for Jaitley saheb.” She went on to name Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi as the ones who didn't want Sidhu to be fielded from Amritsar. She said there was pressure from the ruling SAD on the BJP not to allot ticket to Sidhu. “The Akali Dal has openly said that they don't want to see Sidhu here, then why he should come for campaign and harm the party?” she wondered. On Jaitley saying that Sidhu would campaign for him, she said Jaitley was a senior party leader and he was not aware of the ground reality. She also made it clear that Sidhu would be campaigning elsewhere in the country. “He will be addressing rallies in support of Narendra Modi in Varanasi on April 12-13,” she said. Dr Sidhu, however, said she, being the Amritsar-East MLA, would be campaigning for Jaitley in the coming days. “I have already told my supporters to gear up for an intensive campaign for our candidate over the next one month. I will ensure that Jaitley saheb gets an impressive lead from my segment.” She said as an MLA she had to campaign for the BJP candidate, irrespective of who he was. Earlier in the day, Jaitley had a meeting with Dr Sidhu at her residence. The remarks of Sidhu’s wife had also raised a question mark whether the cricketer-turned-politician will campaign for the party anywhere in Punjab as the BJP is in alliance with the SAD on all the 13 seats. Incidentally, it was only on Wednesday that Sidhu had landed in Nagpur to campaign for former BJP president Nitin Gadkari who is contesting Lok Sabha polls there. He had a day off during the ongoing T-20 World Cup in Bangladesh and he flew to Nagpur to seek votes for Gadkari. The three-time MP Sidhu was reportedly denied ticket by the BJP due to his tussle with the ruling SAD over the alleged delay in his pet projects. Sidhu had been on collision course with the state government for quite sometime and he was also being “cold-shouldered” by the SAD leadership during the events in Amritsar in the recent past.
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Jaitley: Cong to be reduced to ‘Club-75’, Capt won’t be in it
Amritsar, March 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, Jaitley took a dig at his rival, saying, “Everybody has a right to bring along his leadership to the election campaign. Wherever they are weak, they also have a right to bring the people from outside.” He said the BJP was very comfortable and way ahead of the Congress. When asked whether he still considered Amritsar a “safe seat”, he said, “I am confident that it is a very safe seat.” On sitting MP Navjot Sidhu’s absence, he said, “Don’t worry. Everyone will campaign for the BJP.” Meanwhile, the verbal duel between two heavyweights from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency continued today with Jaitley stating that the Congress candidate ,Capt Amarinder Singh, was “having a foot and mouth problem”. Responding to Captain’s “Club 160” charge against him through his blog, Jaitley said, “Captain is a disgruntled member of the Congress party. Yet he is concerned about people in the BJP being anti-Narendra Modi. Thank you, Captain sahib for your concern for Modi... you be rest assured there is no club in the BJP against Modi... The Congress may be reduced to a club of 75... You certainly will not be a part of that Club-75.” On his war of words with Captain getting murkier with each passing day, he said he was learning the kind of language that was being used but not incorporating it. On Kathua terror attack, Jaitley said it was a cause for concern that repeated attacks were taking place on the same pattern at regular intervals of time and in the same belt. He said the security agencies cannot lower their guard.
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SAD’s ‘Plan D’ to rout Congress: Defect, demoralise and defeat
Chandigarh, March 28 By fielding all old warhorses, the Congress appears to have managed to pip the Akali Dal's alleged plan of working out defections of senior (Congress) leaders, including MLAs. After winning over Talwandi Sabo Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu and making him resign from the Assembly on the last day of the Budget session, the Akalis were quite successful in demoralising the Congress. Speculation was rife that a senior Congress MLA from the Majha region and two other MLAs from the Malwa belt would switch over to the Akali Dal. But as the SAD-BJP government did not want a simultaneous bypoll for any Assembly seat falling vacant after these MLAs resigned from the Congress, the Akali leadership postponed their induction till April 2 — the day the Lok Sabha elections are to be notified. Sources said not only were the Akalis ready to induct one of these MLAs, who also has business interests with a powerful state minister, on April 7, the ruling party was also ready to support a senior Congress leader in Majha who had threatened to contest as an Independent against the official candidate. The previous strategy adopted by the Akalis (during the 2012 Assembly elections) of supporting rebel Congress leaders was to be adopted. But it seems the Akali leadership, which prides their ability to win each election with a strategy, have been left high and dry after the Congress announced its candidates, much after the Akali candidates were announced. With former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh; his bête noire Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa; Ambika Soni, political secretary to the Congress president; and Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar contesting the Lok Sabha elections, the party cadre seems to have been rejuvenated. From a seemingly walk-away victory for the Akalis, the Congress is now clearly fighting to defend its previous tally of having won eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. This has left the Akalis without their planned strategy. The party, as of now, is relying on political rhetoric for election gains. Plan ‘D’ *
The SAD reportedly had plans to demoralise the Opposition Congress by winning over its MLAs *
Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeet Mohinder was the first among four Congress MLAs who were to be inducted in the SAD-fold *
A senior Congress MLA from Majha and two other MLAs from the Malwa belt were also to cross over to the Akali Dal *
Making Jeet resign from the Assembly on the last day of the Budget session too had been reportedly planned *
The Akali Dal did not want bypolls to all the assembly seats along with the Lok Sabha elections *
Sources say the SAD also had plans to support a Congress rebel in Majha who had threatened to contest as an Independent when denied the ticket
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Bhagwant wanted to join Akali Dal, claims Sukhbir
Sunam (Sangrur), March 28 A former aide of People's Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Badal, Bhagwant had quit the party and joined the AAP reportedly after Manpreet decided to side with the Congress. He is now the AAP nominee from Sangrur. "Bhagwant had sent me a message that he wanted to join the SAD. But I turned down his request," said Sukhbir while launching the campaign of SAD candidate from Sangrur Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Gurcharan Singh, maternal uncle of Bhagwant Mann from Kharrial village (near Sunam), also joined the SAD on the occasion. While appealing to the gathering to participate in the electoral battle, he termed Congress's manifesto as "a document of scams". He said the SAD would release its "development-oriented" manifesto next month. Regarding some Congress MLAs joining the SAD, he said "they would join the SAD after April 2 as the Akali Dal had stopped them from doing so for the time being". About the SAD (Longowal) support to the Congress, he alleged the family of Surjit Singh Barnala was already in the Congress as the latter had got extension as Governor from the Congress government in the past. He also accused Barnala of sending police to Sri Harmandar Sahib during his regime in the state. Interestingly, the presence of AAP candidate Bhagwant Mann in the election fray dominated the speeches delivered by many speakers. Dhindsa, his son-Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, senior leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Balbir Singh Ghunas, Punjab Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan and former minister Gobind Singh Longowal also spoke on the occasion.
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Amarinder’s road show damp squib: SAD, BJP
Amritsar, March 28 In a statement released here today, Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia said “by relying so heavily on paid workers masquerading as Congressmen, Captain had already passed a vote of no-confidence in Amritsar”. He said the prominent Congress faces visible in the crowd were leaders from outside Amritsar, “many of whom will be secretly working to ensure Amarinder’s defeat”. “All such road shows ended as political disasters for him earlier,” he said. Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma also termed Amarinder’s road show as “flop show”, alleging that it had less number of party workers from Amritsar and more from other districts of the state.
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Bir Devinder returns to Cong, will canvass for Amarinder
New Delhi, March 28 Congress president Sonia Gandhi approved the return of Bir Devinder, former Deputy Speaker in Punjab Assembly, to the party fold even as the Lok Sabha elections are about to begin on April 30 in the state. Bir Devinder, a former legislator from Sirhind and Kharar, had quit the Congress in April 2009 just before the Lok Sabha elections on the issue of denial of ticket and on moral high ground over the nominations of 1984 anti-Sikh riot accused Congress men Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. He did not stay with the Akali Dal either and quit the party in 2010 citing Akalis’ lack of political willingness to bring justice to the victims of Sikh riots. While quitting the Akali Dal, Bir Devinder had said, “It is now almost a year and a half since I bade adieu to the Congress, which I served for more than three decades, a major chunk of my life, occasioned by the fate of unsuccessful attempts of the dependents of the 1984 riot-victims for their rehabilitation and the cruel jokes played on them by the perpetrators of the crime in the precincts of the temples of justice. The issue of the fate of riot victims dominated my thought process. It has skimmed forth the fact that even the SAD lacks sincerity of purpose and deliberately avoided to bring an end to the appalling state of affairs that the riot victims have to confront…Therefore, I declare to have snapped all my links with the SAD." When contacted, Bir Devinder Singh said he was returning to the Congress to strengthen secular forces. “The rise of communalism is threatening our secular fabric and I wish to strengthen the secular forces,” he said. State AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said, “Bir Devinder is a very good orator and a senior leader in the state. We hope to use his services suitably. All three top leaders of the state --- Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, Capt Amarinder and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal recommended his re-entry into the Congress.”
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Cong couldn't tolerate a Dalit leader: Chaudhary
Phagwara, March 28 However, talking to The Tribune here today, visibly upset Chaudhary said a Dalit woman was ignored as many of the Congress men could not tolerate a Dalit leader serving people. She described the party's selection as unfortunate and said it could cost the party dear. She said she surprised about the denial of ticket to her as AICC president Sonia Gandhi had "assured" her the seat three months ago. She said even party nominee from Hoshiapur Mohinder Singh Kaypee himself wanted to contest only from Jalandhar. She expressed surprise that the party could not find any candidate from within the Hoshiarpur constituency. The BJP too has preferred an outsider candidate, Vijay Sampla of Jalandhar, for
Hoshiarpur.
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Want to know AAP’s agenda? Log on to Google today
Chandigarh, March 28 The webpage designed by IIT-Delhi graduate Samarjit Singh Uppal will commence at 9 pm with a curtain raiser by the AAP state elections convener Sumail Singh Sidhu. The session is titled “AAP: Challenges and Opportunities in Punjab”. Sidhu will speak on issues facing the state, particularly drugs, high-handedness in the administration and family hegemony in the state politics. Uppal said: “The talk will be followed by an interactive session in which the global audience can ask questions.” Relying on the feedback from the pilot project, the AAP will have other leaders from the state carry out the same interactive session with the voters, particularly the youth. “Instead of the usual one-way dialogue with the voters by the leaders, we want to build a database for future action based on feedback from the grass-roots,” Uppal added.
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CM says Cong failed to weaken SAD
Hoshiarpur Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said that the Congress has always been trying to weaken the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), but it failed in their attempts. He was speaking at a rally at Ghasipur village in the district. “The Congress played a
AAP picks trader for Jalandhar seat Jalandhar: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today handed the party ticket to Rajesh Padam (42), a small-time businessman for the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency. Padam, who is from the Balmiki community, was not among the prospective candidates from Jalandhar. He comes from a modest family background. He runs the RO water business from home and has a limited social circle. But his candidature has shot him into the limelight. Padam said he had been a Congress worker for the past 20 years and was recently appointed vice president of its District Scheduled Caste (SC) Cell. He had left the Congress about two months ago. Kaypee’s focus: Kandi belt’s growth Hoshiarpur: Of Congress' Hoshiarpur candidate Mohinder Singh Kaypee has said that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections on the development plank. "My agenda is the development of Hoshiarpur, especially the kandi belt, by ensuring a package for industry," he told the media here today. Kaypee said Hoshiarpur had seen development during the Congress rule.
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No child found working at Sangha Farms during raid
Jalandhar, March 28 The DC, Rahul S, ordered the raid after Nand Kishore of Rama Mandi pleaded before him to rescue his child Krishan Kant (12), who was abducted in May last year from outside his house, from Sangha Farms. Kishore approached the district administration for help after he recognised his son in a photograph published in The Tribune on March 26. The photograph showed several children working on Sangha Farms. Though the raiding team did not find any child working at the farms, a villager confirmed the practice of child labour in the village since long. “I was informed that several children were working in the farms allegedly been brought by contractors from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal. I will submit the report to the DC and the State labour Commissioner soon,” Parmar said. The ALC said he was informed that it was impossible to find any child working in the farms, as the issue had been highlighted prominently in the media. Raid ridden with faults
The raid was not conducted as per the DC’s direction. In spite of his written order to the Police Commissioner to provide security to the raiding staff, no cover was provided. Jalandhar Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) and in-charge of the raiding team Vipin Parmar said he made repeated attempts to contact Harjinder Singh, ACP (Crime), to provide police force as instructed by the DC. “I tried several times to contact ACP (Crime) Onkaar Singh Brar, Sadar police station SHO and local police post near the village. None of them showed interest in the case. The SHO told me to contact a police station which is about 25 km from the raiding site,” Parmar said. The DC said the police personnel were not sent with the DTF as it was not accompanied by the tehsildar, who incidentally is not part of the
DTF. Help sought *
The DC ordered the raid after Nand Kishore of Rama Mandi pleaded before him to rescue his child Krishan Kant (12), who was abducted in May last year from outside his house, from Sangha Farms *
Kishore approached the district administration for help after he recognised his son in a photograph published in The Tribune on March 26.
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Incorrect info on Bhagat Singh in Punjabi book kicks up row
Doraha, March 28 The book priced Rs 125 is published by Paramvir Publications, Jalandhar. Jagmohan Singh, Bhagat Singh’s nephew and general secretary, Jamhoori Adhikar Sabha, said, “It is a blunder on the part of the publishers. It is not a question of whether or not Bhagat Singh followed any religion. But, it is about what he stood for and what he believed in. No one has the right to distort information like this.” A parent said it was matter of shame that such mistakes were being overlooked by the Education Department. Jaswant Singh Gill, Director, of Guru Nanak National College Doraha, said, “The great freedom fighter had strong beliefs and principles. He wanted the youth to persevere to pursue their goals. The publishers should verify the facts and figures twice before publishing any information on such role models of our society.” The publisher, Paramvir Singh, apologised for the mistake and promised to rectify it in the next edition.
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Got Rs 102 crore sanctioned for Anandpur Sahib: Soni
Morinda, March 28 Accompanied by sitting MLAs Jagmohan Singh Kang and Charanjit Singh Channy and other party leaders, Soni addressed the meetings at Ward number 10, Railway Road, Sugar Mill road, Main Bazaar and Gurdwara Ramgarhia Road.
Soni further said she had made numerous efforts to carve out the Anandpur Sahib constituency. She said she was willing to contest from here during the last election when the party preferred to field Ravneet Singh
Bittu, a youth leader, who had won by a handsome margin. Soni then criticised her rival and SAD candidate Prem Singh
Chandumajra. She said the SAD had not started any development projects in the area even though it had been in power in the state for the last seven years. “The development in the area was funded with central funds. If I am elected to Parliament, I will make efforts to bring big industrial projects to the region so that employment opportunities are generated for the youth, she said. Meanwhile, Chandumajra in a statement said Soni was a drawing room leader and had half-heartedly decided to contest the election. He said the Congress had fielded Soni as it feared that Bittu might lose.
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MP seeks girdawari to assess crop damage
Sangrur, March 28 Singla said bad weather and hailstorm had damaged standing crops, which were almost ready to be harvested. He said crop damage due to weather vagaries was becoming more frequent and it was high time that a permanent mechanism be established to tackle such a situation for a quick relief. He said the government procurement agencies had often refused to lift discoloured or food grains with higher moisture content (damaged due to weather) from the grain markets. He said he had to intervene a number of times in the recent past to get relief for farmers. He said the UPA Government had now passed a land acquisition law, which ensured that the land could not be acquired without the land owners' consent. Besides, it also promised compensation four times the prevailing market value. — TNS
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Cleaners protest, want their demands in poll manifestos
Kotkapura (Faridkot), March 28 A total of 180 sweepers are participating in the protest, which started on March 24. The protesters said they got salaries after months of delay. “Everytime, we have to resort to a strike to pressurise the Municipal Committee (MC) authorities to pay our salaries. This time, we want a plausible promise from all political parties and so, we have called for inclusion of our demand in their manifestos,” said the local sweepers’ union vice-president, Avinash Chauhan. "Last month, we got our salaries till January 2014. After that, there was no payment of salaries,” said Chauhan. A tent pitched by these sweepers in the heart of the town has given a convenient platform to the opposition parties to flay the state government for “painting a rosy picture of the state’s finance”. Congress candidate for Faridkot Lok Sabha seat Joginder Singh said the state government’s claim of having attained a new trajectory of development was “ridiculous”. While Joginder is non-committal about the sweepers’ demand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has agreed to include it in its election manifesto. Kotkapura Sub Divisional Magistrate Harjit Singh Sidhu, who is the administrator of the MC, said there had been a delay in the payment of salaries due to “some procedural lapses”. “We are making all efforts so that the salaries of these employees could be paid on time,” he said. In the past, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued orders to stop the salaries of the MC’s senior officials and attach all its properties, including bank accounts and vehicles, after the MC was found using its employee’s provident fund money to meet daily expenses. The MC had taken a loan of Rs 6 crore from the Amritsar Improvement Trust to pay the arrears of its retired staff. Now, the civic body is facing difficulties in making a monthly loan payment Rs 33 lakh. "The oil octroi was the main source of our income. After the closure of the bulk oil depots in Kotkapura, we have lost our main source of income," said a senior functionary in the MC, Kotkapura. “We are awaiting funds from the state government,” he said. Their demand *
The sweepers of the Kotkapura Municipal Committee are demanding timely payment of salaries *
A total of 182 sweepers are participating in the protest, which started on March 24 *
A tent pitched by these sweepers in the heart of the town has given a convenient platform to opposition parties.
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Survey for cancer centre begins
Fazilka, March 28 Dr Baldev Raj, Civil Surgeon, Fazilka, has been assigned the job to identify a 4.5-acre land for establishing the centre. “There is a proposal of setting up 50 such units in the country where cancer patients would be treated in 100-bedded hospitals,” said Dr Behl. He said 75 per cent cost of each unit would be borne by the Central Government. Dr Behl said TATA Memorial Cancer Hospital had also offered their services for these hospitals. He said he would submit a comprehensive report and blueprint to the state Secretary Health till March 31, who in turn would send it to the Centre for final approval. “There are about one lakh cancer patients in the state and 25,000 to 30,000 new patients are detected every year,” said the state Programme officer. Residents in the border villages of the district and adjoining areas have been worst hit by the disease due to various reasons. At present, most of the poor patients have to travel to Bikaner in Rajasthan to get treatment at competitive prices. “Most of the patients cannot afford expensive treatment at private hospitals in the state. Hence, opening up of a cancer hospital at the district headquarters will benefit many,” said Rogi Kalyan Samit member Raj Kishore
Kalra. The project *
The expenditure on the tertiary care cancer centre in Fazilka will be Rs 45 crore *
Health Department Deputy Director Dr TS Behl said he would submit a comprehensive report and blueprint to the state Secretary Health by March 31
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Historic Gurdwara Buddha Johad to get a facelift
Abohar, March 28 The earlier Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan Government had sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore to beautify the complex to promote tourism. In the first phase of the project, the construction of boundary wall, beautification of the park, putting up of lights, plantation, widening of road up to 100 feet and the construction of a road linking the gurdwara complex with Dabla village will be taken up. The renovation of the “sarovar” (pond) is scheduled for the next phase. The gurdwara stands as a memorial to Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh, who brought here the head of Massa Ranghar, guilty of insulting the Golden Temple in Amritsar. A trust was formed and registered with the Dev Sansthan Board, Rajasthan, to look after its management about four decades ago. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has no jurisdiction over Sikh shrines in Rajasthan. For the past two years, a section of the Sikh community had been pleading with Akal Takht to dissolve the trust to form a new managing committee. The trust members, including Gurpartap Singh, Paramjit Singh and Baldev Singh Brar, explained in December last year that any change in the structure of the management could invite legal complications as enshrined in the Dev Sansthan Board constituted by the state government. "We have maintained transparency and served as true devoted Sikhs, they claimed.” Akal Takht had in January this year declared the trustees as "tankhayia" for not responding to calls. Only one of them has so far appeared before Akal Takht for an apology, sources said. Notably, Sant Fateh Singh (1911-1972), a key figure in the Punjabi Suba movement had also served in Gurdwara Buddha Johad for a long time. Locals said as it was the first ever renovation work being taken up by the state, the gurdwara would attract a lot of devotees, including
NRIs.
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Delhi gurdwara panel seeks apology from UK govt
Chandigarh, March 28 Speaking to The Tribune, Manjit Singh said it was good that in a recent statement the UK Prime Minister Davind Cameron, while speaking in the House of Commissions, acknowledged the contribution of the Sikhs to the British society and in the development of the country. Manjit Singh had quoted Cameron as saying: "What happened in Amritsar 30 years ago led to a tragic loss of life, which remains a deep source of pain to Sikhs everywhere." However, appreciating the contribution of the Sikhs to the UK society was not enough, he said. "The UK Government must tender an apology for extending help in the Operation Bluestar," he said. Last week, a high-level delegation led by Manjit Singh had visited the UK and demanded an apology from the UK Parliament.
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SC contempt notice to state on plea by SPOs of terror days
New Delhi, March 28 A Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and J Chelameswar sought the response of the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary to the plea of the SPOs, Bhupinder Singh and others, hired by the state following their retirement from armed forces. Their counsel RK Kapoor contended that the SC, in its August 7, 2013, order had directed the state government to regularise the services of 20 such SPOs within three months. The court had slammed the state for exploiting ex-servicemen for decades by appointing them as SPOs on a daily wage of Rs 35 and using them as “cheap labour” for guarding public sector banks against terrorism in the 1980s and thereafter. “The appellants (SPOs) would be entitled to all the benefits of services attached to the posts, which are similar in nature in the cadre of the police services of the State,” the Bench had ruled in the judgment. The SC had accepted the SPOs’ contention that though they were getting their emoluments from the banks, they were appointed by the state government, which, as a result, had a master-servant relationship with them. “If absorbing the appellants into the services of the state and providing benefits at par with the police officers of similar rank employed by the State results in further financial commitment, it is always open for the State to ask the banks to meet the additional burden. Apparently no such demand has ever been made by the State,” the court had clarified. The SPOs had come to the SC challenging the rejection of their plea by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Cracking the whip *
The contempt petition was filed by eight daily wage special police officers (SPOs) for non-regularisation of their services despite the court’s order *
Their counsel contended that the SC had, in its August 7, 2013, order directed the state government to regularise the services of 20 SPOs within three months *
The court had slammed the state for exploiting ex-servicemen for decades by appointing them as SPOs on a daily wage of Rs 35
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Gobindpura acquisition-hit may get govt jobs, HC told
Chandigarh, March 28 The assurance before the Bench of Justice Rajesh Bindal came on a bunch of petitions filed by Sukhpreet Kaur and other petitioners against the state and other respondents. The significance of the matter can be gauged from the fact that the word came on less than nine petitions. The petitioners had contended that their land had been acquired for the construction of thermal power plant at Gobindpura village, Budhlada tehsil of Mansa district. In terms of the policy issued by the government, one of the family members was entitled to employment. Representations were sent, but not considered. As the case came up for hearing, copies of another petition were handed over to Punjab Deputy Advocate-General Pankaj Mulwani for seeking instructions as to why the cases of similarly placed persons have not been decided, as regularly petitions were being filed for directions to the authorities to decide their claim. Mulwani told the court that he spoke to Punjab Principal Secretary, Department of Power, and was assured that after the parliamentary elections were over, the cases of all the persons, whose land had been acquired, will be considered for appointment in terms of the policy framed by the government. He further submitted: “All pending cases seeking employment on the ground that the land has been acquired for the construction of the thermal power plant will be decided in terms of the policy framed by the government up to July 31.” Taking on record the assertion, Justice Bindal concluded: “In view of the stand taken by the counsel for the state, the present petitions are disposed of accordingly”.
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Central official in dock over filing ‘misleading affidavit’
Chandigarh, March 28 Taking exception to a “misleading affidavit” filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a Division Bench has summoned him to explain his stand. The order came on a petition filed by Sudan resident Shihabeldin. He has challenged guidelines dated July 7, 2012, “as the same debarred a single foreign person from commissioning surrogacy in India”. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli asserted: “Our attention has also been drawn to an affidavit brought on record by Vikas Srivastava, Under Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, making a reference to the order passed by the Gujarat High Court in the case of Jan Balaz versus Anand Municipality. “The counsel for the petitioner submits that the operation of this judgment has been stayed by the Supreme Court in a civil appeal…. The aforesaid being the position and this fact not being disclosed while placing reliance on the said judgment, to say the least, it is a misleading affidavit. We call upon the personal presence of Vikas Srivastava, Under Secretary, on the next date to explain his stand.” Describing the petitioner “a singleton” wanting to “become a single parent through a surrogacy arrangement”, his counsel Anil Malhotra asserted that the guidelines limited the facility of surrogacy only to married couples with two years of subsisting marriage. Next hearing *
High Court summons him on April 2
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Rapist gets 10-yr imprisonment
Abohar, March 28 The Khuyiansarwer police had initially registered a case under Sections 366, 323, 324, 148 and 149 of the IPC as her parents had alleged that Gurmeet had kidnapped the girl. However, after her medical examination, the police added Section 376 to the FIR. — OC
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Woman, son get life term for murder
Abohar, March 28 Nirmala of Khuyiansarwer village and Pradeep had estranged relations ever since they were married on February 19, 2007, reportedly over dowry. On October 14, 2011, Pradeep had gone missing leaving behind suicide note in a car that was abandoned near the Gang Canal. After 10 days, he returned home and reportedly tendered an apology over his action besides assuring senior residents of the village that he would not harass Nirmala. However, she was admitted to the local Civil Hospital after a few days and died thereafter. The post-mortem examination indicated that the death was caused due to slow poisoning. Nirmala was eight months pregnant.
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Tarn Taran MLA’s missing PA found dead
Amritsar, March 28 His body, which bore injury marks on arms and face, was found in the Vallah Canal. Amolak Singh, SHO, Maqboolpura police station, said that Sukhdeep, a resident of Rana Garden area near Mehta Road, had been missing since last Saturday. His body was found in the evening by some passerby, who informed the police. He said as per the victim's family members, Sukhdeep was returning from Tarn Taran when he went missing. After Sukhdeep failed to reach his house, his family members launched a search operation. They called up their relatives and also Sukhdeep's friends but nobody could tell about his whereabouts, the police official said. The SHO said further investigations were in progress and the body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. He said a case had been registered on the complaint of Jaspal Singh, brother of the deceased.
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Ex-DSP, his associate sent to four-day remand
Mohali, March 28 Bains along with another accused, NK Goel, a resident of Chandigarh, was produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate Aashish Saldi this evening. Both of them were sent to police remand till March 31. The two were earlier sent to the Civil Hospital in Phase VI for a medical examination. The public prosecutor along with the inquiry officer, SP (D) Gursharandeep Singh Grewal, told the court that Rs 61 lakh and some foreign currency were seized from the bank lockers of Bains. Besides, an unlicensed revolver was seized from his Patiala residence. Defence lawyers, however, opposed the police remand and said that the charges against Bains were baseless and alleged that he was a victim of political vendetta. The dismissed DSP had also said in the court that a false case had been registered against him. Bains and Goel were questioned by the CIA staff after their arrest. Sources said that a senior SAD leader had used his influence to bring Bains on posting to Mohali. Bains, who was DSP (City I), was arrested yesterday on the charges of corruption. He had allegedly received a “hawala” consignment of Rs 40 lakh through his wife in Ludhiana yesterday. The police alleged Bains had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. An unlicensed foreign - made Webley Scott revolver was also seized from his Patiala residence. A case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. Case file *
The Judicial Magistrate was told that Rs 61 lakh and some foreign currency were seized from Bains' bank lockers *
The dismissed DSP, however, contended that the case against him was false
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Security a concern as former cop to share jail with criminals he nabbed
Ludhiana, March 28 Sources said citing a security risk, senior police officers were making special security provisions for Bains, who has been dismissed from services. Bains has put behind bars several hardened criminals, including the kidnappers of industrialists Manish Behrara and the gang that had thrown acid on the face of Harpreet Kaur of Barnala. Besides, he was also accused of inflicting third degree torture on several criminals. Sources said these jailed gangsters would not let go of an opportunity to settle scores with Bains. Gursharan Singh Sandhu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, said all the aspects would be taken into consideration while making security arrangements for Bains. Besides, the police today visited the CIA - staff and questioned several policemen about Bains’ lifestyle and acquaintances. They also prepared a report of cash and other valuables found from his house. Sources said the police were planning to slap tough Hawala sections on the former DSP. Mohali SSP said investigation was on and if established that Bains carried out hawala transactions, he would be booked under the corresponding sections.
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Man commits suicide
Abohar, March 28 The elder daughter, Poonam, was married to Kuldeep and the younger one, Neha, to Somveer. Poonam had on Wednesday succumbed to burn injuries sustained in an "accidental" fire. On the complaint of Meghwal, an FIR under Sections 498A and 304B of the IPC was registered against Kuldeep, Somveer, their father Prithvi Ram and mother Panni Devi. After this, Somveer left his house without speaking to his family members. The police have also registered a case under Section 306A of the IPC as Kuldeep alleged that some members of his in-laws' family had threatened him and
Somveer.
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Ropar, March 28
Contrary to BJP candidate Arun Jaitley’s claims, sitting MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu today said he will not be campaigning in
Amritsar.
Amritsar, March 28
New Delhi, March 28
Ambika Soni, Congress candidate from Anandpur Sahib constituency, started her campaign today and held public meetings at five different parts of the town. Soni said she would ask the people to vote for her in the name of development as she had got Rs 102 crore sanctioned for the development of the constituency.
Sweepers of the Kotkapura municipality have started a chain hunger strike to seek support from political parties for their demand. They are demanding timely payment of salaries and said they wanted political parties to include their demand in their election manifesto.
The Rajasthan government has released Rs 51 lakh to the Department of Tourism for giving Gurdwara Buddha Johad in Raisinghnagar segment of Sriganganagar a facelift even as the row over the management of the gurdwara remains unresolved.
District Congress Committee president Chamkaur Singh Dhindsa, in a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Punjab CEO, has sought Ferozepur SSP’s transfer on the charge of helping the SAD-BJP candidate from the area. The complaint is under CEO’s review. National Commission for Scheduled Castes vice-chairman Raj Kumar Verka has sent a report to the CEO, seeking action against the
SSP.
role in establishing the SAD (Amritsar), SAD (B), SAD (Longowal), SAD (1920) and the PPP. Now, they all have gone back to the Congress after failing in their purpose of weakening the SAD. The so-called party of principles, the CPI, has also joined hands with the Congress," Badal said. On Barnala, he said: "The SAD has always given him respect that he never can have anywhere else. But he has jumped into the sinking ship of Congress in his old age.”