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State’s power generation to go up by 660 MW
Govt indifference ails Hoshiarpur industry
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Controversial book not to be distributed, orders Education Dept
Sikh pilgrims leave for Pak to celebrate Baisakhi
Illegal mining: SIT records statements
Sukhbir addresses rally on Bajwa’s turf
Complaint on poll expenses against Harsimrat upheld
Cong corners BJP on Modi’s affidavit
Won’t allow interlinking of rivers: CM
Last year’s violence
haunts Mann village
Capt trying to duck real issues: Badal
280 left in fray after scrutiny of papers
Candidates of ultra-Left parties in fray on seven seats
Capt for fiscal emergency in state
Employees declare war on Badal Govt
Fazilka admn ropes in youth for poll drive
Rebel Danny’s papers as Cong candidate rejected
Abohar slum-dwellers not to vote
Censor board member gets threats
Unpaid Indians protest in Iraq
UK Sikh hotelier loses court battle against son
Sikhs win lawsuit against meat plant near gurdwara in UK
Woman charged with murder in Canada
Pentagon’s new guidelines still discriminatory, say faith groups
High Court relief for elderly petitioner in property case
Fake job visa racket busted, man held
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State’s power generation to go up by 660 MW
Bathinda, April 10 With the arrival of the coal, the plant is now ready to fully commission the first unit of 660 MW. It is likely to commence regular supply to PSPCL within a month. A spokesperson of the plant said the coal from the mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Odisha reached here, covering a distance of around 1,600 km, in one of the longest coal transportation systems in India. Water supply to the plant has also been started. With ten such racks required to start the plant, power generation will begin soon. The state government had promised during Assembly elections that power generation would begin by the end of 2012. However, the deadline was extended to 2013 and then later the government promised to begin generation before the paddy season. The plant seems to be set to meet the deadline. This may result in lesser or negligible power cuts this summer. Though the plant constructed by a private company has been ready for generation since mid-2013, the coal could not be arranged due to various reasons. Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) is constructing the 1980 MW (3×660) super critical thermal power plant at Banawala village in Mansa district. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal dedicated the first unit of 660 MW to the people of the state in the presence of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, MP Harsimrat Kaur, and Anil Agarwal, chairman of the Vedanta group. Power surplus soon
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Govt indifference ails Hoshiarpur industry
Hoshiarpur, April 10 For the past 20 years, there had been no government support to the industrial sector. The small-scale and micro industries have been facing tough times since the subsidies and other facilities such as tax rebates were revoked. The kandi area that forms a major part of the constituency has abundant natural resources and manpower, but there is no industry to tap them. The political parties promise to industrial projects for area during, elections, but there has been none so far. Janauri village resident Rakesh Kumar says, “The area is less fertile and there is no source of employment for locals. We have no irrigation facilities and water level is deep. Our only hope is industrial projects that would generate employment and improve standard of living.” Umesh Jain, vice-president of the Laghu Udyog Bharti, Hoshiarpur, said: “Some 35 years ago, the state government provided facilities for setting up industries in this backward district. But two decades ago, the sops were withdrawn on the pretext that the area was no more backward with a few small-scale and micro establishing units.” He is of view that reviving the old benefits to industry can be a lifeline for the dector and this is what people here expect from the local MP and the state government. Jain stressed the need to form a special industrial zone in the area dedicated to small and micro industrial units on the lines of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) for large industries. “Thirty years ago, the industries flourished here because of the Central facilities such as interest-free loans for 15 years and 15 per cent subsidy on fixed capital investments. There’s a need for an industrial package at least on a par with Himachal Pradesh.” Activated Carbon Industry Association vice-president Brahm Shankar Jimpa said, “The carbon industry has 80 per cent share in the Indian market, yet there is no support from the government. The major raw materials – high-quality charcoal and electricity – are available in Himachal at lower cost and in abundance. Besides, there are several facilities to new industrial set-ups in the neighboring state. This drives us out of the competition.” He appealed for help from the Union and state governments alike. Issue that affects voters
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Controversial book not to be distributed, orders Education Dept
Mohali, April 10 Anjali Bhanwra, Principal Secretary, School Education, in her order (dated April 9, 2014) directed the DPI (SE), DPI (EE) and all the DEOs to stop the distribution of the book. A copy of the order has also been forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state. Sources said the step had been taken on the directions of CEO VK Singh. Singh had also asked the authorities to identify the ‘erring’ PSEB officials in the matter. A chapter in the book is dedicated to Badals’ pilot project ‘Nanhi Chaan’, Mai Bhago Scheme, Shagun Scheme and others. An Education Department official said the the PSEB tried to please the ruling state government by including the chapter. Over 1.5 lakh books on the subject had been published and were being distributed among poor students for free. PSEB chairperson Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal confirmed the distribution of the book had been stopped with immediate effect. She said, “We would also identify the erring officials. A reply to the higher authorities and the CEO has been sent.” Congress senior leader Balbir Singh Sidhu demanded strict action against the officials concerned. He also demanded a high-level inquiry by a Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge in the matter. About the book
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Sikh pilgrims leave for Pak to celebrate Baisakhi
Amritsar, April 10 Talking to the mediapersons, SGPC member Hardev Singh, who is leading the jatha, said the pilgrims would reach Panja Sahib tomorrow. He said an akhand path would be organised there on April 12 whose bhog ceremony would take place on April 14. It will be followed by religious programmes to mark the celebration of Baisakhi. Subsequently, the pilgrims will proceed to Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Sri Sacha Sauda. The jatha will reach Lahore on April 17 and would pay obeisance at the historic shrines like Gurdwara Dehra Sahib, Gurdwara Rori Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib before returning home on April 19. SGPC Secretary Dalmegh Singh flayed the denial of visa to 385 pilgirms while stating that steps like these hurt the sentiments of the community. “We had sent a list of 1209 pilgrims, but only 824 were issued visas for Pakistan,” he lamented.
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Illegal mining: SIT records statements
Ropar, April 10 Dhillon, Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti, Commandant, 4th CDO Bn, SAS Nagar, and Mining Department Joint Director Vishav Bandhu, reached here in the morning at police lines. Though none of the team officials was ready to talk to the media, inquiries revealed that many of land or machinery owners, who were booked for illegal mining earlier, were asked to furnish a questionnaire. The motive of the team was to establish the identity of the people behind illegal mining in the state, said sources. On March 11, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the SIT to file an interim report on illegal mining in the state.
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Sukhbir addresses rally on Bajwa’s turf
Batala, April 10 Significantly, he addressed a rally in Kahnuwan, which is in the Qadian Assembly segment represented by Charanjit Kaur Bajwa. The latter is Congress candidate and PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa’s wife. SAD halqa in charge (area chief) and former Qadian legislator LS Lodhinangal ensured that the dissension-ridden BJP put up a unity show on the occasion. This parliamentary constituency has nine Vidhan Sabha seats and under a seat-sharing agreement, the BJP has been given four seats. The remaining five seats are with the Akalis. The Batala seat, that was earlier held by the BJP, is now with the SAD. This has not gone down well with the BJP rank and file. Sukhbir’s visit today was aimed at securing the Ahmadiyya votes in Qadian, the Saini and Ramgarhia votes in Batala and the Sikh Jat votes in Fatehgarh Churian for Khanna. Lodhinangal’s outburst against Khanna when he arrived late at a function organised by him last week acted as a catalyst in uniting the warring BJP leaders. This has given a boost to Khanna’s campaign. Dy CM questions Bajwa’s contribution as MP
In Kahnuwan, Sukhbir dared Bajwa to name even a singe project he had brought to the Gurdaspur constituency during his five-year term as the MP. The Deputy Chief Minister alleged that Bajwa had failed to fulfill his promise of establishing a rail coach factory at Kalanaur near Gurdaspur, which would have generated 10,000 jobs. “Despite the fact that the Congress-led UPA Government remained in power at the Centre for the past 10 years, Bajwa could not get the necessary clearances from various central ministries. The PPCC chief had promised the project in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, but it could not materialise even five years down the line,” he said.
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Complaint on poll expenses against Harsimrat upheld
Chandigarh, April 10 The sitting MP had been accused of rampant display of her posters and banners all over the constituency. Confirming the development, Additional CEO Supreet Singh Gulati said, “We examined in detail the complaint about the rampant use of posters, banners and cut-outs by Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The excess expenditure that we assessed has been added to her poll account.” Gulati said the Election Commission had also added Rs 42 lakh to the poll expenditure of the Akali Dal in Bathinda. He said while there was no cap on expenditure by political parties, Lok Sabha candidates had to adhere to the Rs 70 lakh limit. Additional agents
The Election Commission has allowed the appointment of additional agents for assisting candidates for closer and better monitoring of poll expenses in the Lok Sabha elections. The commission has said the change had been allowed while keeping in mind the problem faced by election agents in managing expense details in parliamentary constituencies spread over more than one district. Police postings
The Election Commission has given its approval to the posting of Babu Lal Meena as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, and Tulsi Ram as Deputy Commissioner of Police,
Jalandhar.
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Cong corners BJP on Modi’s affidavit
Chandigarh, April 10 Dr Swamy has publicly questioned Amarinder on the veracity of his affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. He has charged Amarinder with perjury for not making a mention of his wife’s and son’s “foreign” bank accounts. “Dr Swamy’s charges are baseless. He is, perhaps, not aware that a candidate is legally bound to declare the assets held by his spouse only when the spouse is not a candidate in the same election. Amarinder’s wife, whose bank account he is being held guilty of concealing, is a candidate in this election,” explained PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The PPCC, launching a counter-offensive, has asked Dr Swamy why BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had “concealed” the existence of his spouse during his political career. “Unless Modi got married after the Assembly elections in Gujarat in 2012, he is guilty of filing false affidavits as part of his nomination papers in the past. This, as Dr Swamy has pointed out, is a criminal offence,” said Khaira. PPCC posers to Swamy, Jaitley
What PPCC demands
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Won’t allow interlinking of rivers: CM
Dharamkot (Moga), April 10 Addressing a rally organised by party leader Jathedar Tota Singh in favour of SAD-BJP candidate Paramjit Kaur Gulshan at Dharamkot, Badal alleged the Congress leadership was trying to infringe on the rights of the state governments by proposing interlinking of rivers. The move would weaken the federal structure of the country, he said. “Punjab has the sole right on the river waters flowing through its territory. We are already facing a shortage of water. We will not allow any more water to be taken out of the state”, he said. Badal alleged that the UPA government in its second term was riddled with corruption. “The people are fed up with the rising inflation and are looking for change”, he said. Meanwhile, former MLA Ajit Singh Shant, who initially opposed party’s move to give ticket to Gulshan, today toed the party line and promised to campaign for the party. Without naming the dissidenter Akali leader and former MLA Sheetal Singh who has filed his nomination papers as an Independent from the Faridkot constituency, Tota Singh said the party would not request him to withdraw from the contest. “Let him contest the elections. He will come to know his political identity in real sense,” he said. Tota Singh ferries villagers
Local MLA Jathedar Tota Singh drove a tractor-trailer to ferry people from Fatehgarh Kortana village to Dharamkot to reduce the burden of poll expenditure on the candidate. In a planned strategy, hundreds of people came for the rally from nearby villages on their own tractor-trailers.
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Last year’s violence
haunts Mann village
Mann (Muktsar), April 10 Divided on political lines, the villagers have told the local politicians not to follow a divide-and-rule policy so that they can live peacefully despite their political alignments. “This election we don’t want any trouble and hope that peace prevails,” villagers said. Unprecedented violence took place on May 19 last year at the village, located a few kilometres from Badal village, when a group of youths, allegedly outsiders, captured booths and beat up some Congress workers. In retaliation, Congress supporters torched their vehicles, which resulted in a clash. An FIR in the case named nearly 130 villagers, mostly Congress supporters. Many had fled the village and stayed away for months. “Our village has staunch supporters of both the Congress and the Akalis. The unfortunate incident only led to harassment of the villagers, besides bringing a bad name to the village,” said local ayurvedic doctor Gurtej Singh Vaid, who has taught Congress leader Maheshinder Badal and PPP chief Manpreet Badal in their childhood. “We have voted for different parties earlier also. Yet there was no enmity between us. But now the things have changed. There is a clear divide between supporters of both the parties,” he said. A specialist in bone and joint ailments, he still gets Akali patients, but family ties are over. “Leaders and their petty politics have ruined bonhomie among villagers,” said Paali, another villager. The village has 1,400 voters, majority of whom claim allegiance to the Congress. Though the Badals have wrested the Lambi seat many times, they have seldom got lead from this village.
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Capt trying to duck real issues: Badal
Ludhiana, April 10 “Sensing that his defeat is imminent, he has started to raise such issues,” he said. Badal said that earlier the people of Malwa had defeated Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh and now the people of Majha would “send him (Amarinder) packing to Patiala.” Badal was in Ludhiana to welcome Jagjiwanpal Singh Gill who joined the SAD today. Gill had in 2002 contested the Assembly poll on the SAD ticket. He later joined the Congress. Badal claimed that Congress workers were disheartened with its leadership. “The Congress leaders are busy ensuring one another’s defeat,” the CM claimed. Talking to mediapersons, he alleged that the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre had failed on all fronts. He alleged that the UPA Government had been meting out a step-motherly treatment to Punjab. He claimed the NDA, if voted to power, would provide a strong government at the Centre with zero tolerance to internal and external security threats. He said that Modi would visit Punjab for campaigning.
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280 left in fray after scrutiny of papers
Chandigarh, April 10 Setback for big guns
Patiala: The papers of six candidates, including three covering nominees, have been rejected. Among them are Congress’ Preneet Kaur’s covering candidate Raninder Singh and SAD’s Deepinder Dhillon’s covering candidate Rupinder Kaur. In Sangrur, 24 candidates are in the fray now. The papers of four candidates have been rejected. Those whose nominations have been cancelled are covering candidates of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD) and Vijay Inder Singla (Congress). A convict too was in fray
Ferozepur: The election officials rejected the nomination papers of five candidates, including an Independent. The nomination of Ram Dass, who was fighting as an Independent, was rejected as he had been indicted in a corruption case by the CBI.
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Candidates of ultra-Left parties in fray on seven seats
Chandigarh, April 10 Turning to ballot box are the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation and the CPI (M-L) New Democracy, whose guiding principle is Naxalism. The Liberation has fielded candidates on four seats, while the New Democracy has put up candidates on three constituencies. The state will vote on April 30. The Liberation has fielded Bhagwant Singh Samon from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Bakhatpura from Gurdaspur, Gurpreet Singh Roore-ke from Sangrur and Kanwaljit Singh from Chandigarh. The Liberation has tied up with Communist Party of India (Marxist)-Punjab led by Mangat Ram Pasla and is supporting its candidates Rattan Singh Randhawa in Amritsar, Gurnam Singh Daudh in Khadoor Sahib and Darshan Nahar in Jalandhar. The Liberation has put up its candidate in Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand as well. “In a vast democratic country such as India, armed struggle has a limited reach and that, too, in certain areas. The viable alternative is to participate in the democratic process to defeat the capitalist and corporate forces and to establish people’s rule,” says Rajwinder Singh Rana, state unit secretary of the Liberation, which has been mobilising small farmers, agricultural labourers, youths, women and marginalised sections of society in the state. He said party’s political line was to strengthen the Left unity in the state and the country alike. The Liberation had approached other Left parties for a tie-up, but it could not materialise. The New Democracy, for its part, has put up Tarsem Peter (Jalandhar), Advocate Daljit Singh (Anandpur Sahib) and Balwinder Singh Bhullar (Khadoor Sahib). “The democratic process has its limitations. But going by the overwhelming participation of people in elections, it is an opportunity for the New Democracy to spread its ideology,” its spokesperson Comrade Ajmer Singh told The Tribune. He believes that through parliamentary democracy, the government could be changed, but not the system. “Elections are the means to prepare the working class, peasantry and other sections of society to fight against capitalism.” On the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Comrade Ajmer said the party had created an illusion of changing the system, but its actions spoke otherwise. “The activities of AAP indicate that it is for maintaining the status quo,” he added. Members of the New Democracy opted for “None Of The Above” (NOTA) option in the Delhi Lok Sabha elections.
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Capt for fiscal emergency in state
Amritsar, April 10 Addressing public meetings in the Ajnala Assembly segment here today, he said the state government had not paid salaries to its employees for the past three months. “The state coffers are empty,” he said, holding Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal responsible for the sorry state of affairs. Targeting the Badals, he asked: “How come the state is getting bankrupt and the Badals are getting richer by the day.” He claimed the Badals owned two hotels worth Rs 1,000 crore each and two more were under construction. “They have private jets, thousands of acres of land and huge property abroad,” he said. Addressing a series of public meetings in Attari, Jaitley accused Amarinder of evading issues like corruption and rising inflation. He said the credibility of the Congress-led UPA Government had dipped and the party was not getting donations. Cabinet Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said Jaitley would be the second in command after Narendra Modi if an NDA Government was formed at the Centre. Jaitley said the high polling percentage in the third phase augured wells for the NDA. It suggested that the people had voted for change. Meanwhile, former Youth Akali Dal leader Mandeep Singh Manna today joined the Congress with hundreds of his supporters. The Punjab Brahmin Sabha also declared support for
Amarinder. Dismissed policeman meets Jaitley A dismissed Punjab Police employee, Jaswant Singh Azad, met Jaitley here this evening, pleading that he be reinstated. Sukhbir to campaign in Amritsar today Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal will campaign in Amritsar on Friday. He will interact with various groups and address public meetings in Amritsar West and Amritsar South Assembly segments, his media adviser Jangveer Singh said. Suneil Shetty backs Arun Jaitley Film actor Suneil Shetty on Thursday campaigned for Jaitley in Amritsar. He appealed the electorate to vote for Jaitley, saying: “I know him for long. He is a great personality.” He ended his speech with ‘Jo bole, so nihal’.
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Employees declare war on Badal Govt
Chandigarh, April 10 The Joint Employees Front will organise protests across the state tomorrow, burning the effigies of the state government. The unions have decided to take the war to every constituency where the SAD leaders are in the fray. On April 18, the employees will protest in Bathinda where the CM’s daughter-in-law Harsimrat Badal is fighting a bitter battle to retain her seat. The employees will hold a flag march against her. The employees will protest in Sangrur on April 24 where SAD secretary-general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is in the fray. The Pensioners Joint Front has decided to support them. The government is trying to appease the pensioners. They are expected to meet certain functionaries tomorrow. The agitating employees say that despite assurances by the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary at meetings held in February, their demands had not been met. The employees, among other things, want anomalies in the Fifth Pay Commission removed and pending DA arrears released. Action plan
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Fazilka admn ropes in youth for poll drive
Fazilka, April 10 As part of the campaign, Deputy Commissioner (DC) S Karuna Raju today flagged off “Run for Democracy” from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, in which 750 students, including 350 girls, participated. The Arhtiya Association, Fazilka, sponsored the race. “The idea is to aware voters, particularly youths, about the importance of vote,” the Deputy Commissoner said. He exhorted the representatives of social organisations to aware the electorate to exercise the right of their franchise without any consideration. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has appointed Gurrala Sirinivasulu the General Observer for the assembly constituencies of Fazilka, Abohar, Balluana, Malout anjd Muktsar. He will sit in the local Canal Rest House to receive complaints from the five constituencies.
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Rebel Danny’s papers as Cong candidate rejected
Faridkot, April 10 “Danny failed to submit a certificate of authorisation from the Congress. So his nomination as the party candidate was rejected during scrutiny of the papers today,” said Mohammad Tayyab, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electorate Officer, Faridkot. On the basis of his second set of nomination papers, he in the fray as an Independent candidate. Danny’s nomination surprised the district unit of the Congress as the pasty has already fielded Joginder Singh as its candidate, with his wife Krishna as a covering candidate. Danny filed two sets of nomination papers on Wednesday, the last day of filing papers. A contestant is treated as a party candidate if he or she submits a certificate of authorisation from the party. Danny claimed that he filed two sets of nomination papers in case Joginder’s papers were rejected “as he is convicted in a drug smuggling case of 1984”. “I appeal to the state Congress chief to field a candidate with a clean image so that to the party’s stand on the issue is endorsed,” Danny said. Besides Danny, the election office faced a tough time in dealing with objections relating to the nomination papers of Prof Sadhu Singh, AAP candidate. A retired Tehsildar raised an objection that the AAP had put up a candidate from the Backward Class (BC) category on a seat reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC). The election officials found no merit in the objection as various certificates produced by the Sadhu Singh backed his claim of being a
Dalit. DRO rejects papers Fatehgarh Sahib: The nomination papers of three candidates were rejected on Thursday due to discrepancies in their affidavits, leaving the number of candidates in the fray from Fatehgarh Sahib to 16. District Returning Officer (DRO) Arun Sekhri said the papers were scrutinised in the presence of General Observer Kaushik Haldar and the candidates in his office. “The nomination papers of 16 candidates have been found in order, and those of Gurmail Singh, Manpreet Singh, son and covering candidate of SAD candidate Kulwant Singh, and Gurpreet Singh, son and covering candidate of Congress candidate Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, have been rejected,” the DRO said. The candidates whose nomination papers were found to be in order included Sarabjit Singh (Bahujan Samaj Party), Sadhu Singh Dharamsot (Congress), Kulwant Singh (SAD), Nirmal Singh (NCP), Iqbal Singh (Republican Party of India), Harpreet Singh (Bahujan Mukti Party), Harinder Singh Khalsa (AAP) and Gurdeep Singh (Inqlab Vikas Dal). He said the candidates could withdraw their nominations on April 12 till 3 pm and added that election symbols to the candidates would be allotted on the same day. — TNS Surprise element
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Abohar slum-dwellers not to vote
Abohar, April 10 They resolved to “greet” campaigners with black flags if they entered their houses. The residents said they were not going to be influenced by petty offers to favour any contestant. Airing their grievances during a protest today, residents said the Municipal Council had not bothered to entertain their repeated requests to repair the streets and streetlights, and provide potable water. Their appeal to drain out dirty water from the surroundings remained unattended. On October 8, 2013, at least 12 women and children were injured as more than 100 policemen used force to demolish the dwellings in the locality near Dharam Nagari. More than 400 persons have been living in the locality for the past 15 years. They have been issued voter and ration cards. Most of them have been eking out a living by picking rags, polishing and repairing shoes or working as
labourers.
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Censor board member gets threats
Ludhiana, April 10 “The film eulogises the assassins of Indira Gandhi and, if released, it may create a law and order problem in Punjab and other parts of the country,” said Tikka. He said he was being targeted as a traitor of the 'qaum (community)' on the social media and had received threat calls from abroad. “ Some persons have started a campaign to defame me and are putting pressure on me to clear the film,” he has written in his complaint, requesting for protection.
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Unpaid Indians protest in Iraq
Samrala/Khamano, April 10 Jasvir Singh of Manela village said over the phone that they were sent to Iraq by JM Overseas, a Chandigarh-based company. He said they were working for Abdulla A Al Jiburi Company in Basra City of Iraq. Jasvir said he along with other area residents had not been paid and that they had approached the Indian High Commission in Iraq, but the matter was pending. Jasvir alleged the company officials were not paying heed to their pleas. He further said they were not in a position to return to India since their dues had not been cleared. JM Overseas General Manager Mandeep Singh said the employer was yet to receive about 10 million dollars even though the work that they had been carrying out for several months had been completed. He promised to pay the striking youths by Tuesday. He said the officials of the Indian High Commission in Iraq would visit the youths in a day or two. Mandeep said around 60-70 youths had already returned, while the remaining would be back soon.
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UK Sikh hotelier loses court battle against son
London, April 10 Bal Mohinder Singh co-founded the Radisson Blu Edwardian chain with his son Jasminder Singh, 63, after immigrating to the UK from India via Kenya in the 1970s. Mohinder told the court that the Sikh tradition of 'mitakshara' obliged Jasminder to share his wealth with his family because he was raised as a Sikh. However, the British judge dismissed the 50-million pounds claim, saying the root of the problem was the difference in upbringing of the father and the son. Judge William Blackburne said: “Although I have rejected the father's claim, it by no means follows that I regard him or the mother as having in any way acted dishonestly in making it.—PTI
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Sikhs win lawsuit against meat plant near gurdwara in UK
London, April 10 But despite their protests, a planning panel at Bradford Council granted the food company permission to convert a car workshop in nearby Percival Street into a wholesale meat plant in August last year. Worshippers then challenged the matter in the High Court and the Council yesterday said it had decided not to defend its decision meaning Pakeezah's planning permission is now void. — PTI
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Woman charged with murder in Canada
Toronto, April 10 Gurpreet Ronald (34), accused of killing Jagtar Gill (43), in the latter's living room in January this year, was arrested and charged Tuesday, Ottawa Citizen reported Wednesday. Ronald was employed in OC Transpo, transit service of the City of Ottawa, the same place where Gill's husband Bhupinderpal worked. — IANS
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Pentagon’s new guidelines still discriminatory, say faith groups
Washington, April 10 These organisations, in a letter to the Department of Defence, have asked the Pentagon to consider fine-tuning its revised instruction to better accommodate religious practices. The new guidelines require service members to violate their religion while accommodation requests are pending and they are made to repeatedly apply for temporary waivers, the letter which was also signed by the Sikh Coalition said. The letter states that these "stifling" requirements “may needlessly limit career opportunities - or, in some cases, end careers. If a service member can graduate from boot camp and successfully perform his or her military duties, their religion alone shouldn’t be a barrier to serving our country,” said Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy for the Sikh Coalition. — PTI Drawing criticism
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High Court relief for elderly petitioner in property case
Chandigarh, April 10 The orders came in the case of an “illiterate octogenarian suffering from various ailments”. Locked in a property dispute with his nephew, his evidence was closed by the Trial Court, following his failure to conclude the same despite 14 opportunities in a property dispute. Taking up the petition filed by Phuman Singh, Justice Rajiv Narain Raina made it clear that the judgment granting yet another opportunity to do substantial justice. “Looking to the totality of circumstances and keeping in view that one last opportunity had been granted to the petitioner by the Trial Court, this may be a deserving case in which interference by this court may be called for to secure the ends of justice even though 14 opportunities were made available to the plaintiff-petitioner to lead his evidence… “Though nothing appears to be illegal or irrational in the order passed by the Trial Judge on February 7, but keeping in view the demands upon this court to do substantial justice between the parties, this court interferes. “For reasons larger than ascribed by the Trial Judge, the court nullifies the order dated February 7. The case is stated to be fixed before the Trial Court on April 22, on which date, the plaintiff (Phuman Singh) would lead his entire evidence, subject to the payment of Rs 10,000 as costs to the defendant (Shingara Singh). This is the second time in the recent past that the High Court has gone a step further to “avoid miscarriage of justice”.
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Fake job visa racket busted, man held
Jalandhar, April 10 The accused have been identified as Surjit Singh of Kalerwala village in Amritsar, Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu of Mehta Chowk in Amritsar and Bablu of Kotla village in Gurdaspur. Surjit has been arrested. The accused had been running their office Shalimar Enterprises at Model Town for the past over a month. On a tip-off, the police today laid a trap near Kaniawali Chowk and nabbed Surjit. The police recovered as many as 100 passports from his office. These were collected by travel agents in order to issue fake job visas to Singapore to the applicants. The police found that the applicants were from across the state. During preliminary interrogation, the accused revealed that they had taken sixty thousand rupees from each of the applicant for the visa. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manpreet Singh said the applicants came to know about the fraud after they checked their visa status on the Singapore embassy website. Singh said the police would now contact the embassies concerned to confirm if the visas issued on the recovered passports were fake. The ACP was evasive when asked why the police failed to penalise these fake travel agents. Most of the travel agents continued to flout norms even though the police had asked them to get registered several times. In August last year, the DCP had written to all travel agents to submit their documents.
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Amritsar, April 10
Batala, April 10
Amritsar, April 10
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Jalandhar, April 10
