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INDIA VOTES — PUNJAB
Trader says he was harassed by Manpreet Badal |
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237 transgenders in state enrolled as voters
It’s time for a Dalit PM, says Maya
from the war room
Left parties to support four AAP candidates
Amarinder to blame for property tax, Jaitley tells voters
Fissures to fore in Hoshiarpur Cong unit
State govt keeps over 14 lakh pensioners waiting
PGI doctor discovers potential cure for cancer, AIDS
NOTA may be introduced in HC bar assn poll
Gippy loses temper at press meet, apologises
Sukhbir seeks votes in Modi’s name
Market shut, road blocked for SAD rally
Water logging woes in muktsar district
Inter-state roads sealed as Sriganganagar goes to polls today
Polling teams leave Maharaja Ganga Singh Stadium, Sriganganagar, for their respective destinations, on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Moga rice millers up
in arms against FCI
poll pot
Sikhs allowed kirpans
in Canadian missions
Man held in ‘honour’ killing case
Youth poisons mother, sister, commits suicide
Pakistani smuggler shot,
Rs 40 cr heroin seized
Woman throws kids into pond
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INDIA VOTES — PUNJAB
Chandigarh, April 16 In a related development, the newly formed Congress election campaign committee, headed by former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, has decided to corner the SAD-BJP combine in the elections by drumming up activities of “sand and drug mafia” and “excessive taxation leading to inflation” and “meagre pension” as the core election plank of the party. The party’s campaign poll panel got a shot in the arm when senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar, who was “sulking” over not getting the ticket from Amritsar or Ludhiana, made an announcement today that he would campaign “whole heartedly” for senior Congress leaders — Capt Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa — in Amritsar and Gurdaspur, respectively. “Rahul and Sonia are proposed to visit Ludhiana on April 24 and 25. We are busy in giving final shape to their programme. We will decide where to take them in the state for campaigning. Their visit to constituencies will be strictly on requirement basis. Besides, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to visit the state in the coming days,” Bhattal said. The other members of the campaign panel include former Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla, Jagmeet Brar and Capt Vikram Singh, who reached here today to give a final shape to the party’s campaign strategy. They said the campaign committee and the Congress leadership would educate people how industrialists, businessmen, small traders, farmers, employees and Dalits were fleeced by the ruling SAD-BJP combine by imposing “tyrannical” tax regime and sheltering different shades of mafia. “The construction of a house has gone out of the reach of a common man as prices of sand have increased five to six folds in the past six months due to the sand mafia flourishing under the patronage of the ruling alliance. Employees are not getting their salaries on time. Had all this happened anytime during our government’s rule in the state?” questioned Singla.
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Trader says he was harassed by Manpreet Badal
Chandigarh, April 16 Khosla said: “In 2008, Manpreet purchased the showroom which was in my possession as a tenant. His relative came to me and told me to vacate the premises immediately. I said I had spent ~60 lakh on its renovation and requested that my tenancy be continued at market rates.” “A false case was lodged against me in Sohana for allegedly passing casteist remarks against a person. The police raided my house in Sector 19 and bundled the entire family into a jeep and took us to the Sohana police station. The family was released after the intervention of former DGP KK Attri”. Manpreet, however, dismissed the allegations. “Where was the trader all these years? It’s a ploy. The aim of the opposition is clear. They know that my credibility is my biggest virtue, so they want to defame me at any cost.” “Intelligence reports have confirmed that the powerful lobby in the state is hiring spin doctors and managers from Delhi to tarnish my clean image. Public cannot be fooled easily now,” he added.
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237 transgenders in state enrolled as voters
Chandigarh, April 16 Confirming the figures, Additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Raminder Singh said: “Only two transgenders registered since 2009 Lok Sabha elections.” Reflecting on a rather low voter registration, Singh said “As of now, nothing can be done on the issue because the last date of applying for votes in this Lok Sabha elections has passed.” Notice to Ambika Soni Ropar Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer PK Agrawal has issued a notice to Congress candidate Ambika Soni for paid news. Agrawal said two newspapers from Jalandhar in Hindi and Punjabi had since April 9 been daily carrying news items regarding the Congress candidate along with her pictures. No coverage was being given to the candidates of other parties, he said. Another notice has been issued to the Congress for undervaluing poll expenses incurred on the April 7 rally at Ropar. The party has been asked to submit a reply. The Returning Officer has issued notices to Independents Fakir Chand, Devender Kumar Verma and Mandip Singh Bittu for failing to submit the details of their election expenditure.
New Android application Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh has launched a unique Android application “Ivote” designed with to provide complete voting solutions in mobile phones. The application can be downloaded from “Google Play Store”, would provide various election-related utility features such as searching EPIC details, finding directions to one’s polling booth, information about affidavits submitted by contesting candidates, a comprehensive model code of conduct for ready reference and an easy complaint submission mechanism. The application has been developed by Sonali Giri, ADC (D), and Vipul Ujjwal, Municipal Commissioner, both posted in Bathinda. 12,000 more EVMs sought In constituencies where more than 15 candidates are in the fray, the CEO has ordered 12,000 more EVMs. VK Singh said, “Only three constituencies — Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Fatehgarh Sahib — have 15 or less candidates. These constituencies can be managed with a single machine.”
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It’s time for a Dalit PM, says Maya
Nawanshahr, April 16 "The Congress is contesting the elections with the sole intention of seeing its Yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) as the next PM. Since, the Congress-led UPA Government has failed on all fronts, the voters must show their power and reject the Congress," she said. In a scathing attack on the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, Mayawati said: "Would you like to see the perpetrator of the 2002 Gujarat riots as your PM?. If such a person (Modi) assumes power at the Centre, the entire country could see communal riots," she warned. Mayawati pointed out that there had never been communal tension in Uttar Pradesh when she was the CM. Amid chant of "Desh ka pradhan mantri kaun ho, Mayawati ho, Mayawati ho', the former UP Chief Minister said the need of the hour was to keep the Congress and BJP away from the 'corridors of power'. Asking the party cadre to work hard to ensure that the BSP emerged as a major political force at the national level, she said: "It is time that the Dalit community's wish to have a Dalit as the country's PM is fulfilled." Attacking the BJP, she said the saffron party was misleading the people with its claim that with Modi as PM, the country would see all-round development. "When NDA was in power for six years, what did it do to end the miseries of the common man," she asked. Claiming that the Congress, the BJP and other parties had done little to improve the social and economic condition of the Dalits, Mayawati said: "It is essential that our party should be in power in states as well at the Centre." Being a secular party, the BSP would maintain the social fabric of the country, bring about development and work towards the welfare of the Dalits who had been suppressed for decades, she said. She alleged that the quota in government jobs for the SCs was being reduced by "anti-Dalit" parties. All BSP candidates attended the rally.
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from the war room
Amritsar, April 16 Senior BJP leader and state vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina is the campaign coordinator for five SAD-dominated Assembly seats- Majitha, Ajnala, Rajasansi, Attari and Amritsar (South). He is considered close to the local Akali leaders. A social media networking plan is being chalked out by the party's core committee to enable BJP leaders to reach out to the maximum number of voters in the Amritsar constituency that is spread over nine assembly segments. Jaitley's campaign schedule is being supervised by state Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia. Akali MLAs have been entrusted with the task of organising rallies in their constituencies. At least 120 Delhi-based Akali leaders, including Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee president Manjit Singh GK, former president Avtar Singh and SAD's Rajya Sabha member Naresh Gujral are in the city to boost Jaitley's campaign. Celebrities Bharti Singh, Preeti Sapru and Kirron Kher are wooing women voters. Actor Suniel Shetty and santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma are also pitching in. "Bollywood actors Sunny Deol, Hema Malini and Suresh Oberoi will join the campaign soon," said party spokesman Janardhan Sharma. "Nukkad nataks and short musicals are being enacted for connecting with the youth," he added. Jaitley is using the social media, such as the Facebook, Twitter and Google HangOut, to connect to the voters. A database of five lakh voters in the constituency has been prepared. To blunt criticism on being a "pseudo Punjabi", Jaitley's cellphone messages would be in "chaste Punjabi", said party sources. The BJP gameplan * Jaitley's colleagues from Delhi have turned up in the city in large numbers *
State vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina is coordinating the campaign in the SAD-dominated Majitha, Ajnala, Rajasansi, Attari and Amritsar (South)
Assembly seats * Jaitley's campaign schedule is being supervised by state Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia *
At least 120 Delhi-based Akali leaders, including DSGMC chief Manjit Singh GK, have joined the
campaign * Celebrities Bharti Singh, Preeti Sapru and Kirron Kher are wooing the women voters *
The party's media centre is being run by a team of 15-20 tech-savvy
professionals
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Left parties to support four AAP candidates
Jalandhar, April 16 CPM's state unit secretary Mangat Ram Pasla said the decision was taken to ensure strengthening of the sentiment against the Akali-BJP and Congress candidates. The CPM and its allies in Punjab would support AAP candidates in Patiala (Dr Dharmavir Gandhi), Faridkot (Prof Sadhu Singh), Ferozepur (Satnam Paul Kamboj) and Hoshiarpur (Yamini Gohar). Pasla said: "The voters are disillusioned with the Congress-led UPA in the Centre and the SAD-BJP coalition in the state. They want alternatives for both the options. Our aim is to back candidates who are opposed to these corrupt parties. AAP is a plausible alternative in the scenario." "We had initially approached AAP for a coalition, but the latter preferred to go it alone. We will not support AAP candidates in other constituencies,” he added.
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Amarinder to blame for property tax, Jaitley tells voters
Amritsar, April 16 Addressing a rally in Ajnala, Jaitley said: "On December 8, 2006, the then state government headed by Amarinder entered into a pact with the Centre, accepting all conditions imposed by the Congress-led regime for giving grants to Punjab under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission". Jaitley said after taking over in 2007, the SAD-BJP government deferred the implementation of this proposal by at least six years. He said the UPA government had always meted out "step-motherly treatment" to Punjab. He said they would propose the inclusion of Amritsar in tourist circuit and exempting it from strict compliance of conditions under JNNURM. He also raised the issue of border farmers, saying the NDA government would resume awarding compensation to them for their land across the border fence. Talking to the media, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said if drugs were being smuggled into Punjab then the Centre was responsible for it since its forces guard the borders. Earlier addressing the rally, Badal projected Jaitley as grandson of Amritsar and appealed the electorate to ensure his victory. Minister Bikram Majithia, SAD MP Naresh Gujaral and DSGMC chief Manjeet Singh GK were present.
Tikka rejoins SAD
Former Punjab Agro vice-chairman Gurpartap Singh Tikka returned to the ruling SAD on Wednesday. Tikka was expelled by the party after he contested as a rebel against SAD's official candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria from Amritsar South Constituency in 2012 assembly poll.
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Fissures to fore in Hoshiarpur Cong unit
Hoshiarpur, April 16 The Congress high command, sensing the gravity of the unrest in the party unit at Hoshiarpur, had fielded Kaypee. Initially, the move seemed favourable as most of the Congress leaders came to share the stage with Kaypee. However, as the campaign started to gain momentum, the infight among the Congressmen also gained pace. Sitting local Congress MP Santosh Chowdhary, who was silent till now, has also expressed her dissatisfaction over his candidature. She openly accused Kaypee of “backstabbing”. She and her husband, former MLA of Shamchurasi Chowdhary Ram Lubhaya, are not taking part in the campaigning. Having a clout for two generations over the constituency, their displeasure towards Kaypee may cost him a lot. Meanwhile, Hoshiarpur MLA-cum-DCC president Sunder Sham Arora, too, has an open “negative equation” with former minister Naresh Thakur. As Arora is handling the campaign in Hoshiarpur, Naresh Thakur is nowhere to be seen in Kaypee’s campaign. Naresh had threatened to reconsider his preferences if the ticket was denied to Chowdhary. At Garhdiwala segment, dominant Brahmin leader Dr Mohan Lal Thamman and his family has been absent from the Congress campaign. At Mukerian, cross arrows between the Congress’ MLA candidate Ajit Narang and Independent MLA Rajnish Kumar Babbi is also unfavourable for
Kaypee.
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State govt keeps over 14 lakh pensioners waiting
Bathinda, April 16 Confronted by senior citizens during electioneering, SAD-BJP functionaries have suggested that at least a month’s pension be released to them. The government needs about Rs 107 crore to clear the entire backlog. Sources said the government had approved the release of old-age pension for the months of January and February. Accordingly, the district authorities had prepared the bills. But owing to the grim financial situation, the pension money could not be released. As per the voters’ list, 29.98 lakh voters in Punjab are aged above 60 of which 14.35 lakh are pension beneficiaries. Bathinda districts has 64,000 such beneficiaries.The Election Commission has prohibited enlisting new beneficiaries till the poll code is in force. The Social Securities and Women and Child Development Director, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, said the bills had been submitted online for approval of the Finance Department. “We expect these to be approved in a day or two,” he said, Former Congress Minister Harminder Singh Jassi said the Badal Government had in 2007 promised to hike the
pension from Rs 250 to Rs 400.
Another promise not met * The state government invited tenders for distribution of utensils to village panchayats free of cost. *
This would have cost the state exchequer Rs 50 crore
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PGI doctor discovers potential cure for cancer, AIDS
Chandigarh, April 16 The discovery that was recognised by international journals like Gene and Journal of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry recently, has potentially made basis of advanced research for targeting genes involved in cancer process and autoimmune diseases. The discovery of this novel micro-Ribonucleic Acids (microRNA) - designated as miR-2909 in international literature - by Prof Deepak Kaul has been found to empower human immune T-cells to fight microbial infections. It has also been found to play a crucial role in the evolution of autoimmune diseases and other degenerative diseases like Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer. Mir2909 was discovered by Prof Deepak Kaul in the year 2009. Subsequently, his research showed that this microRNA regulated genes involved in immunity as well as cancer and coronary heart disease. “At present, extensive work is being carried out by our research group to unfold and understand the impact of this
microRNA in human health in general and modulation of immune responses in particular,” Prof Deepak today said while addressing
mediapersons.
What is miR-2909? *
On average there are about 35,000 genes * These are regulated by master molecules *
One such molecule/microRNA is mir2909 that regulates a set of genes and impacts our immune system as well as processes leading to cancer *
The PGI team is now trying to find out how exactly how the microRNA is affecting the genes and the process
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NOTA may be introduced in HC bar assn poll
Chandigarh, April 16 He had written to the chairman of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association Election Committee to provide “none of the above” in the ballot papers in association poll. Going into the background, Jagga said the Election Commission (EC) told the Supreme Court in 2009 that it wished to offer the voter a “none of the above” option in the ballot, something the government had generally opposed. But on September 27, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the right to register a “none of the above” vote in elections. “Democracy is all about choices and voters will be empowered by this right of negative voting,” the order passed by the Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said. The apex court also directed the EC to make the necessary provision in the ballot papers and electronic voting machines for NOTA option. The ruling came in the case of “People’s Union for Civil Liberties and another versus the Union of India and another”.
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Gippy loses temper at press meet, apologises
Bathinda, April 16 On being asked the question, Gippy asked the mediapersons to restrict the questions to his films and career. When questioned a little more, he reacted, “I have already furnished an apology and it has been carried in almost all the newspapers, but you are still asking me the same question. Which newspaper do you read?” After being criticised for losing his temper, Gippy explained that when he was shooting the advertisement, he didn’t think it was going to be used by a political party. “But when I realised it was being used by a political party, I apologised. I have clarified that I am not aligned with any political outfit,” he said. “As a public figure, I have a responsibility towards my fans and audience. I once again apologise to my fans for taking up the advertisement. I promise I will remain apolitical in the future,” said Grewal. He said his fans had forgiven him when he issued an apology in this regard. He said soon after he apologised, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh also uploaded a similar apology. “I request you all to let bygones be bygones,” he said.
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Sukhbir seeks votes in Modi’s name
Morinda, April 16 “Gujarat has witnessed huge development under Modi’s 15 years of rule and now Punjab will get an impetus if the NDA forms government at the Centre, said Sukhbir. He claimed if Arun Jaitely won the elections from Amritsar it would hugely benefit the region.
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Market shut, road blocked for SAD rally
Phagwara, April 16 All the shops in the locality were forcibly shut as a security measure. The main road connecting the locality was blocked by the police by parking a bus in the middle. The locals were not even allowed to visit banks in the area. Besides more than 100 street vendors, who earn their livelihood by doing business at the popular chaupati of the locality, were shooed away for the day. They were seen cursing the politicians. Meanwhile, there was a thin presence at the rally. Several SAD and BJP activists were seen annoyed by the alleged indifferent attitude of their leaders. On being ‘neglected’, Muslim leader Gulzar Shah Sabri left the venue along with his supporters. He was later pacified by BJP leaders. — OC
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Water logging woes in muktsar district
Muktsar, April 16 An amount of Rs 68.04 lakh was sanctioned for disbursement as compensation amount among the affected people in the Lambi area. However, only Rs 38.65 lakh could be disbursed among beneficiaries and the rest amount of Rs 29.38 lakh was returned to the revenue department, which was later surrendered. While returning this amount, officials of the revenue department mentioned in their report that despite repeated public announcements, many people did not show any interest and some of them even belonged to other states. Similarly, farmers of the Malout area too refused to accept cheques worth Rs 8.21 lakh, citing the same reason. Hukam Chand Deepak, Tehsildar, Malout, said, “The state government gives compensation amount of nearly Rs 3,000 per acre per crop to farmers affected by waterlogging, but some farmers do not accept this monetary help, saying it is too less.” Muktsar district is worst hit by the problem and the underground water in most parts of the district is saline, which is unfit for human consumption, but hardly any political party or candidate has made it an issue during the elections. Farmers have been demanding increase in the compensation amount as many of them have not been able to get even a single crop from their once-fertile land for years. They have taken to dairy farming or turned into labourers to eke out a living. Farmers here had suffered huge losses in the monsoon season last year and the state government had announced construction of some new drains, apart from removing the existing bottlenecks. However, work in this regard is slower than promised. Just two months are left for the rainy season, and so far, only cleaning of drains is being done. GS Dhillon, former Chief Engineer of the drainage department, said a state-level committee of experts on water logging had last year recommended .5 m interval contours because of a flat topography. The panel had suggested re-planning of the drains accordingly but the work is yet to be started. “It is an open secret that the design of a number of drains is faulty and any further delay in re-levelling them may again cause massive losses to the state government and farmers this rainy season. So those engaged in the project should expedite the work,” he said. A senior official in the irrigation department said they were trying their best to solve the problem but can’t share details as the model code of conduct was in force. Dr JS Samra, CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority and Lt Gen (Retd) BS Dhaliwal, heading two separate committees on waterlogging, had last year visited Muktsar district and blamed faulty alignment of drains and some other reasons for water logging, further mentioning the immediate need of rectifying them. Panel’s recommendations *
GS Dhillon, ex-Chief Engineer of the drainage department, said a panel of experts on water logging had last year recommended .5 m interval contours because of a flat topography. The panel had suggested re-planning of the drains accordingly but the work is yet to be started *
Last year, 43 per cent of the Harhi crop farmers affected by water logging in Lambi did not accept compensation, saying it was meagre. Farmers of the Malout area too refused to accept cheques.
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Inter-state roads sealed as Sriganganagar goes to polls today
Abohar, April 16 A team of Punjab officials, led by Abohar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rajpal Singh discussed various steps with their counterparts at Sadulshehar, 30 km from here. The team also supervised search of vehicles on the state and national highway. All liquor shops on both sides of the inter-state border have been closed for two days. Meanwhile, paramilitary forces conducted a flag march in Suratgarh and BSF men have been told to intensify vigil in hundreds of villages located on the international border. A dozen teams of Excise Department and police officials conducted raids in some villages, smashed illegal domestic distilleries, seized huge quantity of raw material and illicit liquor in Sriganganagar segment. Polling parties escorted by paramilitary men have been dispatched to all the segments from Maharaja Ganga Singh Stadium, Sriganganagar. District Returning Officer-cum-District Collector RS Jakhar led them in taking a pledge to ensure free and fair elections. On the last day before elections, students of GL Bihani SD College of Technical Education organised a rally under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme to motivate people for exercising their vote tomorrow. Polling will start at 7 am on Thursday. Meanwhile, EC observer Gurrala Sreenivasulu has seized a huge quantity of SAD and BJP flags, banners etc by intercepting a vehicle near Neola village. The vehicle (DL 4 CAD 4154) was also loaded with hundreds of door stickers and visiting cards. The driver who was on his way to Fazilka could not produce the authority letter to carry the material. Fazilka district officials have been told to initiate requisite action.
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Moga rice millers up
in arms against FCI
Moga, April 16 They said they were also confused over the change in allocation of space. They said due to this, many trucks were standing outside FCI storehouse, waiting to be unloaded. Prem Singla, president of the rice millers’ association, alleged that they had to shell out money on labour for unloading trucks as the FCI authorities were not providing them with adequate labourers. District Manager, FCI, Kuldip Kumar said it was not a big issue. “We have enough space and will soon solve the matter.”
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poll pot
Sangrur: More than 100 police personnel on Wednesday took out a march through the main markets in Malerkotla, about 35 km from here. The police said the march was taken out to build confidence among residents and create a fearless atmosphere in the town so that voters could exercise their franchise on April 30. Since Malerkotla is a Muslim-dominated town, it is considered a sensitive area. This is the reason that the police always make special arrangements in Malerkotla. Station House Officer (SHO) of city-1 police station Sukhdev Singh and SHO of city-II police station Mandhir Singh participated. Poll official reviews security arrangement Fatehgarh Sahib: Anil Pratham, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed the Election Observer (Police). He reviewed the security arrangements for the Lok Sabha elections during a meeting with civil and police officers at the district administrative complex here on Wednesday. Pratham directed police officials to on their toes for the smooth conduct of the elections so that people cast their votes without any fear or pressure. He said more security forces should be deployed at very sensitive booths. Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Returning Officer Arun Sekhri said any voter facing any security concerns could contact him on his mobile phone number 99784-05257 or Coordination Inspector Varinder Singh on his cell phone number 80541-00543. SAD, BJP publicity material seized Fazilka: Election Observer (General) Guralla Srinivasullu has seized publicity material of the SAD-BJP combine from Neolan village in this district. Sources said during a special checking, the observer and other officials intercepted a car (DL-4CAD-4154) near the village and seized 33 flags of the BJP and 30 of the SAD, and other publicity material such as banners, pamphlets, stickers and visiting cards. The car driver, Sukhdev Singh, failed to produce relevant documents and permission to carry the material. The observer has asked the police to investigate into the matter. Singh has been served a notice to present his point of view. Fear of defeat prompts Kaypee to shift: BJP Hoshiarpur: Punjab BJP spokesperson Dewan Amit Arora said that out of fear of defeat, Congress Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Hoshiarpur. Sitting Hoshiarpur MP Santosh Chowdhary was denied the ticket this time. “In five years, he failed to win the trust of Jalandhar people,” he told the media here on Wednesday. “His weak performance as a parliamentarian has Hoshiarpur residents worried that, like in Jalandhar, he would cheat them by not delivering on his promises if he gets elected,” Dewan claimed. Dewan alleged that Kaypee did not utilise his share of MPLAD funds for the constituency’s development and ignored people’s sentiments. He claimed that Hoshiarpur people had faith in BJP nominee Vijay Sampla.
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Sikhs allowed kirpans in Canadian missions
Toronto, April 16 However, the individual should secure the kirpans within a sheath, attached to a fabric belt and worn under the clothing across the torso. They should also be in possession of the four other Sikh articles of faith, kesh (uncut long hair), a kangha (small wooden comb), a kara (steel or iron bracelet), and a kaccha (piece of undergarment), the statement said. Tim Uppal, minister of state (multiculturalism), said: "Our government's new policy will serve as an example and promote Canadian values around the world.”
President of the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) Amritpal Singh Shergill described the move as deeply significant.
He said it showed that Canada understood
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Man held in ‘honour’ killing case
Jalandhar, April 16 Hardev Singh reportedly first hit his daughter Amarbir Kaur on the head with a cane and then strangulated her with a ‘dupatta’. The accused has been arrested. Harkanwalpreet Singh Khakh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Detective, Jalandhar Rural Police, said, “Since the father reportedly killed her after suspecting her to be in a relationship with a boy, we are taking it to be a case of suspected honour killing. We are still probing the matter.” Hardev Singh, a farmer, sent his elder son to the market and wife to a house in the neighbourhood, before committing the act, the police said. Hardev’s younger son was at school at the time, the SP said. Class X student Amarbir’s maternal uncle Sukhdev Singh of Sanghe Khalsa village of Nurmahal was in the house when the incident occurred. He said by the time he reached the room after hearing the father-daughter’s argument, Hardev had killed Amarbir. Inspector Narinder Singh Aujla of Bilga police station said he was investigating the matter. “We are still not sure if the girl was in a relationship with a boy. The postmortem will be conducted tomorrow morning. We
have arrested the accused,” he said.
The crime * Hardev Singh, a farmer, suspected his daughter, a Class X student, to be in a relationship with a youth *
Before killing his daughter, he sent his elder son to the market and wife to a house in the neighbourhood. His younger son was at school *
Thereafter, he reportedly hit his daughter Amarbir Kaur on the head with a cane and strangulated her with a
'dupatta'
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Youth poisons mother, sister, commits suicide
Abohar, April 16 When the incident came to light, the educational institutions near the house on Street number 1 in the old walled city closed down. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdish Bishnoi said they found the bodies laying on the beds and discovered a two-page note reportedly written by Vishal. In the suicide note, Vishal, who had been working as salesman at a pesticides distributor in the old grain market, committed suicide after his girlfriend’s parents declined to marry her to him. The note stated that he decided to kill his mother and sister since there was no other male member in the family to support them. Vishal also left behind a diary that carries a detailed account of his borrowing and lending. Vishal wished that the family’s movable and immovable property be transferred to his elder sister Anu Rathi. He also stated in the note that his girlfriend shouldn’t be harassed after his death. The police have initiated inquest proceedings.
Unfulfilled love * Vishal Kumar committed the act after his beloved’s parents refused to marry her to him *
In his suicide note, he said he had decided to kill his mother and sister since there was no other male member in the family to support them
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Pakistani smuggler shot,
Rs 40 cr heroin seized
Amritsar, April 16 MF Farooqui, DIG, BSF, Amritsar Sector, said the jawans spotted five smugglers across the border fence during patrolling. Three of them tried to sneak in contraband into the Indian territory by inserting a long plastic pipe through the barbed fence. When challenged, the smugglers opened fire at the troops. “The jawans retaliated forcing smugglers to flee. On searching the area, the troops found the body of an unidentified smuggler. They also found a plastic pipe containing eight packets of heroin (1 kg each), a magazine, 12 live cartridges and a Pakistani mobile phone,” said Farooqui. He said the Amritsar sector had witnessed the maximum number of seizures during the past couple of years. The BSF seized 138 kg of heroin, seven pistols, a small AK 47, 14 magazines, 104 rounds, 10 Pakistani mobile phones, 11 Pakistani SIM cards and killed three smugglers and three intruders this year so far.
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Woman throws kids into pond
Abohar, April 16 The police said they had received a call at 10 am today, informing them that three bodies were found floating in a reservoir inside a house. Seruna police station in charge Surinder Poonia said the bodies were later shifted to the local civil hospital for a post-mortem examination. Lichhma Devi (35) was married to Doonger Nath Sidhu about 15 years ago. She was allegedly having an affair with a villager and wanted to flee with him after getting rid of her children. Her husband was away last night and the children were sleeping with her on the roof top. She allegedly threw Sarita (10), Gopal (8) and Anu (5) into the pond. She told her in-laws that they had slipped into it. Sources said she reportedly broke down when police questioned her. — OC
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Congress’s decision of fielding an external candidate in Hoshiarpur to check factionalism seems to be having no effect. Any outburst of the simmering restlessness among party men may spoil the chances for Hoshiarpur candidate Mohinder Singh
Kaypee, who is the sitting MP from Jalandhar. The Congress high command, sensing the gravity of the unrest in the party unit at
Hoshiarpur, had fielded Kaypee. Initially, the move seemed favourable as most of the Congress leaders came to share the stage with
Kaypee.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday addressed a rally in favour of
SAD-BJP candidate from Anandpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra. Sukhbir devoted a major part of his speech to BJP prime minister candidate Narendra Modi while seeking votes.
In a joint operation, Punjab and Rajasthan police sealed the inter-state roads today to ensure smooth polling in the eight segments of Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts on Thursday.
A team of Punjab officials, led by Abohar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rajpal Singh discussed various steps with their counterparts at
Sadulshehar, 30 km from here. The team also supervised search of vehicles on the state and national highway.
Addressing a press conference here today, the businessman, Nirmal Khosla alleged Manpreet during his tenure as Finance Minister had harassed him to oust him from a showroom in Sector 7 in 2009. 
Jaitley's party colleagues from Delhi, including MLAs, municipal councillors and party office-bearers, have turned up in the city in large numbers to manage his poll campaign. Prominent among them is BJP legislator RP Singh. 
