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Untimely rain further delays wheat harvest
National award for PGI laboratory
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Won’t back BJP nominees, says Damdami Taksal
Cong candidate’s brother joins SAD
PPP chief’s team leaking info to SAD
Aggresion will not get Capt votes: Sukhbir
Son transferred, CPI leader Arshi alleges vendetta
Check facts on property tax, Captain tells Jaitley
Now, Manpreet accused of seizing pump
Gul Panag’s roadshow pulls crowds
Pollution Board spares Bathinda industry the stick
Congress ready with a three-pronged strategy
Three more on Cong poll panels
Captain’s men in battlegear
Rs 3 crore to be spent on Modi rally in Bathinda
Dal Khalsa to boycott
elections
Unlike his rivals, Kaypee’s campaign lacks punch
Heavy polling in Sriganganagar
Sangrur arhtiyas strike work to protest truck union’s ‘vandalism’
NRI cell probes youths’ complaint
‘Medical lapse’ leads to NRI’s death
Varsity to finish deceased Sikh scholar’s work
35 Punjabi detainees in US call off strike
HC warning to IAS officer
over release of benefits
Man gets 5-yr jail for shooting at labourer in police station
Treat daughters, sons equally for family pension: HC to state
YAD leader’s brother held with poppy husk
Two held for stealing
vehicles
Pharmacist booked for raping patient in OT
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Untimely rain further delays wheat harvest
Moga, April 17 Farmer Yadwinder Singh of Mehron village said the rain had delayed the harvest. He said the average yield of the crop might decrease due to the rain even though the state government claimed they would have a bumper crop. Moreover, the wheat arrival in the grain markets has been delayed. Usually, the harvesting of wheat begins in the first week of April. Harsharanbir Singh, a commission agent in Moga, said the government procurement agencies could not begin procuring the wheat as it contained a lot of humidity. Agriculture scientist Jaswinder Singh Brar said the farmers should wait for a couple of days and let the sun dry the crop before harvesting it. A senior official of the district administration said if the weather remained sunny, a large quantity of wheat was likely to arrive in the mandis soon.
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National award for PGI laboratory
Chandigarh, April 17 The research laboratory is the first in the country to have been recognised for voluntarily implementing the international standards of research reserved for the United Nations Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved drug testing facilities. The award was conferred for ‘Redefining the basic research investigations by broadening the purview of Good Lab Practices’. Dr Akshay Anand, Associate Professor, Avijit Banik and Shweta Modgil, Senior Research Fellows, received the award at the 9th National Quality Conclave at New Delhi. Padam Shree Kasturirangan and other members of the Planning Commission and the QCI attended the ceremony. “The recent cases of fraudulent data published in the Journal Nature has renewed the universal call for data validation and verifiability that are lacking in most research labs around the world,” said Dr Akshay, Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Neurosciences. PGI’s Neuroscience laboratory is a unit of Department of Neurology that recently launched 27 genetic tests for neurological disorders. About QCI *
The Quality Council of India (QCI) is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the government *
It was set up to establish and operate the National Accreditation Structure for conformity assessment bodies *
It provides accreditation in the field of education, health and quality promotion
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Won’t back BJP nominees, says Damdami Taksal
Amritsar/chandigarh, April 17 Talking to The Tribune here, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said they had taken the decision after various rounds of talks with members of the Sant Samaj over the past few days. He said it was unanimously decided that religious organisations would not support any other party. He said they had decided to support the Akalis, who were the “true” representatives of the Panth. He pointed out that both the Congress and the BJP had opposed Operation Bluestar Memorial. Though the move will benefit the SAD in rural areas where the Sant Samaj has a considerable clout, it does not augur well for the ruling alliance, particularly in Amritsar, where BJP nominee Arun Jaitley is locked in a keen contest with Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh. The Amristar constituency has 64 per cent Sikh votes. The Taksal wields a substantial clout in the Amritsar and Gurdaspur parliamentary constituencies. Reiterating that the Damdami Taksal was a religious organisation, Sant Harnam Singh, who also heads the Sant Samaj, said he was not in favour of any party raking up the issue of Operation Bluestar and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots for petty political gains. Candidates of other parties contesting the elections from Khadoor Sahib and Amritsar had also approached the Damdami Taksal for support, Sant Harnam Singh claimed. The consequences *
The move will benefit the SAD in rural areas where the Sant Samaj has a considerable clout *
It does not augur well for the ruling alliance, particularly in Amritsar, where BJP nominee Arun Jaitley is locked in a keen contest with Congress candidate Capt Amarinder Singh *
The Amristar constituency has 64 per cent Sikh votes. * The Taksal wields a substantial clout in the Amritsar & Gurdaspur constituencies
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Cong candidate’s brother joins SAD
Jalandhar, April 17 The US-returned brother of Santokh Singh accused the latter for the rivalry between the brothers. Santokh Singh and his elder brother and former Local Bodies Minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh had reconciled last month after having an estranged relation for five years. Sukhbir also chose to take two history-sheeter local politicians, earlier aligned with the Congress, into the party fold. Former MC councillor Dinesh Dhall alias Kali and his cousin and sitting councillor Amit Dhall were once close aides of former Congress Minister Avtar Henry. — TNS
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PPP chief’s team leaking info to SAD
Muktsar, April 17 The e-mails being sent to the media to inform about Manpreet’s schedule are also being forwarded on the e-mail IDs of the Chief Minister’s private assistant, the Deputy Chief Minister’s OSD (officer on special duty), BJP’s IT cell in Bathinda, former media adviser to the Deputy CM and two relatives of Badals namely Sukhman Sidhu and Bubby Badal, thus enabling them to know all programmes in advance. The practice may cause harm to Manpreet in this closely contested election between him and his sister-in-law Harsimrat Kaur, wife of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. Yesterday too when Manpreet finalised his tour of Lambi villages for today, the media cell sent the e-mail of his schedule with timings to journalists as well as the SAD-BJP camp. Manpreet’s wife Vinu Badal and his brother-in-law Jaijeet Singh Johal have alleged a number of times that the SAD-BJP leadership was getting information about their every movement in advance.
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Aggresion will not get Capt votes: Sukhbir
Chandigarh, April 17 "During his tenure as CM, he initiated an era of vendetta politics and unjustly jailed my father and me. However, the people of Punjab shunted him out of office in the 2007 Assembly elections and then again rejected him in the 2012 elections.” The SAD president said
Amarinder, who had been “forcibly parachuted” to Amritsar by the Congress high command, was trying to drum up support for himself by claiming he would put CM Parkash Singh Badal behind bars in case a Congress government was elected to power in 2017. He said his threats of vendetta against his opponents would not get him anywhere. Sukhbir said it was shameful that Amarinder was yet to submit a report card of what his government had done for Amritsar between 2002-07 and also his vision for
Amritsar. "Amarinder seems to have forgotten that the people want results and that a royal
'darshan' alone is not enough to win their votes and trust".
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Son transferred, CPI leader Arshi alleges vendetta
Bathinda, April 17 Addressing mediapersons here today, Arshi alleged that his son, Manpreet Arshi, posted as Sub-Divisional Officer (Public Health), was transferred to Baranala yesterday on the charges of campaigning for Manpreet. Arshi alleged it was a case of political vendetta as the inquiry on the allegation of campaigning was pending. He alleged that the inquiry officer recorded his son’s statement at 9 pm last night whereas the transfer orders were issued during the day. While calling upon the Akalis to shun “victimisation of family members”, he said they “would not leave the right path even if they were bundled into jails”. “The entire CPI rank and file will now campaign more aggressively for Manpreet,” he claimed. Arshi alleged that the Akalis earlier tried to bribe the CPI leaders but when they failed, they took to “pressure politics”.
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Check facts on property tax, Captain tells Jaitley
Amritsar, April 17 Amarinder alleged: “Jaitley has once again resorted to an outright lie to score a point.” He said the World Bank had put certain conditions for giving loan to the state for development. These were discussed at the bureaucratic level between the state and the central government in 2006. He said the state Cabinet during his tenure as Chief Minister did not approve the property tax. Captain said the Akali-BJP government later started negotiations and finally approved the property tax in 2013. “Jaitley is blaming me for a decision taken six years after my demitting the Chief Minister’s office. It defies any logic and common sense,” he said. Raising the demand for a national drug policy, Captain said firm laws were required to check drug trafficking. Leaders of the Congress and the PPP today held a joint function to facilitate Amarinder and seek support for him. Addressing a series of rallies, Jaitley termed unemployment as the root cause of drug addiction. He promised to develop Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport so as to harness its full potential. “Our international airport offers a great opportunity to develop the surrounding areas like Rajasansi. As the airport also has a cargo terminal, its development will enhance commercial activities which will in turn boost entrepreneurship”.
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Now, Manpreet accused of seizing pump
Jalandhar, April 17 Bhola had switched over to the Akali Dal three days ago. Manpreet has been engaged in a high-stakes battle from Bathinda against Sukhbir’s wife and sitting MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. He is being backed by the Congress as well as the CPI. For the last few days, Sukhbir has been launching repeated attacks of land and property grab against the PPP chief even as Manpreet has been dubbing the allegations as “baseless”. Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a party programme here, Sukhbir alleged that during his tenure as the Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet indulged in several illegal practices. He said the allegation of harassment levelled against Manpreet by a Chandigarh-based trader, Nirmal Khosla, was not the only one. “We had information that during his tenure as the Finance Minister, Manpreet had, due to vested interests, made recommendations for selling an accommodation in Sector 17, Chandigarh, from where a government office was being run,” he claimed. Sukhbir alleged that he had been receiving similar complaints against Manpreet from various quarters. “Badi thugian marian hai Manpreet ne (Manpreet has been involved in many acts of swindling). His claims of being an honest politician are all farce,” he said. Asked why no action was taken against Manpreet, Sukhbir said, “My relationship with Manpreet was such that I never interfered in his work… I do not want to be vindictive but if anybody gives a written complaint, law will take its own course.” Taking a jibe at Congress candidate from Amritsar Capt Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir alleged “Maharaja Sahib” (Amarinder) was contesting elections from his bedroom. “Accompany Amarinder for a day and you will get to know that his first rally starts at 1.30 pm, followed by another two rallies at 4 pm and 5 pm. The fourth and last rally is in Amarinder’s bedroom,” he said.
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Gul Panag’s roadshow pulls crowds
Ludhiana, April 17 She said it for the first time that educated and honest people were contesting elections and they must not be let down. On AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal's decision to step down as Delhi CM, she said he had done so on moral grounds. “The resignation was symbolic - to tell the people that AAP would not bow to corrupt parties that had colluded to bring down the government,” she said. She said she and her husband had known singer Rabbi Shergill for several years and had convinced her to contest the elections. Jalandhar: The AAP roadshow in the city, under the leadership of Rakhi Bidlan, received a lukewarm response. Bidlan (26) sought votes for party’s Jalandhar candidate Jyoti Mann (27). A thin crowd of 50 to 70 activists accompanied Bidlan’s cavalcade. Even outside educational institutions, there was little excitement among students. Bidlan and Mann both belong to the Balmiki community. The roadshow began from Lyallpur Khalsa College and ended at Company Bagh Chowk in the afternoon. Bidlan dismissed reports that Mann was a weak candidate.
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Pollution Board spares Bathinda industry the stick
Patiala, April 17 Ferozepur, the home town of BJP state president Kamal Sharma, too falls in this category. The development has the environmentalist fuming whereas the Congress has alleged bias and a code violation. In all, 145 checks were conducted in other parts of the state, data procured from the PPCB (February 1 till April 15) shows. As many as 84 industrial units were penalised for not following norms. Bathinda has 1,174 units (big and small), including 676 rice mills, 485 brick kilns, 13 large-scale industries. The constituency has a thermal plant, a distillery and a refinery. A government official alleged that nobody could dare to conduct raids in Bathinda, particularly during elections when industrialists donate huge funds for campaigns. “No politician will like to annoy them," he said. Another official alleged that a similar practice was being followed in other politically sensitive constituencies. Board chairman Ravinder Singh, however, denied any such pick and choose policy. “There is no political pressure. Last year we had sealed big units in Bathinda for over a fortnight and taken action against violators,” he said. Asked why no raids were conducted over the last two months, he said, “Currently, no violation is being reported.” Noted environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal alleged that PPCB functioned under government directions. “Despite our repeated pleas, the government is not willing to make PPCB autonomous. No party is serious about pollution during elections and the decision to skip checks in Bathinda proves this,” he said. A senior Congress leader said rules should apply to all equally. "The PPCB should not hesitate in performing its duty so as to help its political masters,” he said. Soft approach District Checks Ludhiana 65 Jalandhar 38 Hoshiarpur 17 Sangrur 11 Amritsar 10 Batala 07 Fatehgarh Sahib 06 Bathinda Nil Ferozepur Nil
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Congress ready with a three-pronged strategy
Chandigarh, April 17 Speaking to The Tribune here this morning, committee chairperson Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and convener Surinder Singla said: “ We are all set to launch an attack on the SAD-BJP Government, which has destroyed Punjab and reduced to it to a police state.” The leaders claimed that the SAD-BJP leadership, already on the backfoot, would be clean bowled in the second phase of the campaign. Bhattal has been provided a helicopter by the
AICC.
She said the committee’s plan was to hold four big rallies, which would be addressed by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, at least 10 state-level rallies, that would be addressed by senior state leaders, and an election meeting in every block. “I have requested Rahul Gandhi to visit the state on April 25 and again on April 28, the last day of campaigning. Tomorrow, we will hold a Roadshow in Jalandhar,” Bhattal said.
Jagmeet Singh Brar, Jasbir Singh Sangrur and Bir Devinder Singh, who are known for their oratorical skills, would address big rallies, attacking the SAD-BJP alliance on unemployment, property tax, sand and gravel rates and the shrinking ecomony. Bhattal said there was resentment against the SAD-BJP Government on the issue of property tax. “ People are unable to build their houses because many SAD-BJP leaders are involved in selling sand and gravel on the black market,” she said. She accused the SAD-BJP Government of patronising the drug mafia and endangering the future of thousands of youths. “Earlier, some Akali leaders pushed the youth towards terrorism and now they are pushing youth towards drugs,” Bhattal alleged. Singla pointed out that while other states were paying pension to the aged persons and other marginalied sections up to Rs 700- Rs 1,000 per month, the Punjab Government was paying a meagre Rs 250 per month. Scholarships and books had been denied to students of poorer sections and money under the Shagun Scheme delayed for years,” said Bhattal. “While the PRTC and Punjab Roadways have suffered losses running into hundreds of crores, bus companies owned by Akali leaders, including the Badals, are minting money,” she said. The former Cm said that farmers faced difficulties in selling their produce in mandis, local bodies and village panchayats had not been given more powers and law and order was in a poor shape. “The people are fearful of Bikram Majithia. They do not dare to move out of their homes in the Majitha constituency,” alleged Bhattal. Pointing out that power rates were the highest in Punjab, Singla claimed that the state was becoming power surplus not because of generation of more electricity, but because a large number of industrial units had been shut down. He said it was strange that while the Narendra Modi Government had been harassing Punjabi farmers settled in Gujarat, the SAD leadership had chosen to keep mum on the issue. “ FDI would have benefited Punjab farmers. But the SAD leadership opposed it because the BJP took a stand against it,” said Singla, adding the issue would figure prominently at the Congress rallies. The two leaders claimed that AAP would eat into the SAD-BJP votes. “The people know that the Congress alone can defeat the SAD-BJP alliance and will. hence, support us (Congress) in the elections,” claimed
Bhattal.
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Three more on Cong poll panels
New Delhi, April 17 Approval for the same was given by AICC president Sonia Gandhi. In its election coordination committee for the state, the central leadership included former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Bir Devinder Singh. Another inclusion was that of Punjab Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The Punjab Congress election campaign committee will now have 40 members and the coordination panel 16. The state campaign committee is headed by former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal while former Punjab Pradesh Congress president Shamsher Singh Dullo heads the coordination panel.
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Captain’s men in battlegear
Amritsar, April 17 Senior Congress leader and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh is Amarinder's campaign in charge. He is assisted by Congress legislators OP Soni, Sukh Sarkaria and Rajkumar Verka besides local leaders Lali Majithia, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Tarsem Singh DC, Harpartap Singh Ajnala and Sunil Datti. The Congress has divided the rural and the urban areas in the constituency into various zones. "We have identified key areas in each of the Assembly segments for the purpose of holding public meetings," explains Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu, a former merchant navy officer who has been with Amarinder for almost a decade. Sandhu heads a 25-member team that manages back-end operations. Major Amardeep and Karanpal Singh Sakhon hold key positions in this team. The office is well-equipped with a dozen computers, four TV sets, printers and fax machines. The team has compiled a comprehensive data on all nine Assembly segments in the Amritsar constituency, including caste equations and the number of voters. District Congress committee (DCC) members, who are in touch with local workers in different parts of the constituency, have a key role. They not only execute Amarinder's plans but also gives him valuable feedback on various issues. A legal cell keeps a tab on poll code violations during the campaigning. Sandhu's team, that finalises the schedule of Amarinder's campaign and monitors his poll expenditure, is using the social media to the hilt, posting messages and photographs of rallies on the Facebook page. If the claims of this team are to be believed, the number of Amarinder's followers on the Facebook has gone up from 89,000 to 1.25 lakh. The Congress stalwart has a three-member team, comprising Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, Vimal Sumbly and Jaspal Singh Dhillon, for coordinating with the media. Also, there is a women's team with leaders of the stature of Sukriti Kumari of Nalagarh. This team campaigns door-to-door and holds nukkad (corner) meetings in urban areas. The core team
The congress gameplan * He is being assisted by legislators OP Soni, Sukh Sarkaria and Rajkumar Verka and local leaders Lali Majithia, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Tarsem Singh DC, Harpartap Singh Ajnala and Sunil Datti. * The Congress team has divided the rural and the urban areas in the constituency into various zones * A 25-member team, headed by Capt Sandeep Sandhu, manages back-end operations. * It finalises Amarinder's campaign schedule and monitors poll expenditure * It is posting messages and photos of rallies on social media * Distict Congress members, who are in touch with local workers, gives him valuable feedback * A legal cell keeps a tab on code violations during canvassing
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Bedi to canvass against Jaitley
Chandigarh, April 17 “I’ve always played the game in a fair manner during my career. When I became coach and administrator, I passed on the same culture to the next generation of players. That’s why I’ve come to my birthplace to make a plea to the youngsters that they should elect a candidate who has a clean image and has not ruled with manipulation alone,”said Bedi. “Cricket has suffered because of lack of control and leadership. There have been so many scandals and controversies. Each time, Jaitley tried to save the ‘real’ culprits. Under his leadership, cricket in Delhi has gone to the dogs,” said former India opener Khanna, who too has familial links with Amritsar. The cricketers are particularly annoyed with Jaitley over the non-working of the DDCA’s Cricket Improvement Committee, of which Jaitley and Bedi were co-chairmen. The committee was formed after the India-Sri Lanka one-day international match was called off on December 27, 2009, at Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla Ground because the pitch was deemed dangerous to play on. The former players are angry that nothing came of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC).” Khanna alleged that Jaitley had never done anything for the game or for the players apart from playing games. “After the India-Sri Lanka game, he announced the formation of CIC under Bediji and then backtracked, as he has done in the past. Delhi cricket has suffered and so has Indian cricket under his administration,” said Khanna. Bedi and the other players are likely to focus on young voters of the constituency in their efforts to “expose”
Jaitley.
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Rs 3 crore to be spent on Modi rally in Bathinda
Bathinda, April 17 Sources said an amount of Rs 3 crore would be spent. A huge tent would be erected with seating arrangement for at least 40,000 people. The rally is being organised on land owned by Oriental Bank of Commerce, but the bank is yet to give its nod. Sources said the rally organisers had offered to pay a handsome rent to the bank. It is an all-Akali show so far as BJP leaders are nowhere in the sight so far as preparations and campaigning for the rally are concerned. The SAD has appointed Minister Sikander Singh Maluka and local MLA Sarup Chand Singla as rally incharge. When asked as to who would bear the expenses for the rally, Singla said he did not know much in this regard. The sources said the SAD was showing great concern about the rally since high stakes were involved in the contest between Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Manpreet Badal for the Bathinda seat.
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Dal Khalsa to boycott elections
Amritsar, April 17 Addressing a press conference after presiding over a meeting of the party working committee, party chief HS Dhami said reforms and development could not be a substitute for the goal of “independence”. “To the real Sikh polity, the challenge is not development, but self-determination, the dream is not to make Punjab a California, but an independent sovereign state,” he said. Appealing to the people of Punjab not to participate in the elections, he said the election “drama” was of no importance. — TNS
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Unlike his rivals, Kaypee’s campaign lacks punch
Hoshiarpur, April 17 Its candidate, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, seems to be fighting a lone battle as senior Congress leaders are absent from the campaign trail. Among the prominent absentees are sitting MP and Union minister Santosh Chowdhary, former Shamchurasi legislator Chowdhary Ramlubhaya, former legislator Supinder Kaur, Jagdish Singh Randhawa from Dasuya and four-time MP Kamal Chaudhry. Chowdhary is staying put in Delhi because of her ministerial work, and has occasionally visited Hoshiarpur after the party fielded Kaypee. Not much help from party leaders, Kaypee’s son, daughter and close aides are holding the fort for him. They go to door to door to drum up support for him. In comparison, other parties are firing all cylinders. Among all candidates, SAD-BJP’s nominee Vijay Sampla leads the campaign. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has addressed a series of rallies in various Assembly segments. Sampla addresses at least 10 to 12 public meetings every day, besides meeting people and attending religious and social functions. State BJP president Kamal Sharma has campaigned for him. The BSP candidate, Bhagwan Singh Chauhan, was the first one to enter the fray and he utilised the opportunity by completing six rounds of campaigning. He is now mobilising voters who are still undecided on whom to vote. Kaypee’s candidature came later than the BSP’s and BJP’s. The late comer, Yamini Gomar of AAP, entered the fray several days after Kaypee’s arrival, but she has also left the Congress candidate behind in campaigning. She has been organising roadshows. She has election offices at every major location in the constituency and the AAP workers go door to door to garner support. At many places, volunteers who registered through phone calls and AAP’s website are campaigning for her. In this scenario, Kaypee considered to be outsider seems to lag behind in the absence of stalwarts. Family holding fort *
Sitting MP Santosh Chowdhary, former Shamchurasi MLA Chowdhary Ramlubhaya, former MLA Supinder Kaur, Jagdish Singh Randhawa from Dasuya and four-time MP Kamal Chaudhry are not campaigning for him *
Kaypee's son, daughter and close aides are holding the fort for him. They go to door to door to drum up support for him Missing from action
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Heavy polling in Sriganganagar
Abohar, April 17 The polling touched 50 per cent mark by 2 pm. Polling was affected in 68LNP and Nehranwali villages due to technical snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs). The boycott call was given by the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti due to denial of compensation for crops hit by hailstorm in Kishanpura village. Senior officers had three rounds of talks in Chak Raziasar village, but villagers refused to vote. — OC
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Citizens’ voice
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Sangrur arhtiyas strike work to protest truck union’s ‘vandalism’
Sangrur, April 17 They accused the truck union of damaging and stealing four vehicles of two flour mill owners. Due to the strike, the auction of wheat was suspended today. The arhtiyas and members of the Sangrur District Industrial Chamber (SDIC) protested at the grain market here, demanding arrest of the accused. Kulwant Singh, president of local arhtiya association, said flour mill owners had purchased wheat from the grain market. When they were getting it loaded in their vehicles, four activists of the truck union attacked them and fled with the vehicles, he said. Terming the truck union’s action “high-handedness” against businessmen, Sangrur District Industrial Chamber (SDIC) district coordinator Sumer Garg said the SDIC would not tolerate such vandalism. He reiterated the demand to arrest the accused. SHO Harinder Singh said both parties had been called to the office of DSP here. The police have recovered the vehicles.
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NRI cell probes youths’ complaint
Hoshiarpur, April 17 Two youths from Hoshiarpur and Kapurtahla, who returned from the Gulf nation, appeared before the ACP (North) and got their statements recorded. They provided copies of the fake international driving licences provided to them by the travel agent, who had sent them abroad. The ACP (North) summoned the travel agent to his office. He joined the investigation in the evening and his statement was being recorded at the time of filing the report. Jagmeet Singh of Kapurthala and another youth from Hoshiarpur said they had got a message from the police’s NRI cell to visit the Commissioner of Police’s office in Jalandhar for investigation into their complaint. “We came here this morning and were told to see ACP (North) Satish Malhotra. He listened to us carefully. We gave him the details of payments made to the agents, copies of the fake international driving licences, copies of our passports and the fake documents provided by the company to us with our photos and someone else’s name and addresses,” Jagmeet said. The travel agent, Sumit, was summoned. A police party was rushed to his office, which was found locked. The police party then visited his house, but he was not present there too. His wife called him and told him about the matter. The police officials talked to him from his wife’s phone and asked him to appear before the ACP. He came to the ACP’s office in the evening and was asked to record his statement.
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‘Medical lapse’ leads to NRI’s death
Phagwara, April 17 They protested outside the Satnampura police station and demanded action against the erring doctors of a local private hospital, where the deceased was operated on. The deceased, Ram Asra, a native of Bahadur village near Bilga, was operated for spine injury on April 7. He developed complications after the surgery, leading to his death on Tuesday. His family alleged that doctors’ negligence led to Asra’s death, the charge doctors denied. Dr Puneet said that after the successful spine surgery, the patient complained of leg pain. “To clear any doubt, a MRI scan was conducted on April 13. The report was normal,” he said. Dr Puneet said that to check any clot, the patient was examined on April 14. “I met Asra on Tuesday and he told me that he was recovering. Soon after, I was informed about his ill-health,” he said, adding that doctors made efforts to save his life, but failed. He said perhaps the NRI died of cardiac arrest. — OC
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Patiala, April 17 At an event of The Sikh International Forum at the House of Lords in London recently, Oberoi was presented the award by Indian High Commissioner to the UK, HE Ranjan Mathai, Attorney General of UK Dominic Grieve and Lord John Stevens.— TNS
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Varsity to finish deceased Sikh scholar’s work
Patiala, April 17 At a seminar held in memory of the noted Sikh scholar, Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh said Gurbhagat Singh’s contribution in academia was immense. The VC announced that the university, in memory of the late scholar, would introduce a scholarship, hold an annual lecture and publish a magazine.
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35 Punjabi detainees in US call off strike
Chandigarh, April 17 The youths were nabbed for “illegally” crossing over to Texas through the Mexico route probably after having been deserted by their agents. As many as 42 of them were on a hunger strike to protest against their “illegal” and “prolonged” detention at the EL Paso correction centre by the border authorities. While most of detainees were from the Doaba region of Punjab, some of them belonged to Malwa and neighbouring Haryana. While 28 detainees are said to have called off their hunger strike on Monday, seven stayed off food till Wednesday. “They called off the hunger strike on their own. Five of the detainees, including Pritpal Singh Kohar, Boota Singh and Mandeep Grewal, have been admitted to a hospital inside the jail and another detainee, Harsimran, was shifted to another hospital outside the jail for treatment,” said Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) while speaking to The Tribune from California. The reason behind shifting six protesting Punjabi youths to the two hospitals was said to be their deteriorating health owing to starvation and the concern of the authorities over their physical state. The jail authorities, it is learnt, transferred five of the detainees to a barrack called “Loaha” reportedly with an objective to teach them a lesson. A “Loaha” is a 5X10-ft cell comprising of a toilet and a bed. Normally, hardened criminal are lodged here. “The Sikh Coalition has joined hands with us and we are trying our best to get parole for all the detainees. We are in touch with Lawit, the attorney for the detainees. He has told us to contact people having links in the White House,” said Chahal. Amarpreet Singh of the Sikh Coalition was in the process of collaborating with
Lawit. About the case *
The youths were nabbed for "illegally" crossing over to Texas through the Mexico route probably after having been deserted by their agents. *
As many as 42 of them were on a hunger strike to protest against their "illegal" and "prolonged" detention at the EL Paso correction centre by the border authorities.
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HC warning to IAS officer
over release of benefits
Chandigarh, April 17 Fixing July 28 as the next date of hearing on Sahota’s plea, Justice Mahesh Grover asserted: “The order, non compliance of which has been alleged by the petitioner, was passed in the presence of the parties and mandated the respondent to release all the consequential benefits to the petitioner along with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum within a period of two months, which has since not been done…. “In case the needful is not done within a period of three weeks from today, the court shall be constrained to proceed against the respondent on the presumption that he has wilfully disobeyed the orders of this court”. Taking up Sahota’s initial petition, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa had on July 3 last year held Sahota was entitled to wages and allowances of the Director’s post for the period he had worked on it from November 30, 1999, to December 31, 2000, with all consequential benefits. Even the deduction of Rs 16,380 from his gratuity was held to be bad. Justice Dhindsa had added: Let these directions be carried out within two months from receipt of the order’s certified copy…. The petitioner is also held entitled to interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date of filing of the present writ petition till the date of the actual disbursement”. Justice Dhindsa had observed that the petitioner while working as Deputy Director in the Department of Agriculture was given the current duty charge of the Director’s post from November 30, 1999. Subsequently, he was promoted to the post on a regular basis. But a Division Bench set aside his regular promotion. However, it was directed that the petitioner would continue to hold the charge till regular selection was made by the state government. The petitioner, as such, continued to hold the current duty charge till he attained the age of superannuation on December 31, 2000.
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Man gets 5-yr jail for shooting at labourer in police station
Ludhiana, April 17 He was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years on the charges of attempting to commit murder. A fine of Rs 1,000 was also imposed upon him. He was also sentenced to three years of jail under the Arms Act. Both the sentences will run concurrently. The prosecuting counsel said Mandeep Singh had fired shots at Dalip Kumar, a migrant
labourer, who was arrested for forcibly entering a gurdwara. The victim had also allegedly torn a page out of the Guru Granth Sahib. The incident had caused a lot of tension in the nearby areas. A large number of Sikhs had assembled at the
gurdwara. The religious sentiments of the accused were hurt to such an extent that he fired at the labourer with a pistol. Dalip Kumar, who was hit around three times, was admitted to a hospital in
Ludhiana. The accused was booked under the Arms Act at Sahnewal police station on August 30, 2012. The crime *
Mandeep Singh had fired shots at migrant labourer Dalip Kumar after he broke into a gurdwara and tore a page out of the Guru Granth Sahib *
The accused was booked under the Arms Act at Sahnewal police station on August 30, 2012
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Treat daughters, sons equally for family pension: HC to state
Chandigarh, April 17 The directions by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli are significant as the existing family pension rules distinguish between sons and daughters on the issue of granting family pension. As of now, the son gets family pension up to the age of 25, irrespective of his matrimonial status. But it is admissible up to the age of 25 years or marriage, whichever is earlier, in case of a daughter. Also, a government employee’s son continues to get pension even after the age of 25 in case disability prevents him from earning livelihood. But pension for daughter comes to an end with her marriage. The Bench asserted: “We are of the view that there is an existing anomaly. The daughter must also get pension till the age of 25 years irrespective of her marriage and if she continues to be unmarried then even beyond 25 years.” Referring to the Punjab Civil Services Rules, the Bench observed: “If the son of a government employee is suffering from any disability which prevents him from earning a livelihood, he continues to get pension even after the age of 25 years while in case of daughter, her marriage would stop the pension. This restriction is required to be removed” The Bench also directed the removal of an anomaly common between Haryana and Punjab rules. The Haryana rules talk of lifetime entitlement of disabled children to family pension.
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YAD leader’s brother held with poppy husk
Mansa, April 17 Nirvair, however, denied that he held any post in the YAD. He said he recently lost the panchayat elections in his village. On the other hand, Jagpreet Singh, national vice president of YAD, confirmed that Nirvair was the joint secretary of state YAD. Nirvair Singh alleged the move was politically motivated. SHO Gurmukh Singh said the accused were arrested and booked under the NDPS Act. The SHO claimed the accused persons had smuggled the poppy husk from Haryana in order to sell it in the state. Mahinder Singh of Burj Hari village said most of the men in the village were addicted to poppy husk.
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Two held for stealing
vehicles
Muktsar, April 17 In a press release, Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surjit Singh said a police party led by CIA In-charge, Sub-Inspector (SI) Parmjit Singh, and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jarnail Singh laid a naka on the Abohar road today and intercepted two motorcycles without bearing registration numbers. “During questioning, Sahil Kumar of Bura Gujjar village and Sukhjinder Singh of Bhagsar village admitted to have stolen the motorcycles. On places disclosed by them, raids were conducted and 11 more motorcycles were recovered,” the police said. A case under Sections 379 (punishment for theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the accused at the Muktsar city police station. The police said a case of vehicle theft was already registered against Sahil in Moga district. — TNS
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Pharmacist booked for raping patient in OT
Mansa, April 17 The police said the pharmacist posed as a doctor and raped the victim on the pretext of examining her. The woman from Musa village was suffering from piles. Sub-Inspector Jaswinder Kaur, the investigating officer in the case, said the woman’s statement had been recorded. — TNS
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Amritsar/chandigarh, April 17
Continuing his tirade against his estranged Manpreet Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today alleged that the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief had forcibly taken possession of a petrol pump owned by former Congress leader Anil Bhola.
From holding roadshows with the help of the state unit of the National Students Union of Indian
(NSUI) to taking the services of star speakers, the Congress campaign committee has worked out a strategy to boost its campaign in the state.
Arhtiyas (commission agents) observed strike by keeping shutters of their shops down to protest against an alleged act of vandalism by activists of a local truck union.
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Mohinder Singh Kaypee, seems to be fighting a lone battle as senior Congress leaders are absent from the campaign trail 
Sources say that Kaypee had called sitting MP Santosh Chowdhary on April 14 through a close relative to join the campaign. She politely, but firmly, refused and asserted that she would be doing her duty as assigned by the party high command as and when needed. "Party leaders conspired against me. They propagated before the high command that if I was given the ticket, I would lose. Suppose, I was a candidate who would lose if fielded, how can I help anyone else in winning? That's why I am doing my job as the minister of state in Delhi. All workers of the Congress are working for the candidates," she said. 
