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Power shock amid bypoll, 4-6% tariff hike likely
Reshuffle talk in state BJP given quiet burial
Kanakwal residents to be shifted soon: CM
Amritsar kidnap
case |
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Sikh institutes in takeover row in Sriganganagar
Need to plug drug flow, says SC Judge
SGPC rejects HSGMC’s ‘empty golak’ charge
Can’t restrict additional
marks benefit to one session: HC
Pests attack cotton crop in Malwa belt
Land grab charge
All set for Rakhar Punya rallies today
Three members of family killed in accident
Diesel subsidy negligible: Cong
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Power shock amid bypoll, 4-6% tariff hike likely
Chandigarh, August 9 Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh told The Tribune that due to the model code of conduct because of the byelections in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo, the power regulatory commission had sought permission for announcing the revised tariff with retrospective effect from April 1. Though the exact percentage of the tariff hike could not be ascertained, sources in the regulatory commission claimed it would be around 4 to 6 per cent. Sources said different slabs existed for power tariff, depending on the usage and the category of domestic or commercial. Giving an idea of the likely hike, they said on an average, a consumer may have to shell out an additional Rs 250 per 1,000 units. Sources said the process for the revision of power tariff had started in November last. The power authorities, however, could not announce the hike in April due to the imposition of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has been reeling under financial pressure as it annually incurs Rs 5,300 crore loss on account of free electricity to the farmers. The corporation also had to purchase costly power from outside due to deficient rainfall and inadequate coal supply to run thermal plants.
Election Commission gives nod
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Reshuffle talk in state BJP given quiet burial
Chandigarh, August 9 He even claimed no leader had tendered his resignation. "They had expressed their intention to resign, but no one had resigned. So there is no issue of accepting it and reshuffling ministers," he said, adding that he would visit the state later this month to discuss the issue of lack of coordination among the coalition partners. Party sources said all eyes were on the new BJP president, Amit Shah, who would take a call on whether the state BJP needed to be reorganised. Reshuffling of ministers was being eagerly awaited by a section of BJP leaders. The party has two groups and those not holding any Cabinet berth had intensified their efforts to seek one. This group has been claiming that the recent outbursts by some party leaders against the government was a ploy to save their seats. The sources said the issue of change in state leadership was still open. They revealed that since the BJP failed to get votes in the urban areas, Sharma had offered his resignation, which should have been accepted. They said Sharma had been instrumental in convincing Arun Jaitley to contest from Amritsar. The move proved wrong as Jaitley lost badly to Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress, they said. The sources said as the Sharma group with whom most BJP ministers owed allegiance to, was on backfoot, they told the central leadership that urban voters were upset with the Akalis over levying of various taxes and giving subsidies to the farmers. The leaders then sought to champion the cause of urban residents. As they took on the government, it became difficult for the higher ups to change their portfolio as that would give an impression that the government did not want anyone to raise his voice.
Outbursts by party leaders ‘deliberate’
No one had resigned: Shanta Kumar There is no issue of any resignation or reshuffle. They (Anil Joshi and Kamal Sharma) had only expressed their intention to resign, but did not tender their resignation. I will discuss the issue of lack of coordination among the coalition partners later this
month. — Shanta Kumar, in charge bjp
punjab affairs
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Kanakwal residents to be shifted soon: CM
Affected by pollution emanating from the refinery, the residents have been demanding their relocation to a safer place. The refinery officials, though, claim that there was no pollution from their side. Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a public meeting in one of the affected villages here, Badal said, “I am aware that the residents of certain villages, Kanakwal in particular, have been forced to breathe obnoxious air. I have met the residents and they will be shifted soon.” Besides the stench, the residents face the threat of blasts in the chambers of the refinery. Two blasts have occurred since the refinery started functioning in April 2012, with shrapnel flying into the houses of the nearby residents and causing damage. Among the affected villages are Kanakwal, Ramsran and Narang in Punjab and Hassu in Haryana. Badal said a survey of all the residents, particularly those seeking relocation, had been carried out by the government and the list was being finalised. The Akali Dal candidate from Talwandi Sabo, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, said several sites were under consideration for the relocation. “We are also in talks with the refinery authorities for finding out a safe alternative,” he said. The Opposition Congress, however, has alleged that the state government was befooling the residents. “Till date, the affected villagers have not been even told which sites are under consideration,” said PPCC chief Partap Singh
Bajwa.
CEO: No objection to CM’s I-Day function Chandigarh:
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal can unfurl the Tricolour at Patiala on Independence Day, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh on Saturday. However, the function can’t be used for political campaign, he said. Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh had taken exception to the Independence Day functions in poll-bound Patiala.
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Amritsar kidnap
case
Amritsar, August 9 The families of the school bus staff alleged that their kin were given electric shocks on their private parts by the police following which they were admitted to a private hospital but later shifted to the local Civil Hospital. They have been referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for CT scan and MRI examination. Members of private schools bus union, Punjab Student Federation and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujwana Sabha have come out in support of the victims. “They were given electric shocks which has left them traumatised. They cannot even stand on their feet,” alleged Baldev Singh, Gurmeet’s father. Sources said the victims were being harassed even as there was nothing concrete that suggested their involvement in the case. Sarabjit Singh Harry of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujwan Sabha said Gurwinder was still in semi-conscious state. He said the doctors had asked for his MRI. He demanded strict action against the police for such inhuman torture. The sabha has urged the administration to bear the treatment costs. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, said he had not received any complaint in this connection, but assured to probe the matter.
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Sikh institutes in takeover row in Sriganganagar
Abohar, August 9 The new managing committee members last evening produced a copy of verdict in their favour issued by the sub-registrar. They told the district collector and superintendent of police that they would take over the charge on Saturday morning. The district administration then imposed prohibitory order u/s 144 CrPC till August 16 midnight. The losing faction members this morning went to the SGN institutes and occupied the offices to prevent a takeover by the new managing committee. About 150 Sikhs from different segments assembled at Gurdwara Kalgidhar in Vinoba Basti. Prominent among them were SAD state president and SGPC member Surjit Singh Kang, SGN institutes’ managing committee president Rajveer Singh and his associates. Sub Divisional Magistrate Kailash Chander Sharma assured the winning group that decks would be cleared for a safe takeover of the institutes within five days.
Tug of war: The losing faction members on Saturday went to the SGN institutes and occupied the offices to prevent a takeover by the new managing committee
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Need to plug drug flow, says SC Judge
Ludhiana, August 9 Addressing a seminar organised by the Asia Pacific Jurists Association (APJA) to mark the Quit India Movement anniversary at Guru Nanak Bhawan, he said the drug mafia had targeted the Punjabi youth only because the state was prosperous. Vijender Jain, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the big fish must be put behind bars as otherwise fruitful results would not be achieved. He said the drive against the drug menace should be taken to all cities and to the sub-division level. He appealed to the masses, particularly the young generation, to stay away from drugs. Justice Rajesh Bindal, a High Court Judge, said heroin was said to be starting at Rs 1 lakh in Afghanistan and once it reached India through various channels, its value reached up to Rs 1 crore. He also stressed the need for launching a crusade against the drug menace. Justice RK Garg, Justice RK Jain, Justice HS Bhalla and APJA secretary general Atul Lakhanpal also shared their views. The dignitaries were earlier accorded a warm welcome by Sessions Judge KS Kang, CJM Ranjeev Vashisht, APJA secretary BK Goel and BBS Sobti. The speakers stressed the need for increasing communication between the parents and growing children. They said appropriate counselling to the youth who had fallen prey to drugs was the need of the hour.
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SGPC rejects HSGMC’s ‘empty golak’ charge
Amritsar, August 9 In a statement released here, the SGPC lashed out at HSGMC chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda for his “misinformation campaign”. SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh said the SGPC was a duly elected body of the Sikhs and it had a set procedure for its functioning. He said a large number of devotees visited the gurdwara at Guhla-Cheeka on the day of ‘Masya’ and the offerings made there were counted the next day before making the final entry in the gurdwara record. He said this time a sum of Rs 35,108 was offered at the gurdwara, which was deposited in the shrine’s account and its entry had been made in the record. He cautioned the Sikh Sangat to be aware of the “misleading statements” being made by the HSGMC leaders.
The SGPC today condemned the “racist campaign” launched by an organisation against the Sikhs in Canada and sought strict action against those behind it. In a statement, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the Sikhs were living in Canada in large numbers for years now and they had contributed immensely in the country’s development.
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Can’t restrict additional
marks benefit to one session: HC
Chandigarh, August 9 The ruling came on a petition filed by national level under-19 hockey player Arshdeep Basra against the Punjab Government and other respondents. Basra was seeking directions to the respondents to grant additional 25 per cent marks for securing the first position in boys’ hockey in the 58th National School Games, 2012-13. His counsel Ashok Giri had argued that the petitioner’s claim was based on a notification issued by the Education Department. Clause 28 of the notification made it clear that the player obtaining the first three positions in the national school games was to be awarded 25 additional marks. In response, the government referred to a meeting held by the Punjab School Education Board subsequent to the issuance of notice by the High Court on the writ petition. The state claimed that the Board would award grace marks only for 2013-14. The state counsel argued that the petitioner completed matriculation in 2012-13. As such, the benefit could not be granted to him.
The case
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Pests attack cotton crop in Malwa belt
Moga, August 9 Gurmeet Singh of Gill village in Moga district rued even though he had sown BT cotton seeds on a 2-acre plot, the whitefly attacked the crop. “Now, I will have to spend a lot of money to spray pesticides/insecticides to save my crop,” he said. Another farmer of Gholia village said he could not eliminate the pests even though he had sprayed pesticides in the initial stages of the attack. He said he could suffer huge losses. Dr Jaswinder Brar, Agriculture Development Officer, posted here, said the farmers need not panic as the pest attack was still at its initial stage and could be easily
controlled. He said the farmers should not spray excessive insecticides to kill the pests. There were reports that farmers were spraying ‘acephate’ insecticide to kill whitefly, which is not recommended by the department.
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Land grab charge
Patiala, August 9 Earlier this week, Laal Singh and Adaltiwala had locked horns over 27 acres of prime land in the latter’s native village. While Laal Singh had claimed that the AAP leader was in illegal possession of the land, Adaltiwala had rubbished the allegation as baseless. Laal Singh had alleged that Adaltiwala possessed illegal land, which belonged to the villagers of Devigarh block in his native Adaltiwala village in Sanaur. “The land records from the past few years show that Harjit Singh is in possession of this land,” Laal Singh said at a press conference at his house. He also paraded some villagers who supported the MLA’s allegation. The Congress leader also questioned the logic behind the AAP leadership fielding an “outsider” for the Patiala (Urban) seat bypoll. Reacting to the allegations, Adaltiwala threatened to file a defamation case in case Laal Singh did not tender an apology. He claimed he was not involved in any case of land grabbing, and that anybody could go through the village land record or the police records to confirm it. "Laal Singh and I both belong to the Kamboj community and are also from the same constituency of Sanaur. He does not want that another strong leader should emerge from the constituency and, thus, is levelling baseless allegations. This is a deliberate attempt to harm my image ahead of the bypoll because the Congress is baffled by the party’s defeat in Patiala in the recent Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
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All set for Rakhar Punya rallies today
Amritsar, August 9 While Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be in Baba Bakala to address the ruling SAD’s rally, the possibility of Congress heavyweights attending the party rally appears bleak. Both the top Congress leaders former CM Captain Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa are busy with the party’s poll campaign in Patiala and Talwandi Sabo constituencies. Bajwa had even issued orders to call off the party’s rally in wake of the bypolls, but the faction led by former Congress MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa insisted on holding it, contending that they’ve already made the arrangements for it. The other faction led by Ranjit Singh Chhajalwadi is keeping away from the event this time, attributing the move to the PPCC chief’s order. AAP is making its debut at the fair by holding a political conference with an aim to widen its base among the masses.
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Three members of family killed in accident
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 9 The victims have been identified as Manpreet Singh (25), his sister-in-law Gurmeet Kaur (30) and son Harjot Singh (1). Gagandeep Kaur, Samarpreet Singh and Samarpreet Kaur were also injured in the accident. They were taken to the civil hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable. Sources said six members of a family were going to meet their relatives in Talwara village in their Hyundai I20 car. When a motorcycle suddenly came in front of the car near Salani village, the driver took evasive action and hit a tree. Three persons died on the spot. Passersby took the injured to the civil hospital.
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Justice V Gopala Gowda, a Supreme Court Judge, here today said rather than arresting drug addicts and peddlers, the Punjab Government should focus on plugging the drug flow into the state.
Sangrur dancer files complaint against husband
Even as Minister for Local Bodies Anil Joshi and state BJP president Kamal Sharma had reportedly resigned, the party did not respond on the matter. Shanta Kumar, in charge Punjab Affairs of the BJP, said there was no issue of any resignation or reshuffle.
Talwandi Sabo, August 9