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Peaceniks urge India, Pak to de-escalate tension
I-Day bonanza for prisoners
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PUDA asks state govt to return loan amount
Now, dope test must for govt job
Campaign
trail: Talwandi Sabo
Congress’ Jassi targets jobless youth on warpath
SAD’s Sidhu promises to bring big projects
No acrimony with SAD on INLD ties, claims BJP president
It’s an attempt to muffle my voice, says Jagmeet Brar
Begowal: Work on despite stay, says Khaira
SGPC rubbishes Jhinda's charge on offerings
President's Police Medal
for DGP Pandey
BSF jawan commits suicide
Anganwari union chief begins fast, demands jobs
State set to implement new land acquisition Act
Govt colleges to have smart classes
Four killed in mishaps
Farmers rejoice as water released into canals
Girl sent to Nari Niketan as two women claim to be her mother
Mohali court allows Capt to travel abroad
HC stays suspension of Food & Supply officers
PSPCL officer held for graft
Drunken man shoots at father, brother
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Peaceniks urge India, Pak to de-escalate tension
Amritsar, August 14 The manch expressed concern over the prevailing tension along the LoC and the consequent loss of lives and property in border areas. It appealed to the two countries to hold talks to put an end to it. It also demanded that India and Pakistan should chalk out a joint strategy to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces from there. "It is imperative for the two nations to work together on Afghanistan to maintain stability in the South Asian region. They should also gear up to deal with the emerging threat of fascist forces in the aftermath of events in Iraq. The SAARC countries should in no way promote terrorism and extremism," a declaration by the manch reads. It applauded the Modi government's move to take along the SAARC nations. It also advocated the need to boost trade, sport and cultural ties between two Punjabs, besides setting up of visa centres in Amritsar and Lahore to facilitate easy travel across the border. It urged the two countries not to enter arms race and instead build an atmosphere of mutual trust so that funds and resources could be used for meeting the basic needs of the people. The governments of both countries should initiate steps to check global warming, it said. A seminar on the Indo-Pak relations was held earlier during the day. It was followed by a cultural evening at Punjab Natshala. Members of the Folklore Research Academy and the Punjabi Jagriti Manch participated in the event. They also paid tribute to those killed during the Partition at a memorial built in their memory at Attari.
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I-Day bonanza for prisoners
Chandigarh, August 14 Disclosing this here today, Sohan Singh Thandal, Jail Minister, said the prisoners undergoing sentence for more than 10 years and up to 20 years had been granted one year remission in sentence. Similarly, prisoners undergoing sentence of more than seven years and up to 10 years would get nine months, those imprisoned between five years and seven years would get sixmonths, those between three years and five years would get three months and those sentenced for less than three years are given one month's remission. The minister said only those inmates who had shown good conduct during their stay in jail would be given this benefit. Thandal said where a person had been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 10 years or for a period exceeding five years but not exceeding 10 years, the conduct of the person for the last five would also be taken into consideration before granting him the remission. He said if a person was on parole or furlough, the remission would be granted to him only if he surrendered himself before the expiry of his parole. The minister said no remission would be granted to a person who had been convicted for a serious offence and the cases being investigated by the CBI. He said various conditions had been imposed for granting one-time remission of sentence to the prisoners with regard to the nature of crime committed by them. He said all these conditions had been clarified in the notification issued by the Department of Home (Jails) yesterday.
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PUDA asks state govt to return loan amount
Chandigarh, August 14 Sources in the Finance Department said PUDA had written to them, claiming that it had been unable to sell its properties because of a downturn in the realty sector. As a result, it was now finding it difficult to pay the interest on the loan and had sought the government's help to bail it out of the crisis. The department has released over Rs 125 crore to PUDA and a provision has been made to return Rs 500 crore out of the loan taken from it this year. Officials said the amount would be returned in instalments during this fiscal. The Tribune, in its columns, had exposed how the state government was forced to mortgage its properties and raise loans to meet its committed liabilities. Though the political bosses in the government had then denied that the money thus raised was being used to pay salaries to employees, and was taken as advance to carry out development works, sources in the Finance Department said the money received was used to meet all committed liabilities last year. PUDA was asked to raise this loan after several banks refused to extend loan to the state government, as it had exhausted its borrowing limit. The loans were raised from Canara Bank and the Bank of India, at a rate of interest varying from 9.95 to 10 per cent. Land worth Rs 4,000 crore is lying with PUDA under the state government's Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land Scheme. The land lying vacant has been handed over to PUDA for auction to raise money under the scheme. But the recession in the real estate sector has pushed down property prices so the land could not be auctioned.
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Now, dope test must for govt job
Chandigarh, August 14 The Chief Minister said necessary amendments must be made in the existing rules to ensure that those selected for government service cleared the dope test. Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan told The Tribune that several countries had made it mandatory for those aspiring for a government job to undergo a dope test. Rampant drug addiction in the state has affected the Police Department too. District police chiefs and divisional heads have often pointed at drug abuse among police and jail officials. In the past two months, 10,000 persons have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The state government has drawn flak from civil society for sending drug addicts to jails, where most are suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms. At today’s meeting, the Chief Minister asked the divisional commissioners to visit de-addiction centres in their jurisdiction. They have been asked to appoint nodal officers to monitor day-to-day functioning of these centres. Badal was told that the de-addiction centres at Patiala, Jalandhar and Bathinda would be operational by the the year-end. Later, at another meeting with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt General KJ Singh the Chief Minister offered support and cooperation to the Army for setting up drug de-addiction centres in the border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur besides
Jalandhar.
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Campaign trail: Talwandi Sabo
Talwandi Sabo, August 14 In Tangwali village, she listens patiently to Nand Kaur, a mother of four youths, all jobless. She is told that despite tall promises by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, ”our boys have not got any jobs.” Natharam, 75, a farmhand, complains against the meagre old age pension of Rs 250 per month. “That too comes after several months,” he tells Baljinder Kaur. The AAP candidate promises to ameliorate his lot if elected MLA. Accompanied by senior party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur and HS Phoolka, the AAP candidate travels to Jogewala, Lahiri, Tarkhanwala, Sekhu, Nangla and Natheha. At each of these villages, she communicates with the voters with ease. As people gather around her, she strikes a rapport with them almost instantly.
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Congress’ Jassi targets jobless youth on warpath
Talwandi Sabo, August 14 Jassi is greeted by Nirmal Singh, a resident of Bangi village, as he comes out of his Montero. “We had voted for Jeet Mohinder. Now, he has joined the SAD. What if you do the same,” Nirmal Singh asks him. At Phallar village, an elderly man, Darshan Singh, says: “Jeet Mohinder would abuse the Chief Minister. Now he is with the SAD. We don’t know who to trust.” Jassi looks unperturbed. He holds the old man’s hand gently and says: “Babaji. I am a born Congress man and will not jump camps for selfish reasons.” At Pakka Khurd village, Jassi talks about the latest research on cancer and his plans to strengthen cancer care in the region.
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SAD’s Sidhu promises to bring big projects
Talwandi Sabo, August 14 Gurmail Singh, a resident of Shergarh, gets up to say: “Sidhuji, the village is getting dirty water. No one has helped us”. Another resident, Gurjeet Singh, says “No one has bothered to take care of the village dispensary”.Sidhu notes down the grievances. ”Give me a chance and I’ll be back at your doorstep with results,” he promises the gathering. Nirmal Singh from Kot Bakhtu village too complains about unsafe drinking water. Sidhu faces similar queries at Mannwala, Dunewala, Bangi Rughu and Bangi Deepa villages. At all these places, Sidhu promises a better tomorrow.Sitting in his Endeavour, he calls up Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and updates him about the people’s response at various places.
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Phoolka defends party decision
Senior AAP leader HS Phoolka today claimed that the party had “ample proof” that singer Balkar Sidhu had indulged in human trafficking. Sidhu’s candidature was cancelled by AAP at the eleventh
hour. The singer is now contesting from Talwandi Sabo as an Independent. Yogendra Yadav, campaigning for party candidate Baljinder Kaur, accused the Congress and the SAD for failure to develop the area. Sukhbir targets Capt Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal trained his guns on former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and asked the voters to list works undertaken by the latter during his tenure as Talwandi Sabo MLA a few decades ago. Addressing rallies in several villages, he asked the voters to send the Congress to ‘compulsory retirement’ for its “anti-people” policies. Bajwa for probe into ‘missing’ valuables Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa demanded a high-level inquiry into the ‘ missing’ gold and cash from the Nada Sahib Gurdwara in Panchkula, Haryana, He said this had reinforced the suspicion that the Akalis had been misappropriating gurdwara funds. He said the SGPC staff had destroyed records of all shrines in Haryana.
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No acrimony with SAD on INLD ties, claims BJP president
Patiala, August 14 Addressing public meetings in support of SAD-BJP candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja, Sharma said: “Differences do appear sometimes even when a single party runs the government and in an alliance, there are no differences but only difference of opinion.” “In 1996, we fought the Lok Sabha polls separately but the SAD supported the NDA and since then our alliance has grown stronger,” he stated. “With Badal at the helm of affairs, most of the times differences were resolved by him amicably,” Sharma said a day after the CM claimed that the SAD had no differences with the BJP despite fighting the elections in Haryana with another partner against the BJP. Meanwhile, Patiala BJP president Anil Bajaj today deputed BJP workers at 170 booths allotted to the party in Patiala. “This will be for the first time that the BJP will work at such a magnitude in Patiala and surely it will tilt the outcome in favour of the SAD-BJP candidate,” Bajaj said. Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Patiala Preneet Kaur today asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal what made him remember Patiala after more than seven years in power. “Why after more than seven years that the SAD and the BJP have suddenly woken up to the idea of development, which they really don’t intend to do in Patiala?” she asked. Addressing a series of public meetings, the Congress candidate criticised Badal for trying to issue veiled threats that Patiala will suffer in case it returned her to the Vidhan Sabha. “It does not suit the Chief Minister to speak such a language,” she said. Referring to Badal’s remarks that even if she won she won’t be able to do anything for Patiala as there was neither a Congress government in the state nor at the Centre, she said: “This only vindicates our stand that they have been discriminating against Patiala just because people here voted for the Congress.” She hoped that the Election Commission should take strong notice of it as it amounts to intimidation.
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It’s an attempt to muffle my voice, says Jagmeet Brar
Chandigarh, August 14 “Obviously, AICC president Sonia Gandhi's coterie of advisers has misguided her into taking action against me,” Brar said. He said it was the saddest day in his political career as he had made great sacrifices for the party which had suspended him. “To club me with Chaudhary Birender Singh (Congress leader from Haryana), is most unfortunate. I have not approached any party or contacted any BJP leader. I simply talked about the need for reforms in the Congress whereas Birender Singh has been holding talks with the BJP leadership,” Brar, who once defeated Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Lok Sabha elections, said. Claiming to have received invitations from senior Congress leaders in Maharashtra, Bihar and Assam, he said his suspension was aimed at suppressing these party leaders who were keen on being a part of the "movement for reforms." Brar was to release a charter of reforms tomorrow, seeking a maximum tenure of 10 years for AICC president, among other things. Brar does not have many political options before him. He cannot join the SAD. As the BJP has several senior leaders, he is unlikely to get any space in that party. However, AAP has no big leader in Punjab. He may opt to join this fledgling party.
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Begowal: Work on despite stay, says Khaira
Jalandhar, August 14 In a statement, Khaira said he had learnt that Bibi Jagir Kaur had started construction of the remaining part of the boundary wall on the encroached land. He said the EO had issued a notice under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911 on June 28, directing Bibi to stop the construction. He demanded that the CM should direct the Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner to stop this “land grab” by Bibi.
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SGPC rubbishes Jhinda's charge on offerings
Amritsar, August 14 SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi said: "The SGPC is an elected body. The HSGMC is trying to tarnish its image by carrying out a misleading campaign." He said offerings made by devotees at Nada Sahib Gurdwara were safe and registered in the records. He said the offerings were not counted every four days as alleged by Jhinda, but the work was carried out regularly. He said the gurdwara managers send prior information to the SGPC before counting the offerings for which an official representative was sought. "Subsequently, the gurdwara inspector collects the keys from the main office and initiates counting in a transparent manner," he said. He alleged instead the HSGMC had violated norms by opening the "golak" of a gurdwara at Guhla-Cheeka and embezzling funds. The SGPC alleged Jhinda was issuing such statements to please his political masters. It has also cautioned the Sikhs to remain vigilant against such "misleading campaign" by the
HSGMC.
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President's Police Medal
for DGP Pandey
Chandigarh, August 14 A spokesman said Khubi Ram, IG, Security; Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, DIG, Jalandhar Range; SPS Parmar, DIG-cum-Joint Director, MRS PPA Phillaur; HS Bhullar, SP-cum-Commandant, 4thCommando BN, SAS Nagar; GS Chauhan, SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib; Swarandeep Singh, SP, City-1, SAS Nagar; Balwinder Singh, Commandant, 82nd PAP, Chandigarh; SPS Dhindsa, AIG, CI, Chandigarh; Joban Singh, DSP, CID, Mohali; Gurwinder Singh, DSP (C&R), ACP, Amritsar South; Lakhbir Singh, Inspector (LR), SHO, Tarn Taran; Darshan Singh, Inspector, PRTC, Jahan Khelan; Sucha Singh, Sub Inspector, PRTC, Jahan Khelan; and Kulwant Singh, ASI, City Traffic, Ludhiana had been awarded Police Medal for meritorious service.
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BSF jawan commits suicide
Gurdaspur, August 14 A senior official of the Gurdaspur city police station, where a case has been registered, said prima facie it appeared that the jawan, Mohan Lal of Kerala, had committed suicide. Mishra said, "A post-mortem was conducted at the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital. Mohan Lal belonged to Kerala. His body has been sent to Amritsar from where it will be flown to Coimbatore. His body will be cremated at his native place with full government honours." Police sources claim for the past few weeks, Mohan Lal had been grappling with some domestic problems. He had served at Shikara Mashian, near the India-Pakistan border in the Gurdaspur sector.
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Anganwari union chief begins fast, demands jobs
Muktsar, August 14 “The Chief Minister had last year promised to appoint 286 anganwari workers as supervisors in the Social Welfare and Child Development Department, but the department only recruited 172 workers. We demand that the remaining workers should also be recruited,” said the agitating workers. Earlier in the day, the protesting workers attempted to break into the DAC, but the police stopped them. Meanwhile, a meeting was arranged between the SDM and the workers.
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State set to implement new land acquisition Act
Chandigarh, August 14 The Union Rural Development Ministry had recently proposed a number of changes in the law and had sought comments from the states. The ministry had also discussed the issue with officials of the revenue department of various states. A senior state government official said: “Punjab does not want any major change in the new Act which has already been notified in the state.” He said the government had pointed out some language and other technical flaws in the Act which needed to be corrected. “In fact, it is a loosely worded law and requires a re-look as far as its wording is concerned. Besides, there are contradictions in its certain clauses which are also required to be set right”, he said. “We have moved the file to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as far as legal formalities such as the constitution of the authority under the Act is concerned,” said the official. The state government wanted that for acquiring a small piece of land one or two acres for public purpose, this law should not be applicable. “If the land is to be acquired for big projects, say 50 acres or more, then this law should be in operation,” he added. The Union Rural Development Ministry had shown its keenness to dilute certain clauses of the Act, including the consent clause and rehabilitation of the affected families. It had also proposed that the social impact clause should be applicable only in case the land is acquired for big projects. Under the consent clause in the Act, prior consent is required to be taken from at least 70 per cent of the families to be affected due to land acquisition for projects under the PPP mode and 80 per cent in case the land is to be acquired for private purposes. Sources said the government was planning to bring it down to 50 per cent. It was proposed that the social impact clause should be applicable only in case of big projects. Besides, other clauses considered for changes include rehabilitation of affected families. Sources said the Union Rural Development Ministry had reportedly prepared a summary of points which needed to be looked into with regard to this Act. This summary is to be presented to the PMO. A senior official said the Punjab Government had already submitted its viewpoint to the
Centre.
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Govt colleges to have smart classes
Chandigarh, August 14 To promote sports and a relatively new discipline of aeronautical engineering, the Chief Minister approved the setting up of a sports college in Jalandhar and an aeronautical engineering college in Patiala. He also approved the allocation of Rs 26 crore (Rs 13 crore for each college) to set up these colleges. Likewise, to promote education in the educational backward districts (EBDs) of Ferozepur and Pathankot, Badal approved the setting up of two model degree colleges in these districts. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a meeting with officers of the Higher Education Department last evening. The Chief Minister while underscoring the need for upgrading and strengthening the higher education sector in the state said smart classes must be established in all government colleges across the state to equip the students with high-end technology skills. He said ultra modern libraries and laboratories would be set up in colleges. He also approved the allocation of Rs 5 lakh each to all government colleges under this project. In another significant decision, the Chief Minister approved opening of finishing schools at government colleges in Hoshiarpur, Tanda Urmur, Mansa, Bathinda, Tarn Taran, Jagraon, Patiala, Faridkot, Sunam, Gurdaspur, Ajnala, Dhudike and SCD College and Government College for Women in Ludhiana for imparting vocational and skill training to the students in hospitality, airlines, sales and marketing, IT and networking and retail.
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Four killed in mishaps
Abohar, August 14 Two of the bodies found from canals were those of Ravi and Kartar Singh, while the other two could not be identified.
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Farmers rejoice as water released into canals
Abohar, August 14 A team of present and former sarpanches, formed by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar, accompanied by Irrigation Department executive engineer (XEN) Ramesh Gupta and Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) Pritam Singh visited the canals in the sub-division on Monday.
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Girl sent to Nari Niketan as two women claim to be her mother
Faridkot, August 14 But since both the women failed to substantiate their claim, the court on Tuesday sent the girl to Nari Niketan, Jalandhar, a charitable institution for orphan girls. Faridkot SDM Shruti Sharma Pandey advised Munni Devi and Usha Rani to take legal course in a civil court to get the custody of the girl. She said the girl was sent to Nari Niketan since she was a minor and could not give her consent on the matter. Last week, Munni Devi lodged a complaint in the SDM’s court, accusing Usha Rani of forcibly taking her daughter to Nagpur, 11 years ago. The court issued search warrants and directed the police to recover the girl, Puja, from Nagpur. Faridkot police recovered the girl and brought her back. When produced before the SDM, the girl said Usha and her husband Gonnu were her parents and that she wanted to live with them. She did not recognise Munni Devi. In their statement, Usha and Gonnu claimed to have adopted Puja 11 years ago. But they failed to produce any legal adoption deed. Munni Devi also failed to substantiate her claim of being the biological mother of the girl. Sources said the girl will remain in Nari Niketan till the court decides about her parentage with the help of a DNA test.
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Mohali court allows Capt to travel abroad
The former Chief Minister has been invited as a chief guest and a key speaker to these events. Amarinder Singh’s counsel Ramdeep Partap Singh said his client had
moved an application to visit England, France and Belgium for one-and-a-half-months (from August 20 to September 30) to attend international events to mark the
contribution of the Indian subcontinent to the World War I.
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HC stays suspension of Food & Supply officers
Chandigarh, August 14 They had alleged that an Akali halqa in charge was behind the orders. The stay orders came on petitions filed by
Assistant Food and Supplies Officer Jaswinder Singh and Inspector Jaspal Kaur. The petitioners, through counsel HC Arora, submitted that they went to inspect the ration depot of Jatinder Pal Singh, a SAD supporter, at Samrala on May 26.They asked the depot-holder to show them the stock register. At this, he called up halqa in charge Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, who directed the inspecting team to go back. The team returned without inspecting the depot, but complained to the Ludhiana District Food and Supply Controller who reported the matter to the Commissioner of Food and Supplies. Meanwhile, Khirnia complained to the Food and Supplies Minister against the petitioners and demanded their suspension. Eventually, the Commissioner transferred them on May 28. At this stage, the petitioners approached the Vacation Bench of the High Court and their transfer orders were stayed. Despite the stay, Khirnia got the suspension orders of the two petitioners issued on July 25.
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PSPCL officer held for graft
Chandigarh, August 14 An official spokesperson said Sarabjit Singh, SDO, posted at sub-division 2, Bhogpur (Jalandhar), was nabbed on the complaint of Deep Kumar, Junior Engineer, sub-division, Jaura Chhitran (Gurdaspur). The complainant alleged the SDO was demanding Rs 50,000 from him for clearing some official document and the deal was struck at Rs 40,000. A trap was laid by the bureau and Sarabjit was arrested red-handed while allegedly accepting Rs 40,000 from the complainant.
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Drunken man shoots at father, brother
Tarn Taran, August 14 Sources said the family ran a jewellery store in the town. Karanjit shot at his father and his brother with his licensed gun, when he had an argument with them. — OC
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started with a blood donation camp. At least 200 jawans donated blood. A cycle rally will be held on Friday. Students of Delhi University will be among the participants. The DIG said students of the Khalsa
College for Women would perform gidda on August 15. The celebrations would
culminate with fireworks after the Retreat ceremony.
Visitors are unwilling to drink water at our homes, no matter how thirsty they are. I always knew I would come back to my
people.
I want to join the protest by youths who have been denied jobs. I want to protest against the government for ignoring the district and turning it into a
desert.
With SAD's help, I can bring big projects to the constituency. You can expect a bonanza now as our ally (BJP) heads the government at the Centre.
I am saddened by the party decision. I have made great sacrifices for the party. To club me with Chaudhary Birender Singh is unfortunate. I have not approached any party or contacted any BJP
leader
The case
Mohali, August 14