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CM lauds Punjabis’ role in freedom struggle
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Distressed man hurls shoe at CM
Talwandi Sabo turns battleground for Akalis
deficit monsoon
CM orders action against truant officers, seeks report
Time ripe for political alternative: AAP’s Yadav
Phagwara rape case: Residents protest police ‘inaction’
Poll panel restricts leaders’ movement
State BJP’s website hacked
DPI in dock over appointing staff with bogus certificates
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CM lauds Punjabis’ role in freedom struggle
Patiala, August 16 He said the first Indian to lay down his life during the Independence struggle was also a Punjabi — Bhai Maharaj Singh. Badal said several others, including Baba Ram Singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Diwan Singh Kalepani, made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. The Chief Minister said that the state government was constructing a world-class 'Jang-e-Azaadi' memorial near Jalandhar at a cost of Rs 200 crore to showcase the unparalleled contribution of the Punjabis. Earlier, the Chief Minister accompanied by Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Saini and Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam inspected the parade led by Parade Commander Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Akashdeep Singh Aulakh and Assistant Parade Commander DSP Jaskirat Singh Ahir. They also took a salute during a march-past by the contingents of ITBP, Punjab Armed Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC Cadets and the Punjab Police band. The Chief Minister also honoured 16 eminent personalities from various walks of life for making an outstanding contribution to different fields with a citation, medal and a cash award of Rs 11,000. Badal also honored Tejinder Kaur, the widow of Patiala Central Jail's Warder Constable Raghuvir Singh, with a gallantry award. Raghuvir Singh had died while performing his duty. Apart from this, the Chief Minister honoured seven police officers/officials with Community Policing Awards for rendering superb services. The recipients of this award included DGP SK Sharma, IGP Ishwar Singh, DIG SK Verma, Inspector Paramveer Singh, ASI Darbara Singh, Head Constable Bal Krishan and Constable Sukhminder Kaur. Jalandhar: Bhagat Chunni Lal, Minister for Forests, Wildlife Protection and Labour, unfurled the National flag at the district-level Independence Day function held in Jalandhar yesterday. He said 30 lakh people had become beneficiaries of the revised atta-dal scheme of the state government. Ferozepur: Agriculture Minister Tota Singh took the salute at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium here on Independence Day. Contingents of the BSF, Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC cadets took part in the march-past. Kapurthala: Minister for Local Bodies, Medical Education and Research Anil Joshi hoisted the Tri-Colour at the Independence Day function in Kapurthala yesterday. Joshi said 50-bed de-addiction centres were being set up in Bathinda, Faridkot, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The minister honoured freedom fighter Prem Sagar Phagwara and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal. Nawanshahr: State Jail Minister Sohan Singh Thandal unfurled the National Flag and took the salute at the district-level Independence Day function held at ITI grounds here yesterday. Sangrur: Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon unfurled the National Flag and inspected the parade at the Independence Day function held at the Police Line Stadium here yesterday. Contingents of the Punjab Police, Punjab Home Guards, NCC cadets, Girl Guides, etc. took part in the march-past. Muktsar: Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mantar Singh Brar hoisted the National Flag to mark the Independence Day celebrations at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here. He took the salute of the marching Muktsar police, Home Guards, NCC cadets and scouts. Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh, SSP Kuldeep Chahal and Muktsar SDM Sukhpreet Singh addressed the public. Abohar: Though some evening newspapers carried pictures of the National Flag hoisted upside down by District Collector RS Jakhar in Sriganganagar on Independence Day, the authorities offered no comments. Witnesses said the error was noticed and rectified within ten minutes.
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Distressed man hurls shoe at CM
Khanna, August 16 The function was held in the memory of freedom fighter Karnail Singh Issru. The police nabbed the accused, aged around 34, soon after the incident and took him away. Vikram was sitting in the fourth row. He raised slogans such as "inqlab zindabad" as he was being thrashed by the security guard. Interestingly, the Chief Minister continued his address all this while. Later talking to mediapersons, Vikram alleged Punjab's youth were fed up with the corruption in the state. He said he had supported the Aam Aadmi Party in the recently parliamentary elections. He alleged police atrocities on unemployed youth during their protests in support of their genuine demands had left him dejected. The accused said there was no communal angle to his action and that he had only expressed resentment of the state's unemployed youth towards the government. He said deserving candidates were being denied jobs due to "influence of corrupt politicians" on selection panels. Vikram said he had studies till class XII, but had no job. He compared his action with that of Shaheed Bhagat Singh as he said his aim was not to harm anyone but to raise his voice. Badal, however, said he was not aware of any such incident, but added it was not possible for the government to give jobs to everyone in the public sector. He said he would direct the police to let the accused free. MP Bhagwant Mann’s role under scanner Ludhiana: GS Dhillon, DIG, Ludhiana Range, said preliminary investigations revealed that Vikram alias Babbi, convener of AAP's Dhanaula committee, along with AAP activists Mahinderpal Singh of Dangarh, Harvinder Singh alias Hindi of Kothe Gobindpur and Hardeep Singh of Chhana village had planned the act. He said they had planned that Vikram would hurl the shoe and Mahinderpal would make a video of the incident to be uploaded on social networking sites for gaining publicity. Dhillon said after the incident, Mahinderpal, Harvinder and Hardeep talked to Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann over the phone to update him about the incident. They also went to Jarag village and met Mann. After the meeting, they went to Malerkotla from where they were arrested. Accused in 14-day remand; Khaira flays action The accused was sent to judicial custody till August 25. He has been lodged in Ludhiana jail. Gurinder Singh Dhillon, DIG, Ludhiana Range, confirmed that the accused was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. He said the three youths who were charged with conspiracy were also arrested on Saturday. Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira termed action against Babbi a "murder of democracy". He said he had gone to the SDM’s office to present a surety bond for Vikram, but no official was present to issue his bail orders. He said Babbi had no enmity with the CM and his protest was symbolic. He appealed to the Chief Minister to pardon him and order his release. Leaders condemn incident I strongly condemn this incident. Nobody should be allowed to hurt the dignity of the CM or anyone
else. The incident must be condemned by all as it is not part of state's political culture. But it should not be ignored as it manifested the latent anger among
people. Badal is a democratically elected CM. He is respected all over the country. People have a right to protest, but certainly not in such a
manner Such a shameful act against a CM deserves to be condemned in entirety and should invite strict penal
action.
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Talwandi Sabo turns battleground for Akalis
Talwandi Sabo, August 16 Besides, rebel AAP activist and Punjabi singer Balkar Sidhu, who is contesting the byelection as an Independent, is also getting a good response. Akalis are apparently worried over the anti-incumbency factor which is evident from the fact that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal have already made two visits each to the constituency. Badal is again scheduled to address a rally here tomorrow while his daughter-in-law and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal was in the town today. The party has deputed an elaborate team to canvass zone wise in the constituency. The team comprises Janmeja Singh Sekhon (Sukhladhi area), Bikram Singh Majithia (Ramanmandi), Sharanjit Dhillon (Bangi Ruldu), Sikander Singh Maluka (Talwandi Sabo), Gulzar Singh Ranike (Malwala), Tota Singh (Bhagi Bander), Ajit Singh Kohar (Pucca Kalan), Balwinder Singh Bhunder (Lahiri), Sarwan Singh Phillaur (Pujarian), Mahesinder Grewal, Mantar Brar and Succha Singh Langah. Though a sizeable number of Akali leaders are not happy with Sidhu's candidature, they have no choice but to support him. They resent that the party ignored their years of dedicated service. Though the AAP candidate and Balkar Sidhu are getting a good response, the low-profile personalised campaign of Congress candidate Jassi is particularly ringing alarm bells in the Akali camp. PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa and PPP chief Manpreet Badal have been actively supporting and taking part in Jassi's campaign. Jassi is also known to have family relations with Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The dera has a sizeable number of followers in the constituency. There is some relief for the SAD as Congress stalwart Capt Amarinder Singh has confined himself to Patiala where his wife and former MP Preneet Kaur is contesting the byelection. Another factor that goes in favour of SAD candidate Sidhu is that candidates of the ruling party rarely lost the byelections, particularly when the government has completed only half of its tenure.
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deficit monsoon
Talking to the media, she said the NDA government at the Centre assured the state to give adequate compensation to its farmers for the prevailing drought-like conditions in the state. Harsimrat said the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister had assured her that the compensation would be given on assessing the actual loss to the farmers after the paddy season was over. Appealing to the electorate to vote for the SAD-BJP for the state's betterment, Harsimrat promised that the NDA government would ensure development of agro-based food processing industry, manufacturing and textiles sectors in the state to create abundant employment opportunities for the youth.
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CM orders action against truant officers, seeks report
Chandigarh, August 16 After going through a report carried in these columns, Badal directed SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary, to issue a missive to all departments to "compile a report on the number of employees who have misused the rules and action to be initiated against those who have helped them”. Sandhu held a meeting with the Director, Vigilance, V Neerja, to evolve a mechanism to weed out such elements so that the practice of giving NOCs to employees was stopped. Sources said two DIG-rank officers who had subverted the system were trying to get the rules amended to shield themselves. They said many were scurrying for cover and patronage of their political masters to save their skin. Sandhu clarified that the state had never allowed issuance of any NOC and if any had been issued, action would be taken against errant officials. He said it was not the mandate of the Vigilance Bureau, but the onus was on all senior officers to check this malpractice. Sources in the CMO said the VB had uncovered this "fraud" and had warned the government, "but all their efforts were stonewalled by a well-entrenched lobby. We are trying to rectify this and the role of all the departments and rules that permit such concessions will be looked into”. The issue pertains to over 2,000 officers who have had prolonged stay abroad in violation of the rules and had allegedly used hawala channel to bring back their unaccounted money to India.
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Time ripe for political alternative: AAP’s Yadav
Chandigarh, August 16 Speaking at a seminar organised by ‘Sawand’, an organisation of political and social activists, Yadav said following the massive defeat of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, a large political space had been created in the country, which could be filled by parties such as AAP. “However, to fill that space, a sustained struggle will have to be launched, constructive work will have to be done and an ideology will be required,” he said. Others who spoke at the seminar were Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Prof GS Brar and Prof Jagmohan Singh. “Of course, there are many challenges in the path of creating a political alternative but it can be achieved,” said Yadav. He said political parties had been reduced to family fiefdoms and were not known by their political nomenclatures. When confronted with questions from the audience that even AAP had become an Arvind Kejriwal-centric party, he said he was talking about the overall emerging political culture in the country and would not deny that there were flaws in the functioning of his own party too. Giani Kewal Singh said all other parts of the country had positively reacted to the Modi wave, but Punjab rejected it and opted for a new political wave in the form of AAP. He said Punjab could be a launching pad for providing a political alternative to the country but there was a need for a long struggle. Kejriwal in Patiala today Patiala: To boost party's campaign, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal will hold a roadshow in Patiala on Sunday. He will also hold public meetings in various parts of the Assembly segment to apprise voters of political ideology of
AAP.
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Phagwara rape case: Residents protest police ‘inaction’
Phagwara, August 16 The protesters, led by Ravi Dass Sena president Dilawar Singh, also pelted stones at a few vehicles on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road. They sat on a dharna on the road and blocked traffic for about half an hour. At least 18 protesters were rounded up. The police used mild force to disburse the agitated mob. It was only when the Superintendent of Police, Phagwara, Gursewak Singh Brar, assured the protesters that legal action would soon be taken that the situation was defused. The detained protesters were released late in the evening. Brar said a case had been registered but the investigation was on. The girl had alleged that she was raped after being drugged by her employer Mandip. She had also named Kuldip, Raman, Baba and an unknown person in the case.
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Poll panel restricts leaders’ movement
Chandigarh, August 16 VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, said the civil and police administrations had been directed to ensure compliance of the orders. The elected MP could stay in the constituency, but he would not be allowed to campaign after August 19, he added. — TNS
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State BJP’s website hacked
Hoshiarpur, August 16 State BJP chief Kamal Sharma said he was unaware about the development and said he would have to check the website. The hackers have demanded freedom for Kashmir. They have threatened to wage a war against India stating, “….Now we have decided our destiny is Gazwa- The hackers have written, “…….Because every single terrorist we arrest has made in India weapons, why should we (Pakistan) be left behind in proxy war against India?....” The message ends with “Free Kashmir, Pakistan Zindabad”.
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DPI in dock over appointing staff with bogus certificates
Chandigarh, August 16 The directions came after a candidate alleged discrimination in the appointment of teaching fellows. His argument was that even as many candidates with bogus certificates were issued appointment orders, the authorities had singled him out. The petition was filed in 2011. Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik asserted: “Let Director, Public Instructions (EE), Punjab, file his own affidavit before the next date of hearing to justify his action.” He fixed September 2 as the next date of hearing in the case. In his petition filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents through counsel Onkar Singh Batalvi, candidate Sarabjit Singh had earlier submitted that he was not the only one with bogus certificate. “Many other candidates also had bogus experience certificates,” he stated. Batalvi told the court that many persons with bogus certificates had been issued appointment orders and that the petitioner was feeling aggrieved by the “discriminatory" action taken by the authorities. Justice Malik asserted: “Faced with the situation, the counsel for the State could not justify the action of the competent authority i.e. Director, Public Instructions (EE), Punjab, while issuing appointment orders to candidates whose experience certificates were found to be bogus/fake.” He added: “Apart from considering the claim of the petitioner, an equally important aspect of the matter is how the Director, Public Instructions (EE), Punjab, issued appointment orders in favour of candidates with bogus/fake experience certificates.”
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Talwandi Sabo, August 16