SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Four-laning of Bathinda-chandigarh highway
Project tender to open tomorrow
Bathinda, August 31
The tender for the Patiala-Zirakpur portion of the Bathinda-Chandigarh four-lane project will open on September 2.

Commuters injured as road blocked to erect tents
Bathinda, August 31
The rope which injured many people on Ajit Road in Bathinda on Sunday Erecting tents in the middle of a road in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar today not only left the commuters high and dry but also injured many.
The rope which injured many people on Ajit Road in Bathinda on Sunday. Photo by writer

Students upset over delay in results
Bathinda, August 31
Students who aspired to pursue MEd course from the CUP have been left in the lurch as the delay in the appointment of a new VC has delayed the result.


EARLIER STORIES



Ulema Board president asks RSS chief to clarify word ‘Hindu’
Bathinda, August 31
Syed Mohammad Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani, president, All-India Ulema & Mashaikh Board interacts with media persons during his visit in Bathinda on Sunday National president of the All-India Ulema Mashaikh Board, Huzoor Ashraf-e-Millat Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf Ashrafi Ul Jilani today asked the RSS chief to clarify the meaning of the word "Hindu", claiming that he has not seen any Hindu in India. He was reacting to the statement made by the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat who had claimed that all those living in Hindustan (India) were Hindus. The statement had created a controversy.


Syed Mohammad Ashraf Ashrafi Jilani, president, All-India Ulema & Mashaikh Board interacts with media persons during his visit in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Open House response
‘Need to manage traffic properly’
An ill-fated car that was crushed in an accident Residents of the city are worried over the rise in the number of roads accidents. They say that there is no surety if they would reach their destination or not. More than 150 persons have been injured in the past two months in mishaps which have now become a cause for concern.


An ill-fated car that was crushed in an accident. File photohgraphs

Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme
Insurance firm, TPA penalised for deficiency in service
Bathinda, August 31
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on ICICI General Insurance Company Limited and MDIndia Healthcare Services (TPA) Private Limited. It has directed them to pay Rs 95,000 to a doctor for the treatment of a patient under the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme (BGSSS) .

Tributes paid to former CM Beant Singh
Bathinda, August 31
Workers of the Bathinda District Congress Committee assembled at Congress Bhawan to pay tributes to the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. The district Congress committee president, Mohan Lal Jhumba, paid floral tribute to the late CM.

Kidnapping case: Alleged victim blames cops for shoddy probe
Bathinda, August 31
Arun, who claimed to have been kidnapped and robbed on February 7 this year, today blamed the district police for not taking the matter seriously and arresting the accused.

Office-bearers elected
Bathinda, August 31
The SC/BC Adhyapak Union held election for the selection of working committee members here today. The election was conducted in the presence of 150 members.

 

An idol of Lord Ganesha being immersed in Sirhind Canal devotees immerse an idol of Lord Ganesha
residents dance to the tunes of a religious song
Colours of festivity:  (Clockwise from top left) An idol of Lord Ganesha being immersed in Sirhind Canal; devotees immerse an idol of Lord Ganesha; residents dance to the tunes of a religious song. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma







Top








 

Four-laning of Bathinda-chandigarh highway
Project tender to open tomorrow
Nikhila Pant Dhawan
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
The tender for the Patiala-Zirakpur portion of the Bathinda-Chandigarh four-lane project will open on September 2. The tender was earlier scheduled to open on August 19. Since the date of the opening of tender has already been changed twice, the work on the widening of the 220 km stretch between Bathinda and Chandigarh has been hanging fire.

In the first phase of the project, the 166-km Bathinda-Patiala stretch will be made four-lane at a cost of Rs 1,750 crore. In the second phase, the 50 km Patiala–Zirakpur stretch will be developed into a four-lane at a cost of Rs 517 core. The stretch will have two toll tax barriers. As a part of the project, bypasses will be constructed in Sangrur, Dhanaula and Patiala.

There is an urgent need to widen the road as it is used by the residents of Bathinda, Malout and Abohar. The narrow road has witnessed several major accidents in the past, including the one in which a bus ferrying the women’s kabaddi team caught fire following a collision. While the bus was gutted, the onlookers had evacuated the players by breaking its glasses.

Delay costs dear

Due to the delay in the initiation of the project, the cost of the project has risen by Rs 250 crore. When the Central Works Department had allotted the project to the companies from Hyderabad and Pune in 2010, its estimated cost stood at Rs 2,008.13 crore. After the companies backtracked, the department had to seek fresh permissions and clearances for the project. Now, the total cost of the project stood at Rs 2,267 crore, which is Rs 250 crore more than its initial cost.

The delay in the project was caused by the lack of clarification on whether the 129-km stretch from Bathinda to Patiala stretch will be constructed on the build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis or the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. The Sangrur and Dhanaula bypasses will be constructed on the EPC basis.

Top

 

Commuters injured as road blocked to erect tents
Tents were pitched to perform a religious programme by local residents
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
Erecting tents in the middle of a road in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar today not only left the commuters high and dry but also injured many commuters and pedestrians. The tent erected for the purpose of holding a religious programme by an influential family of the city left the residents fuming.

Apart from encroaching the road, connecting Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar with Bibiwala Road and Ajit Road, and closing it for more than 15 hours, the organisers also put up a rope to block the entry of vehicles and morning walkers. The rope was not visible to anyone at night and early in the morning.

“I was on my way back home walking after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Qila Mubarak when my legs got entangled in the rope tied between two poles on the road,” said Jeet Singh, a resident of Model Town Phase III. He said he failed to spot the rope in the dark and fell upon his hands. “My hands also received injuries and thankfully, I escaped any head injury,” he said.

Another resident, Jeet Singh, received a serious injury on his knee and was rushed to the Civil Hospital where he was treated and doctors advised him at least 20 days of rest. “Since I am a diabetic, wounds take a longer time to heal, the doctors advised rest,” said Jeet Singh, who is a retired army personnel.

A shop owner, Amreek Singh, residing in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar said the family members ‘encroached upon’ the entire road despite an open space and a park lying nearby their place. “By erecting the tents on road, the organisers of the programme have also damaged the road,” Amreek said.

Another resident, Kulwant Singh of Model Town Phase-III said that since the road also connects the area where he resides and he usually takes the road on which the tents were erected last night. “I fell off from my bike due to the rope tied up in the middle of road without any warning sign. I injured both my legs and shoulder. The doctor has advised me at least one-week rest for the wounds to heal,” he said.

Mohinder Manocha, a resident of Ajit Road, rued that she was returning in the wee hours today after paying obeisance at a gurdwara and fell off due to the rope which was tied at a distance from the erected tents on the road.

“When people were returning after seeing the tents from quite a distance, there is no point in tying the rope which poses a serious threat to the pedestrians and even people riding two wheelers,” she said demanding a stringent action and ban on such activities on the city roads.

Gurwinder Mann, an advocate, said there is a provision for action by the police in this regard but usually due to corruption in the department, the policemen choose to act the role of mute spectators.

He added that the police may impose Section 283 of the IPC—danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation—whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished with fine.

Section 341 of the IPC—punishment for wrongful restraint—whoever wrongfully restrains any person shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine and may also impose Section 427—mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees—whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with impris¬onment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

SSP, Gurpreet Bhullar, SHO, Civil Lines, Angrez Singh, and SDM, Damanjeet Singh Mann, failed to respond to repeated phone calls over the issue.

Top

 

Students upset over delay in results
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
Students who aspired to pursue MEd course from the Central University of Punjab have been left in the lurch as the delay in the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor has delayed the result of the interview conducted more than a month ago. The university has 35 seats for the course.

The university had conducted the entrance examination for the course on June 28 and interviewed the selected candidates on July 18.

“I have already made several rounds of the university to check with the authorities as to when they would declare the result. Earlier, the authorities kept us in the dark by saying that they would declare the result soon. Later, they asked us to take admission somewhere else as there was some technical glitch in the declaration of the result,” said a student.

The aspirants added that several students from other states had come to the university for the interview and they were disappointed when they came to know that the result would not be declared until the university got its new Vice-Chancellor.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, the officiating Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof P Rama Rao, said the university went on with the admission process for the MEd course but it was delaying the announcement of result since it needed to fulfill certain norms made mandatory by the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE).

“There are certain statutory requirements as per the NCTE under which a university needs to take certain approvals before starting a course. For the past six months, the university did not have a permanent Vice-Chancellor and these decisions can only be taken by the VC. An officiating VC can only deal with the day-to-day affairs,” he said.

“The university started the admission process to MEd as it is a routine procedure. We had intimated the students that the result could be delayed and they should take admission somewhere else,” he added.

Top

 

Ulema Board president asks RSS chief to clarify word ‘Hindu’
If Bhagwat meant nationality, then fine, says Jilani; says terrorism in the name of jihad is un-Islamic
Bharat Khanna
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
National president of the All-India Ulema Mashaikh Board, Huzoor Ashraf-e-Millat Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ashraf Ashrafi Ul Jilani today asked the RSS chief to clarify the meaning of the word "Hindu", claiming that he has not seen any Hindu in India.

He was reacting to the statement made by the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat who had claimed that all those living in Hindustan (India) were Hindus. The statement had created a controversy.

Jilani who is the son of Huzoor Shaikh-e-Azam and grandson of Huzoor Sarkaar-e-Kalaan is also known to be a leading proponent of Sufism and the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama'at.

"In the Indian Constitution, there provision only for two names --- India and Bharat--- and we are pleased to call ourselves Indians and Bharatiya, that is those who are natives of India. If the Hindu word is linked with Hindu religion, then I would say that I know about Buddhists, Sanatanis, Vaidiks, Sikhs and Jains but I fail to see Hindus in India. When we go to Persian countries, we are asked are you Hindi, to which we proudly reply, yes, we are Hindi. Mohan Bhagwat should make it clear as to who a Hindu is. If Hindu is a nationality, than we can accept it," he said. Jilani, who was here to attend the 14th annual function Jalsa Seeratunabbi, at the Eidgah in Bathinda, claimed that the activities of the ISIS are not Islamic and said he had started a campaign against un-Islamic activities in the name of jihad, thus defaming a pure word.

"We are campaigning across India and the other nations to spread the word that Islam is not any other country or group or person but what Prophet Mohammed preached. Those who do not live according to the preachings of Prophet Mohammed are not even Muslims. What the so-called Muslims, Saudi Arabia or any other country claim about Islam is not Islam. What Prophet Mohammed said is actually Islam. The ISIS activities are un-Islamic and hooliganism being perpetuated in the name of jihad. Jihad only means the purification of self and any wrongdoing in the name of jihad is un-Islamic," he said.

"Islam has no link with terrorism and if anyone is propagating terrorism in the name of jihad, I strongly condemn it. Some people with lust for power and money want the people of the two communities to keep fighting," he added.

On the constant ceasefire violation by Pakistan at the international border, he said, "If Pakistan does not stop the attacks, then the Indian government should take a strong position. Every Muslim of this country will sacrifice himself for the nation. But this is a decision not to be taken by us but by the Defence Ministry."

On communal riots that took place recently in Uttar Pradesh, Jilani claimed that there were no riots in Uttar Pradesh and that there was no animosity between the two communities. In reality, it is the political parties that are playing politics by seeking to create a divide between the two leading communities, Hindus and Muslims.

Top

 

Open House response
‘Need to manage traffic properly’

Two motorcyclists who collided with each other on a road in Bathinda
Two motorcyclists who collided with each other on a road in Bathinda

Residents of the city are worried over the rise in the number of roads accidents. They say that there is no surety if they would reach their destination or not. More than 150 persons have been injured in the past two months in mishaps which have now become a cause for concern.

Mismanagement is the real culprit

The mismanaged traffic and inadequate parking spaces are the main problem. The police are only collecting fine and issuing challans, instead of educating the masses about the traffic rules. The traffic marshal scheme has failed. Students must be educated about the traffic norms. Various NGOs are ready to cooperate with the police but they do not require their services. Encroachers do not care about the inconvenience caused to the people. The people are worried about their personal gains. To tackle the traffic problem, the ring road should be started as early as possible and heavy vehicles should not be allowed to enter the city. The public and the police should form a joint committee for the management of the traffic.

Rakesh Narula, social worker

Make masses aware about traffic norms

The flow of traffic comes to a standstill when the schools on Mall Road, Hanuman Chowk, Nai Basti, Sirki Bazaar, Arya Samaj Chowk, Bhagu Road and Bibi Wala Road open and close. The rash and drunken driving, blatant violation of the traffic rules, disrespect for the law, potholes and the use of mobile phones while driving are some of the major reasons for the accidents. Even the traffic police go on VIP security duty, leaving the traffic at the mercy of the Almighty in the city. The traffic cops take it casually, particularly those deployed in areas with traffic lights. Camps to spread awareness among the people on the traffic norms should be organised in the educational institutions.

NK Gosain, Dean, Malwa College

Curb underage driving

The police should keep a check on underage drivers as a large number of school-going children can be seen riding bikes. They also lack traffic sense due to which road accidents take place. The pathetic condition of the city roads also results in mishaps. Potholes have not been repaired by the administration for a long time. There is an urgent need to repair the roads to prevent more such accidents.

PP Maheshwari, tax advocate

Prevent jumping of traffic lights

To tackle the traffic situation, we need to prevent the jumping of red lights as it is a major cause of mishaps.

Shikha Mahipal, a student

Overspeeding kills

Youngsters prefer to drive fast, which results in accidents. The government put up boards depicting the message that overspeeding kills but unfortunately nobody bothers to heed the advice.

Dr Ajay Garg

Restrict movement of heavy vehicles

The movement of heavy vehicles affects the smooth flow of traffic in the city. The administration should also impose restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles in the city during daytime.

Rakesh Garg, businessman

Top

 

Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme
Insurance firm, TPA penalised for deficiency in service
Consumer Forum asked to reimburse cost of treatment to doc
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on ICICI General Insurance Company Limited and MDIndia Healthcare Services (TPA) Private Limited. It has directed them to pay Rs 95,000 to a doctor for the treatment of a patient under the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme (BGSSS) .

In a complaint to the forum, cardiologist Rajesh Jindal had stated that ICICI General Insurance had given insurance cover to the needy under a scheme of the Punjab Government. Under the scheme, the BGSSS provides free of cost treatment to the beneficiaries. The Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme Trust collects money from villagers for the cashless insurance scheme. The doctors whose hospitals are empanelled under the scheme pay Rs 8,000 to the BGSSS Trust annually.

The doctor’s lawyer, Naresh Garg, said every year, under the scheme, a company was roped in by the trust to extend insurance cover to the needy.

The insurance company further appoints a third party administrator (TPA) for coordination between the patients, doctors and the insurance company.

When a patient visits an empanelled hospital under the scheme, the doctor sends the file, along with medical reports, to the TPA for approval. After the approval, the doctor proceeds to treat the patient and the fee is credited to the doctor’s account by the insurance company and the TPA.

Jaspal Kaur was admitted to Jindal Heart Institute and Infertility Centre, Power House Road, in June 2013. The doctor took permission from the TPA before treating the patient and duly informed them about the cost of treatment. The doctor treated the patient after securing a written approval of Rs 20,000 and later Rs 75,000 from the TPA on behalf of the insurance firm.

After completing the treatment, the doctor submitted all the medical reports and bills to the TPA for reimbursement. The TPA and the insurance company, however, kept delaying the matter and refused to release the amount later. The matter was then brought to the notice of the forum that summoned the insurance company, TPA and the BGSSS Trust.

The opposite parties pleaded that since the doctor delayed in discharging the patient, they refused to reimburse the cost of treatment.

Advocate Naresh said the doctor had discharged the patient the same day but due to some complications, she was kept under observation for a few hours and was discharged next morning. “Moreover, the time of discharge of the patient has no concern with the reimbursement,” the doctor’s lawyer said.

After listening to arguments of both the parties, the forum observed that there was deficiency in providing services on the part of the insurance firm and the TPA-MDIndia Healthcare Services (TPA) Private Limited. The forum directed them to pay Rs 95,000 to the doctor and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. If the opposite parties failed to pay the amount within 45 days, then interest to the tune of 9 per cent per annum will be charged on the amount.

Top

 

Tributes paid to former CM Beant Singh
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 31
Workers of the Bathinda District Congress Committee assembled at Congress Bhawan to pay tributes to the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. The district Congress committee president, Mohan Lal Jhumba, paid floral tribute to the late CM.

He said under his governance, the state witnessed growth and development. He added that the present-day leadership should learn from the life of the late Congress leader.

Top

 

Kidnapping case: Alleged victim blames cops for shoddy probe

Bathinda, August 31
Arun, who claimed to have been kidnapped and robbed on February 7 this year, today blamed the district police for not taking the matter seriously and arresting the accused.

Arun claimed that while he was on his way home in his car on February 7, five persons in a car kidnapped him and looted Rs 1.18 lakh besides a mobile from him.

The police have arrested one of the accused and recovered weapons from him, including a .32 bore pistol. The arrested accused revealed that another person Punit Garg had taken the responsibility (supaari) for assaulting him.

“I was robbed after I was kidnapped. They threatened me with dire consequences if I revealed the incident to anybody. The main accused are free and the police are taking no serious action.”

However, the police claimed that the investigation was on and they could only comment after its completion. SP (Detective), Sawaran Singh Khanna, said, “We are doing our best.” — TNS

Top

 

Office-bearers elected

Bathinda, August 31
The SC/BC Adhyapak Union held election for the selection of working committee members here today. The election was conducted in the presence of 150 members.

While Sarbajeet Singh was unanimously chosen as the district president, Satnam Singh was chosen the secretary and Maan Singh Khalsa the general secretary of the union. — TNS

Top

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |