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Mid-term review of SAD-BJP government
Ensuring communal harmony has been our main achievement:
CM
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Economy in tatters, works stalled: Bajwa
SAD-BJP panel moots tax rationalisation
Gangrape victim ends life
Security around Golden Temple up
SGPC sets up camp in Srinagar
Waterlogging: Another farmer commits suicide
Pak agents using cellphones to lure farmers into drug trade
custodial death
Another shock for relatives of Adampur youth killed in Doha
Nagra-SDM spat: Chandumajra seeks action against MLA
Puja Special Train chugs off Yannick case: Wasn't involved in fight, says extradited youth
Cheema’s ‘aide’ gets bail
SAD leader’s PA, two others booked
Murder convict flees
Truck crushes youth to death Teen killed by lover
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Mid-term review of SAD-BJP government
Chandigarh, September 17 His critics say despite the Chief Minister spending so much time in administering the state, the outcome is rather far from satisfactory. They say Punjab, once a leading state, has gone down several notches. The Badal-led SAD-BJP government is half way through its term. Yet the excitement is missing. The SAD-BJP government has faced no threat so far. But the government, that had a smooth ride during its previous five-year term, has faced several hiccups this term.
Promises not met
On the eve of the Assembly elections, the SAD-BJP alliance had come up with a bagful of promises. However, because of the government’s poor fiscal health, it has been unable to meet all promises. Ten lakh jobs were to be given to the youth, laptops were to be given to students, the state was to be put in the Wi-FI mode, Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar were to developed as IT hubs, the jobless were to be given unemployment allowance, small agro units were to be set up in small towns, jobs were to be given to international players, a performance audit was to be introduced to prevent the police from being politicised, free gas connections were to be given to BPL families, pension for the elderly was to raised from Rs 250 to Rs 600 per month and much more. Not even half of these promises have been met. The Ludhiana Metro was to be made operational in three years. But the project is in a limbo. However, the government has succeeded in making the state self-sufficient in power and in improving the road network, especially in the Malwa belt. The Badal government faced sustained attacks at the hands of the Opposition on the issue of drugs and lately the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC). Stoutly opposing the HSGMC, the Chief Minister approached the Modi government for help. During the past two-and-a-half years, four Akali ministers, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Tota Singh, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, had to resign because of various reasons. One of them had to quit after names of his close relatives figured during investigations related to a drug case. Two others had to quit after their conviction in separate cases. Tota Singh and Gulzar Singh Ranike, have been re-inducted into the Cabinet.
Some hiccups
The BJP, which played second fiddle to the Akalis during the alliance’s first term in office, has now become more assertive. In fact, it is now dictating terms on certain issues such as property tax, regularising illegal colonies, VAT and sale of sand and gravel. Of late, BJP ministers have begun to speak their mind on important issues such as fiscal package and property tax. The BJP ministers became more assertive after the formation of the Modi government at the Centre in May this year. At one stage, there was talk of BJP ministers being changed. However, following changes in the party’s organisational set-up at the national level, the issue has been put on the backburner. It is believed that unhappy with Badal’s decision to support the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley refused to grant fiscal help to the state government. Off the record, BJP leaders point out that the SAD can’t be a BJP ally at the Centre and in Punjab, but a rival in Haryana.
Election shocker
The outcome of the Lok Sabha elections shocked the SAD. It won only four of the 10 seats that it contested. A new entrant, AAP, defeated the Akalis in its stronghold of Malwa. The emergence of AAP in Punjab is being attributed to the people’s anger against the SAD-BJP government. The ruling alliance performed poorly in the urban constituencies of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. In the Assembly byelections, the SAD-BJP alliance lost the Patiala seat but won the Talwandi Sabo seat. The SAD has been trying hard to expand its base in cities, a move that has disturbed the BJP. A cold war is on between the two on the issue. By appointing Hindu leaders as heads of newly created district units in urban areas, SAD president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has made his intentions clear that he wants to make the SAD all-inclusive and self-reliant. While doing so, Sukhbir has compromised on the Panthic character of the party, which could annoy some sections.
Passing on the baton
The question as to when Sukhbir will be made Chief Minister continues to be discussed and debated in political circles. Sukhbir was expected to be sworn in as Chief Minister at the beginning of the term. He was seen as the main architect of the SAD’s historic victory for the second time in a row. However, his father opted to be in the saddle once again. No one knows when the Chief Minister will hand over the reins of the state to his son. Nobody, not even those in his inner circle, can tell.
About promises
Free laptops fitted with data card were to be
given to plus 2 students. n Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar were to be developed as IT hubs. Fiscal help was to be given to distressed farmers’ kin. Ghaggar was to be tamed through special flood-control measures. All municipal towns were to be provided water
supply, sewerage & streetlights, covering the entire population. |
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Ensuring communal harmony has been our main achievement:
CM
On the completion of the SAD-BJP government’s 30 months in office, The Tribune talked to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to find out how he viewed the performance of his government. The Chief Minister said he was not happy with the results of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the SAD and its ally,
BJP, should sort out contentious issues while sitting across the table without airing their grievances in public. Returning to his party’s agenda of greater autonomy, Badal said that limited powers and the dependence of states on the Centre even for minor projects impeded their growth. He blamed the UPA government’s “non-cooperation” for the state’s slow growth. He chose not to reveal his mind on elevating Sukhbir Singh Badal to the office of Chief Minister. Some excerpts from the interview...
What has been your most
significant achievement in the past 30 months? My government was able to ensure peace and communal harmony. Whereas other states saw communal clashes and caste war, our government was able to keepsuch problems at bay. There were crimes, but these were minor in nature. You approached the Centre for a fiscal package, drought relief, loan waiver and greater share in central funds, but to no avail. There is an impression that the Centre is cold-shouldering these issues raised by your government. This impression is wrong. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has referred the fiscal issues to the Finance Commission. The reimbursement of expenditure of about Rs 2,600 crore incurred during militancy in the state has been referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Jaitley has not rejected any of the fiscal demands. His letter to the state government must be considered in totality. It appears that the Centre is under fiscal stress greater than ours and is not in a position to help the state in a big way. But it has sanctioned some projects, such as the
IIM. Money has been given to expand and improve the road network. A sum of Rs 980 crore has been given to the state for drainage works. What about the fiscal problems faced by the state? The biggest hurdle in the state’s development is absence of fiscal autonomy. States are completely dependent on the
Centre. They do not get adequate funds and are unable to do much on their own because of limited resources. Now the Planning Commission has been disbanded. I have been saying for long that the states should have the autonomy to spend funds without any riders by the Planning Commission or any other agency. Greater autonomy will help the states speed development. It appears that a cold war is on between the SAD and the BJP on various issues such as
property tax, VAT and urban development. My party has stood with the BJP in good times as well as bad times. I have been supporting the BJP unconditionally. In Punjab, all policy-decisions are taken jointly by Akali and BJP ministers. I believe that even if there are irritants, these should be sorted out by the alliance partners through dialogue. No purpose is served by going to the media. Your party failed to do well in the Lok Sabha elections. Why? I concede that our party did not do as well as we had thought in the Lok Sabha elections. We lost in important constituencies such as
Sangrur. The rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) harmed us. There could have been some shortcomings too. We have learnt our lesson and are on course correction. Your party made several election promises. While students were promised laptops, the unemployed youth were promised dole. You said that old age pension would be doubled, 10 lakh jobs created and farmers with less than 5 acres of land given tube well connections in a year. But nothing significant has been done so far. We are focusing on ways to curtail unemployment. Three skill development centres have been set up in three medical colleges to impart training to the youth as lab technicians and radiographers. The industry has been asked to provide information on the kind of skilled workforce required by them. It appears your government’s drive against drugs has
died out. Not at all. We will not rest till the drug menace is eliminated. The menace has been checked. I have visited almost all de-addiction centres and these are working well. All district headquarters will have at least one de-addiction
centre each. Are you satisfied with the performance of Sukhbir Singh Badal as Deputy CM and SAD president? When will he be given a bigger task (made
CM)? Sukhbir is doing a fine job as Deputy CM. It is the party that will decide when he should be given a bigger task. What have been your achievements so far? We have made the state self-sufficient in power. Because of the coal problem, we are now focusing on non-conventional energy sources. In the agriculture sector, we have set up institutes such as the Borlaug Research Institute, Maize Research Institute and Centre for Excellence in Horticulture with help from Israel and Holland’s Potato Research Institute. The maize yield in the state has gone up to 40 quintals per acre. Diversification has begun in right earnest with area under basmati going up significantly. For small farmers, agro centres have been set up where farm equipment can be taken on rent. We have done a lot in our war against cancer. Homi Bhabha Cancer Research Institute is coming up in Mullanpur near Chandigarh. All government medical colleges have been provided adequate equipment and facilities to battle cancer. We have begun cashless treatment of poor cancer patients who are being provided drugs free of cost. The infant mortality rate has come down. Special schools have been set up for meritorious students. Almost all top institutes, such as the IIT, IIM and Indian Science and Research Institute, have opted to set up base in Punjab. We are doing well in all sectors, be it industry, infrastructure or social welfare. |
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Economy in tatters, works stalled: Bajwa
Chandigarh, September 17 Elaborating, he said whereas the SAD was aligned with the BJP in Punjab and at the Centre, it was opposing the BJP in Haryana. With the BJP government at the Centre refusing Punjab a fiscal package on the pattern of hill states, the Badal government had moved the court. Bajwa alleged that after Arun Jaitley’s defeat in Amritsar, the Modi government had forsaken Punjab. He claimed that the urban versus rural game being played between the SAD and the BJP would eventually hit the state hard. Calling it an “opportunistic” alliance, Bajwa said there was no word on the plight of Sikh farmers in Gujarat. “The state government has lost control over its official machinery. Officials are busy transacting property deals instead of serving the people,” the PPCC chief said. Despite a lot of talk at industrial and agriculture summits, the state was struggling in both sectors. In recent years, 18,770 factories had been shut and only 125 had been set up. Punjab was among the slowest growing states in the country. Its annual development plan was about Rs 15,000 crore last year whereas in the neighbouring Haryana, it was
Rs 28,000 crore. He said the state’s economy was in tatters because of which development had come to a halt. The UPA government, he said, had given Rs 800 crore to the state for tackling the problem of waterlogging. But the Badal government had done little to eradicate the problem in the Muktsar belt. Students were to be given laptops and tablets, but nothing had been heard in this regard so far. The jobless too were promised unemployment allowance but had got nothing. The government had yet to honour its promise to double the pension amount. Also, the government was finding it difficult to pay salaries to its employees in time. The alliance had vowed to fight the drug menace. But sadly names of certain influential persons had cropped up during investigation into the drug racket. “In short, the SAD-BJP government has failed to deliver on all fronts,” alleged Bajwa. The Congress leader said that farmers were in a debt trap and were committing suicide. The state government had failed to come out with a policy for these farmers. Students were facing a bleak future as the state government had failed to generate employment opportunities for them.
Congress charges
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The govt is doing well. But there are some deficiencies that need to be removed. I have been giving suggestions to the government from time to time. The government needs to improve its image. I am sure that the alliance is doing everything possible to provide a clean administration to the people of the
state.
— Shanta Kumar, BJP leader The people have lost hope
of a better tomorrow. Haryana, which used to be Punjab’s poor cousin, has marched ahead in all fields. There is no access to good education. Foreign dignitaries prefer Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bengaluru to cities in Punjab. People are migrating in droves to foreign lands as they see a bleak future in their
home-state. — Manpreet Badal, PPP leader The people are suffering. Sand is being sold on the black market. Sand mines have become gold mines for certain persons who are backed by powerful persons. The law and order situation is pathetic. The police have become a tool in the hands of politicians. Almost everyday, there are reports of suicide by farmers or students. Businessmen are shifting to other
states — SS Chhotepur, AAP convener All sections of society are unhappy with the SAD-BJP government. No effort has been made to create jobs. There is no relief for the common man. Government employees are resorting to agitations. Poor students are not getting scholarships in time and educational institutions are charging exorbitant fee. Seats reserved for SC students in MBBS have been taken away
from them. Avtar Singh Karimpuri, BSP chief |
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SAD-BJP panel moots tax rationalisation
Chandigarh, September 17 Committee members Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura (from the SAD) and Ashwani Sharma, Narottam Dev Ratti and Rajinder Bhandari (from the BJP) held meetings with industrialists and officials of the taxation department to work out solution to various problems being faced by the industry. The issues of slow release of VAT refunds to traders and reduction in VAT on yarn (from the existing 6.05 per cent) were also discussed in the meeting. Narottam Dev Ratti, who is also a trader leader, is learnt to have suggested that a special cell be created to monitor tax structure in neighbouring states. "If there is a uniformity in the tax structure in the region, our industry and trade will not move out," he said. Traders are reportedly unhappy with the government over the slow release of VAT refunds. "In times of recession, industrialists and traders are feeling the pinch and the slow release of refunds deprives them of the working capital for their business operations. We have asked the taxation department to sort out the issue as soon as possible," Rajinder Bhandari told The Tribune. VAT refunds worth around Rs 300 crore are reportedly pending with the Excise and Taxation Department. Officials said though the average time taken to release refunds was between one to three months, it was faster than the last year. "We released Rs 300 crore as refunds between January and June, 2013. During the same period this year, we released refunds for around Rs 475 crore. This became possible following the creation of a refund fund. We are in the process of improving the system to ensure faster refunds," said a senior tax official. On an average, the government received refund claims for around Rs 125 crore, he added. Member of Parliament Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the next meeting of the joint committee would be held on September 26, when the rate of taxation for some industries would be finalised. The committee also suggested to promote agro-based industry in the state.
Other issues discussed
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Gangrape victim ends life
Abohar, September 17 The
police said the 18-year-old girl poured kerosene on herself and set
herself afire at Surewala village in Tibbi segment of Rajasthan’s
Hanumangarh district. As no one else was present in her house,
neighbours rushed after hearing her cries. She was shifted to the
Civil Hospital in Hanumangarh. Observing that she had suffered about
80 per cent burns, doctors there referred her to a Bikaner hospital.
Station House Officer (SHO) Dinesh Kumar, who escorted the ambulance,
informed in the evening that the girl had died. Deputy
Superintendent of Police RD Swami said he had investigated the
complaint lodged by her father on May 26. The family had alleged that
four persons had kidnapped her on May 8, raped her in a vehicle and
held her hostage in Sriganganagar. She was rescued with the help of
some villagers later. Two accused were arrested, a challan was
submitted in the court in August. However, in the investigation,
sarpanch Joginder Singh and his friend Shingara Singh were not found
guilty and hence exonerated. The girl’s family has alleged that
Joginder and Shingara had been threatening to “teach a lesson” to
the victim and her father for the past two months for
“implicating” them. The police have now initiated proceedings under Section 306 of the IPC against the
accused for abetment to suicide.
The incident
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Security around Golden Temple up
Amritsar, September 17 The SGPC has already banned handbags on the Golden Temple complex. The guards deployed at the gates ask pilgrims to deposit such bags in the baggage room. The guards also keep a close eye on suspicious elements. They can be seen frisking people at the gates. SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh said the police were also trying to trace the phone number from which a threat call was made to the SGPC. He said they had asked their task force members to strengthen vigil in and around the Golden Temple complex. The team deployed in the CCTV control room had also been asked to remain extra cautious, he added. He said the staff at the SGPC “sarais” had been directed to provide rooms only to those pilgrims who produced their identity proofs. The effort was to take all possible measures to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine, he added. Darbar Sahib manager Partap Singh said they were taking no chances. Even the baggage was checked in case of any suspicion, he said. According to sources, policemen in civvies have also been deployed around the shrine. A close vigil is also being maintained in the vicinity of SGPC inns. Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said they were trying to trace the number from which the SGPC received the threat call. He ruled out the involvement of any terror outfit in the incident and said the security had been beefed up around the shrine. |
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SGPC sets up camp in Srinagar
Amritsar, September 17 He said the SGPC along with local volunteers was also working to extricate bodies from the debris of houses that collapsed during the floods. The SGPC today brought another batch of 14 survivors from Jammu and Kashmir. These survivors landed at the Amritsar airport. SGPC officials said they were trying to rescue maximum number of persons, but they could manage only 14 air tickets.
SGPC delegation in Nepal
The SGPC has appealed to the Nepal government to hand over the “sewa” of eight historical sites associated with Guru Nanak Dev in Kathmandu to the Sikh Sangat there so that these are properly maintained. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar made this appeal to Nepal President Dr RB Yadav during his visit to the Himalayan nation.
BBMB engineers donate money Ropar:
Members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board Engineers' Association in Nangal will donate a day's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to help the flood-hit in Jammu and Kashmir. Association ex-general secretary KK Sood said the decision to donate money was unanimous. |
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Waterlogging: Another farmer commits suicide
Mansa, September 17 Around 200 acres of agricultural land has been affected due to waterlogging in Musa village. Gurdeep had taken debt from private money lenders and a bank. He hoped to repay the loan by selling his produce this season. However, his crops were destroyed completely. He had taken 2.5 acres on lease for Rs 33,000 per acre, sources said. Gurdeep is survived by his wife and two minor children. Around 10 days ago, Roop Singh of Chehlanwala village had also committed suicide under similar circumstances after he lost his crop in 3.5 acres. He had also taken some land on lease. Musa village sarpanch Avtar Singh said, “Crops in more than 200 acres have been destroyed. Our village has around 4,000 acres of agricultural land. Gurdeep Singh was under debt. Earlier, he had spent a lot of money on the treatment of his mother who died of cancer a few months ago. ” BKU Dkaunda district president Ram Singh Bhenibagha said, “The state government should compensate farmers as early as possible.”
Caught in debt trap
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Pak agents using cellphones to lure farmers into drug trade
Ferozeur, September 17 Over the past few days, BSF officials said, several Korea-made Nokia handsets had been recovered from the fields along the border. These phones had Pakistani SIMs of V-Phone company, they said. The motive was to get in touch with farmers or the sentinels on duty along the border and entice them to enter the illegal drug trade, they said. “Pakistani SIMs can work hundreds of metres inside our territory. Such mobile phone signals are effective in more than 20 pockets along the border in Punjab,” said a BSF official. “Indian service providers have been barred from providing connectivity in border areas. On the other hand, Pakistani service provider Mobilink, which leads the market share with nearly 31.35 million subscribers in Pakistan, has connectivity of up to 1 km in Mamdot, Khemkaran and Ferozepur areas. Signals from towers of “U Fone” company also penetrate into Mamdot and Amarkot areas across the fencing. SIMs of many other Pakistani companies are also being used by drug peddlers operating in border areas,” sources said. “In the absence of stringent telecom regulatory laws in Pakistan, a large number of unregistered SIM cards are in circulation and many of these make their way into India,” they said. “We have recovered several such SIM cards along the border,” BSF officials said. Drug peddlers kept changing their numbers to ensure that they could not be tracked easily, sources said.
The modus operandi
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custodial death
Chandigarh, September 17 She has sought action against the jail officials who had claimed that her son had “strangulated himself” even as the report states that the youth died due to intake of poison. She has got the report through the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. But her struggle for justice is far from over. No one has been found guilty for her son’s death so far. The commission is hearing the case. The next date of hearing is October 31. Inderjit Singh alias Prince died on September 9, 2010. He was facing trial in a dowry harassment case. Amarjit Kaur, also a co-accused, was lodged in the women cell of the jail. The case dates back to June 2010, when the complainant refused to marry Inderjit’s elder brother alleging dowry demand. Amarjit Kaur and her both sons were arrested. All accused were later acquitted. Amarjit Kaur said: “It took me four years to get a copy of the chemical examination report. Some news reports had quoted doctors stating that Prince seemed to have died due to poisoning, but the police had claimed that he committed suicide.” Seeking a probe, she alleged that her son was killed. Amandeep Singh, president, Swatantra Awaz Welfare Organisation, is fighting the case on behalf of Amarjit Kaur. When contacted, Ludhiana jail officials claimed that the youth had committed suicide. “He might have consumed poison before strangulating himself,” an official said.
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Another shock for relatives of Adampur youth killed in Doha
Adampur, September 17 Harjeet’s uncle Mohinder Singh said Harjeet had gone to Doha four months ago. He had paid Rs 1 lakh to a Nawanshahr-based travel agent. Victim’s father Jaspal Singh said, “The travel agent had assured Harjeet that he would be employed as a driver in Doha. But Harjeet was asked to rear animals on a farm to which he objected. “The owner got a false case registered against him. Harjeet had been in jail for three months. On September 2, he told us over the phone that he would soon be released.” Jaspal, who is a labourer in Adampur, further said they received a letter from the Indian Embassy on September 9 stating that five detainees, including Harjeet, died in a fire at the Health Quarantine Centre. He claimed that Harjeet’s cousin Harinder Kumar, who resides in Doha, was not allowed to identify the body. “The body was sent to India at 4.15 am today. But we found at the cremation ground that the body wasn’t that of Harjeet,” said Jaspal. He said they had approached the Indian Embassy in Doha. “They told us that they would verify the matter again,” he said. In a late evening development, the Embassy authorities conveyed to the family that they had found the body of Harjeet on the basis of identification marks as mentioned by the family. "We have been told that the body will be sent to India in a couple of days," the deceased's father said. |
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Nagra-SDM spat: Chandumajra seeks action against MLA
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 17 In a statement issued here, Chandumajra advised Congress leaders Capt Amarinder Singh, Sunil Jakhar and others to desist from supporting the MLA “without knowing the facts” of the case. He claimed the officer was implementing the court orders with regard to illegal encroachments at Sirhind Grain Market. He alleged Nagra had earlier misbehaved with the staff of the state Assembly.
Cong blames officer Chandigarh: The Congress has urged the Vidhan Sabha Speaker to take action against Pooja Syal, SDM, for “breach of conduct” while dealing with an elected representative. Congress MLAs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi appealed to the Speaker to refer the matter to the Committee on Privileges. |
SAD leader’s PA, two others booked
Moga, September 17 Kuljinder Singh, Station House Officer, Nihalsinghwala police station, said an FIR under the IT Act, 2000 had been registered against Baldev Singh of Daudhar village, the PA of Bibi Rajwinder Kaur, Akali MLA from Nihalsinghwala (reserve) constituency, NRI Ravi Baasi and Rajwinder Singh of Khosa Kotla village. Barjinder Singh Brar, the younger son of Tota Singh, his PA Gurminder Singh Bablu and Didar Singh Madoke had lodged a complaint in the matter. The local police registered the case after the cyber crime wing probed the matter. No arrest has been made so far. Tota Singh and Rajwinder Kaur have been at loggerheads for a while now. On several occasions, she has allegedly disrespected Tota Singh. Barjinder Brar who is also the chairman of the Punjab Health Systems’ Corporation, said, “Rajwinder Kaur’s PA has insulted my father, who is one of the senior most leaders of the party. She must dismiss her PA and tender an unconditional apology.” |
Murder convict flees
Abohar, September 17 A statewide hunt has been launched to nab him. The five-member team headed by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Rajasthan Police, which was escorting Shehzad, has been placed under suspension. A case under Section 224 of the IPC has been registered at the Government Railway Police Station, Merta Road. The police said Shehzad of Chhanwta village of Nagaur district had been locked at the district jail in Sriganganagar. He was to be produced in the district courts at Jaipur today and in Kota on Thursday as he was facing trial in five cases. The police team along with Shehzad boarded the Sriganganagar-Jaipur-Kota train last evening. When the train was approaching the Degana station, Shehzad complained of abdomen pain and was escorted by two policemen to a washroom. As the train halted, he came out and washed his hands using soap offered by the ASI. When the train moved after a brief halt, he pushed the policeman and jumped off the moving train. Commuters reportedly pulled the emergency chain but the train halted at Makrana after 45 minutes.
Five cops suspended
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