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No reason why BJP should support SAD, says Sidhu
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Protest by students of chintpurni medical college
Farmers not paid for land acquired 43 yrs ago
Govt aims to boost fish farming
Prawn farming in waterlogged Muktsar soon
Monetary interests bind Badals and Chautalas: Khaira
BJP mulls going it alone in state Assembly poll
Youth jumps into canal to flee police
State banks on private thermal plants to stay ‘empowered’
Delayed release of grants puts govt schools in spot
Recognition of degrees subject to MCI inspection
Working to resolve crisis, claims govt
Pvt colleges flout norms, admit ‘ineligible’ students
Training sessions upset govt teachers
Cong men protest tardy procurement, block traffic
Govt notifies skill development mission
14 yrs on, elderly yet to get
justice for his son’s murder
Patiala MC seeks nod for Rs 57 cr projects
5 booked for attack on police station
Home Guards protest low wages
Sale of low-quality veggies at Abohar Apni Mandi triggers stir
Mid-day meal staff demand regular pay
British Columbia Premier offers jobs to Punjabis
High Court upholds PSPCL CMD’s extension
Construction on disputed land in Abohar stayed
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No reason why BJP should support SAD, says Sidhu
Chandigarh, October 12 Speaking to The Tribune on phone, Sidhu said, “Since 1966, the Congress leadership did not allow any Akali Chief Minister to complete his full term. It was only when Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister in late 1990s that the Akali government completed its full term from 1997 to 2002. It is because of the BJP that the Akalis formed the government in Punjab in 2007 and 2012.” He alleged it was sad that the Akalis spared no opportunity to corner the BJP in Punjab. “The SAD leaders got our candidates defeated in municipal elections. Cases were registered against our activists. It used every opportunity to undermine the BJP in one way or the other. I will continue to question the Akali leadership on various issues,” he said. Sidhu said he was ready for an open debate with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on various issues related to Punjab. He said he would not buckle under pressure and would continue to raise his voice against the alleged attrocities committed on the BJP workers in Punjab. “I am strongly opposed to ‘Dandatantar’ (wielding stick against opponents) and will oppose strongly the flourishing of such a political culture in Punjab,” he said. Asked whether his wife Navjot Kaur would resign as an MLA, Sidhu said she was in the government as a BJP nominee, and not because of the Akali Dal. “Why should she resign,” he asked. “I have been regularly briefing the party high command on what has been happening in the state. They know it all,” he said. On SAD support to the INLD, he said, “The support by the Akalis is due to vested interests.” He claimed the Akali Dal once was a great party having glorious past of sacrifices, “but that it had now reduced to a fiefdom of a few individuals”. While campaigning in Haryana, Sidhu had recently said that Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal had allegedly stabbed the BJP in its back by supporting the INLD. The former Amritsar MP had said that on one hand, the Badals had an alliance with the BJP in Punjab and, on the other, they were supporting the INLD contesting elections against the saffron party. He wondered how the Badals would justify their support to the Chautalas, who were serving imprisonment after being convicted in the JBT teachers’ recruitment scam. The SAD leaders got our candidates defeated in municipal elections. Cases were registered against our activists. It used every opportunity to undermine the BJP in one way or the other. I will continue to question the Akali leadership on various
issues.
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Protest by students of chintpurni medical college
Amritsar, October 12 Verka said the commission had summoned the officials of the Medical Council of India (MCI); Secretary, Medical Education, Punjab; and the Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences and Research, Faridkot, to appear before it in Chandigarh on October 15. The students and their parents could also participate in the meeting, he said. The students have now shifted their agitation back to the Government Medical College here. "The idea is to bring all the officials concerned on a single platform. The career-related queries of the students must be sufficed. If shifting them to other colleges is the only solution, it should be done soon," said Verka. Kamalamma recorded statements of the students on behalf of the commission. She assured the students of all possible help and advised them not to take any extreme step. A student, Harsukhdeep Singh of Nawanshahr, had yesterday allegedly slit his wrist. Verka and Kamalamma also met Harsukhdeep at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. The doctors said he was stable as there was no major damage to his veins. He had five cuts on his wrist. Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla also met Harsukhdeep and other students. She has shot off letters to the MCI and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. She urged the MCI chairman to take urgent steps to resolve the crisis. "The future of 150 students is hanging in balance. The MCI should intervene without any further delay. The students are frustrated over the poor response of the Punjab Government and are, thus, resorting to extreme steps," she said. Seeking the immediate intervention of the Union Health Minister, she said the students alleged that the Chintpurni college chairman, Swarn Salaira, enjoyed good connections in Punjab and the Centre and, therefore, no action was being taken. She requested him to ensure justice to the medicos. why the students are upset
Govt not bothered: Cong Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Sunil Jakhar, has accused the state government of playing with the future of the students. “It is shocking that most of the Punjab ministers have been camping in Haryana. Nobody from the government has so far tried to hear the grievances of the students. Despite being in Amritsar, Medical Education Minister (Anil Joshi) preferred to stay away,” said Jakhar. Chawla writes to Centre Senior BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla has written to the MCI and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. "The future of 150 students is hanging in balance. The MCI and the Centre should intervene without any delay.”
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Farmers not paid for land acquired 43 yrs ago
Fazilka, October 12 At least 67 acres of land in 12 villages along the border, including Pakka Chisti, Churiwala Chisti, Muthianwali, Asafwala, Sivana, Beriwala, Muradwala, Mazuam, Bakhushah, Mohammad Pira, Mumbeki and Kadar Baksh, was acquired. Sources said in 2005, the Defence Department had paid the rent for use of the land ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 800 per acre per year. Some farmers had protested the paltry amount and refused to accept it. "I did not receive a single penny on account of rent or compensation," said Mohinder Pratap of Mohammad Pira village. Farmers said they had been earning good profits by growing crops on the land. But since the construction of the bundh, they had been facing losses. They alleged hundreds of acres of land along the bundh had been rendered unfit for agricultural purposes. "The department has not been paying the rent since 2005," alleged Vijay Kumar Gagneja, president, Muawza Bann Committee, 1971. "We have met several senior defence and civil officers in the past, but to no avail," he said. The farmers filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court (Bhanu Pratap and others versus Union of India) in 2012, demanding a compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre per year. They claimed the same amount was being offered to the farmers who had leased out their land. The case is yet to be decided. The farmers have also demanded that they be paid Rs 50 lakh per acre to settle the issue permanently as the government had not been paying the rent for the last over four decades. Bone of contention
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Govt aims to boost fish farming
Chandigarh, October 12 The minister also said the state government would provide 50 per cent subsidy for setting up new fish farms in the state. He said fish farming could potentially boost the agricultural income of the farmers in the state. Ranike said the state government would grant Rs 64 crore to GADVASU to promote crop diversification. Ranike further said that the Chief Minister had also approved the setting up of a 9-member executive committee, headed by Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, to implement the decisions taken in this regard. The other members of the committee will include Vice Chancellor, GADVASU, nominee of the Principal Secretary, Finance, Additional Chief Executive Officer of Punjab Livestock Development Board, Director, Fisheries and four progressive fish farmers. Ranike said the state government had planned to set up 14 modernised government fish seed farms. He said out of these, seven would be set up at Rayke Kalan (Bathinda), Mallwal (Ferozpur), Hayatnagar (Gurdaspur), Dosanjh Nabha (Patiala), Mohi (Ludhiana), Faridkot and Rajasansi (Amritsar) at a cost of Rs 18.34 crore in 2014-15. He said the other seven would be built next year. Farmers to get substantial subsidy
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Prawn farming in waterlogged Muktsar soon
Muktsar, October 12 Experts say the waterlogged areas here has optimum salinity to begin prawn farming. The salinity level of nearly 10 ppm (parts per million) is required for prawn farming. For instance, the salinity level of water in Rattakhera village, which is severely affected by waterlogging, is nearly 11 ppm. A group of 15 interested farmers from Muktsar, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Faridkot and Bathinda districts are being sent for five days of free training at the CIFA, Rohtak, to conduct a detailed study on prawn farming. The Fisheries Department officials from the state would also accompany them. Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department, Muktsar, said, “Waterlogged areas are ideal for prawn farming. The water here has the required amount of salinity.” Earlier, a progressive farmer of Fazilka district successfully began farming shrimp on waterlogged land. RK Kataria, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department, Fazilka, said, “A farmer in our district has started shrimp farming on an experimental basis and he has got good results. He had got training and technical guidance from GADVASU, Ludhiana. He harvested the first produce within a period of three months and sold the shrimps for Rs 450 per kg.” In Muktsar district, farmers have begun farming fish on nearly 1,700 acres. Farmers are adopting fish farming as their land has turned infertile due to waterlogging. Even the Centre is giving a lot of subsidy on the construction of fish ponds.
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Monetary interests bind Badals and Chautalas: Khaira
Chandigarh, October 12 He said 17 acres of prime commercial property (worth around Rs 10,000 crore) situated in the heart of Gurgaon was gifted by Ch Devi Lal to the Badals at a throwaway price of Rs 4 crore in 1989. That property now housed two seven-star hotels owned by Sukhbir Badal, a possession that ultimately laid the foundation of the flourishing business empire of the Badals. He alleged by allotting property to the Badals in Gurgaon, Ch Devi Lal was actually returning a favour of Badal (the then Chief Minister) who accepted a Rs 2-crore cheque from the Haryana Government to allow digging of the controversial Sutlej-Yamuna link canal (SYL) in 1978-79. Khaira said the disputed construction of the SYL canal not only led to a mass agitation by the Akali Dal from Kapoori village in April 1980, but it also shoved Punjab into a whirlpool of terrorism that claimed more than 25,000 lives. "Till date, Badal has not contradicted receiving Rs 2-crore cheque from Ch Devi Lal in lieu of the SYL canal construction," he said. Because of their mutually profitable friendship, the SAD, under the leadership of the Badals, gave up state's claim over Chandigarh, Khera said.
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BJP mulls going it alone in state Assembly poll
Chandigarh, October 12 Though BJP secretary Tarun Chugh denied having given any call to the workers to prepare for contesting the Punjab Assembly elections alone in 2017, sources insist he and other leaders wanted the momentum gained in Haryana to be carried over to Punjab. Chugh reportedly declared at the meeting that "Haryana to ek jhanki hai, Punjab abhi baki hai". Sources said Chug told workers "we are contesting independently in Haryana and Maharashtra, we should also get ready to contest elections independently in Punjab". Chugh, however, told The Tribune that he was talking about Assembly elections in Bihar and Jharkhand. He was simply propagating PM Narendra Modi's idea of wiping out the Congress from the country, he claimed. However, a press note about the meeting quoted him saying the results of the Haryana Assembly elections would have far-reaching consequences on the political situation in northern states. State office-bearers of the Punjab BJP who attended the meeting included state general secretaries Rakesh Rathore and Jagtar Singh Saini, state vice-president Sarbjit Kaur Bath, state secretaries Archana Dutt and Subhash Sharma, minister Anil Joshi, CPS KD Bhandari, Vice-Chairman (Cabinet rank) Punjab State Planning Board, Chairman Water and Sewerage Board Punjab Vinod Sharma, Chairman of the Khadi Board Harjit Singh Grewal, Chairman of the District Planning Board Hoshiarpur Jawahar Khurana, MP Vijay Sampla, MLA Ashwani Sharma, former Cabinet minister Arunesh Shakar, ex-CPS Raj Khurana, and ex-MP Gurcharan
Kaur.
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Youth jumps into canal to flee police
Faridkot, October 12 Twenty-six-year-old married Dalit youth Satvinder Singh (alias Happy) jumped into the canal on Sunday evening while a team of the anti-narcotics cell of Faridkot police was chasing some suspected drug addicts. The police claimed the youth jumped into the canal thinking that he would be able to swim to the other side of the canal, but the strong water current swept him away. Family members of Satvinder said he jumped into the canal to escape thrashing by the police. "He was a good swimmer and he would not have drowned had the police not given him a severe thrashing," alleged Satvinder's brother Varinder Singh. Satvinder's wife Amandeep Kaur said her husband worked as a daily wager. The couple has a 3-year-old son. She said though they had complained against two constables who allegedly thrashed her husband before he committed suicide by jumping into the canal, no legal action had been initiated against the policemen so far. DSP Gurbhej Singh said Satvinder's body had not been recovered so far and the police were investigating the incident before initiating any legal action in the case. Anti-narcotics cell in charge Harinder Singh said Satvinder was a drug addict. He was involved in incidents of theft and snatching. "The police are conducting an inquiry into the incident and the guilty will not be spared," he said. A team of the anti-narcotics cell had gone to the spot after getting information that some youths were consuming drugs near the canal. "Our only fault is that no policeman jumped into the canal to rescue Satvinder in the face of a strong water current," said a member of the police party.
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State banks on private thermal plants to stay ‘empowered’
Patiala, October 12 As per information, 37 out of the 103 thermal plants being monitored by the Central Electricity Authority across the country are left with coal stock for three days or even less. In the northern region, 17 thermal plants had super critical coal stock level of three or fewer days on October 8. In Punjab, all three state-run thermal plants have coal stock for just two days, while the private Rajpura thermal plant has coal stock for nine days. The state is depending heavily on Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo thermal plants for power. The Talwandi Sabo plant has coal stock for around a week. Though the PSPCL claims the units were shut due to low demand, insiders claim insufficient coal stock is one of the major reasons behind the decision. Insufficient coal stock brought down production at the Ropar plant to 160 MW as against its total capacity of 1,260 MW. Bathinda is producing less than 200 MW per day against its total capacity of 460 MW, while Lehra Mohabbat is producing around 300 MW against its capacity of 920 MW. The PSPCL is paying around Rs 4.50 per unit to the Rajpura thermal plant for around 290 lakh units daily. The overdrawal from the grid on Saturday was 16 lakh units. In August, 251 rakes of coal reached the thermal plants at Ropar, Bathinda and Lehra against the requirement of 300-350 rakes. A rake is a goods train comprising 59 bogies. In July, only 249 rakes were received. Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) had stated in July that the Railways supplied only 52 of the allotted 64 rakes. PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri, however, said, "With average four coal rakes arriving daily, the state will be able to manage enough coal for its thermal plants. We need to produce around 1,000 MW to meet our daily demand and we are doing that." More coal rakes were expected by next week and that would ease the situation, he claimed. He said both private thermal plants in the sate had coal stock for over a week, while the state-run plants had stock for two days. There was, therefore, no need to panic. The situation was likely to improve by next weekend, he added. "We are in touch with the Coal India for ensuring that our coal supplies are increased in the backdrop of the Supreme Court judgment," he added.
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Delayed release of grants puts govt schools in spot
Bathinda, October 12 Out of Rs 846 crore earmarked for the state under these projects, the Centre has released only around Rs 85 crore so far. The amount works out to be Rs 130 crore after adding the Rs 45-crore grant by the state government. The non-receipt of funds has affected payment of electricity bills, whitewashing of school buildings, extra-curricular activities etc. The grant (per school) works out to be around Rs 50,000 under the RMSA and Rs 25,000 under the SSA. The Principal of a local school said, "A grant of Rs 50,000 is not enough to settle even the annual electricity bill of a school. And, even that amount is not released in time." The Principal of another school said, "In many cases, the grant was not even sufficient to undertake whitewashing of the entire school building. Leave aside the current issue of grants under the RSMA or the SSA, majority of the schools in the state located in old buildings need special attention of the Centre and the state government for upkeep of these buildings." Director General School Education (DGSE) GK Singh said, "Staff salaries are being regularly paid to teachers and other personnel. We have also released a token grant of around Rs 5,000 to every school for undertaking the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We are expecting a grant of Rs 100 crore shortly and that will also be distributed among schools."
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Recognition of degrees subject to MCI inspection
Faridkot, October 12 On September 11, university Vice-Chancellor Dr SS Gill had written to the MCI to know about the status of the degrees of the 150 students of the Chintpurni college on the completion of their course. In its reply received two days ago, the MCI stated that it did not grant permission to the college to admit MBBS students in the academic sessions 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. It said permission was granted to the college only once on June 30, 2011 for admitting 150 students. The MCI said it would appoint assessors to verify the facilities at the college when the 150 students would be in their final year of MBBS course. It said the recognition of their degrees would be based on the the inspection report. Fearing their college may not fare well during inspection as it had "poor infrastructure", the students have been demanding they be shifted to other recognised colleges in Punjab. The students claimed due to inadequate facilities and lack of faculty, the college was not allowed to conduct fresh MBBS admissions for the last three years. Future at stake
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Working to resolve crisis, claims govt
Chandigarh, October 12 The affected students had yesterday staged a sit-in near the residence of Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi. One of the students allegedly attempted suicide by slitting his wrist. They have been demanding that they be shifted to a recognised college. The protesters today got the backing of the In-Service Doctors Wing of the Indian Medical Association’s Punjab chapter. The body, however, opposed the demand of the students for migration to other colleges. Dr Gurdeep Singh Kalyan, acting director, Research and Medical Education, Punjab, said the Medical Council of India (MCI) was not satisfied with the Pathankot college’s infrastructure. “We are trying to work out a solution. I appeal to the students not to take the law in their hands,” he said. Dr DS Bhullar, In-Service Doctors Wing chairman, claimed the shifting of the students to government-run colleges, where one is selected on merit, was not a good idea. He said the MCI, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (Faridkot) and the Punjab Government could not be blamed for the failure of the college in attaining recognition. “The college should fulfill the norms. Why should students suffer when they are not at fault,” he asked. Dr DC Sharma, retired Deputy Director of Health Department and president of the Doctors Federation of India, said, “The college management should be punished, and not the students or their parents. A high-level probe should be conducted into how the institute got the recognition initially,” he said.
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Pvt colleges flout norms, admit ‘ineligible’ students
Patiala, October 12 These colleges include the Akal College of Physical Education, Mastuana Sahib, and the National College of Physical Education, Chupki. They have admitted students directly to the third year of Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) on the basis of their diploma. Sources said the colleges were even admitting students having one-year physical education diploma after allegedly giving them a graduation degree to make them eligible for the master's course. As per norms, no lateral entry is permitted and the students have to be admitted to the first year of the bachelor’s course. Bhupinder Singh, a student, is running from pillar to post for the past two months to get admission to Government Physical Education College, Patiala. He has done two-year diploma course followed by four-year Bachelor in Physical Education from the same college. He has been denied admission to the master's course even as a couple of lateral entry students have been admitted. He alleges while students who have not done approved courses had been admitted, he was suffering despite putting in six years of regular study. A senior professor confirmed that the lateral admissions were not valid. "This irresponsible move by the university and these colleges will not only affect the deserving students but also the ones who have been admitted without eligibility," he added. Another teacher said even though they tried to convince students that the admissions were invalid, ut they refused to listen as they feel that it would save their two years. Dr JA Khan, Dean, Colleges, Punjabi University, said there are certain courses which were being run by the university on its own. On Bhupinder Singh's case, he said it was the responsibility of the college to see the eligibility of candidates for admissions. Dr Jasvir Kaur, college principal, said they had admitted the students based on the result of their one-year DPEd course after graduation. The violation
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Training sessions upset govt teachers
Mohali, October 12 The order has been issued by the SCERT Director, Pankaj Sharma. The teachers have been told to attend these sessions at the designated centres from 9 am to 6 pm on weekends. The teachers have also been told to pay Rs 5,000 each as fee for the training. Besides, they would not be given any traveling allowance. Expressing resentment over the “dictatorial order”, teachers said the centre for staff posted in
Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and Nawanshahr districts had been set up at
Ropar. Karnail Singh Sandhu, president, Government Teachers Union, termed the mandatory training sessions as an “anti-employee” move. “Such training sessions do not serve any purpose. If the government wants to hold such sessions, these should be conducted in one go,” he said. Sharma said it was a paid course, which was mandatory for all primary teachers. “We have selected Saturday and Sunday for the training sessions because we don’t want the studies of children to be affected,” he added.
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Cong men protest tardy procurement, block traffic
Ferozepur, October 12 The protest was led by former minister Inderjit Singh
Zira. The protesters sat on a dharna and blocked the traffic for almost four hours. When all pleas to lift the dharna proved futile, the police had to resort to a mild lathicharge during which some Congress workers were reportedly injured. The dharna was lifted after the intervention by Deputy Commissioner DPS
Kharbanda, who assured the agitating workers to look into their
demands. Zira alleged the farmers were facing hardships in the grain markets as the government had failed to make proper arrangements for the purchase and lifting of paddy. He said some commission agents were taking undue advantage of the situation and were purchasing the produce at low rates in connivance with the procurement officials. The same produce was then sold at a higher cost to the agencies, he alleged. While the farmers were at the receiving end, the Chief Minister along with his entire team was busy campaigning in
Haryana, the former minister said. Procurement officials who reached the spot refuted the allegations. Dr Anjuman
Bhaskar, DFSC, said the produce being brought to the market had higher moisture content than the specified limit due to which in some cases, the produce could not be purchased. She said all arrangements had been made for the smooth procurement of paddy. The department was taking stringent action in any case of violation of any norms or malpractice by procurement officials or commission agents. The officer issued transfer orders of a procurement official on the spot.
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Govt notifies skill development mission
Chandigarh, October12 An official spokesperson said the 29-member governing council would consist of ministers of technical education and industrial training, finance and planning, industry and commerce ,
labour, employment generation, rural development and panchayat, local government, health and family welfare, welfare of SC and BC, social security and school education and also administrative secretaries of the respective departments. It would also have five representatives from the industries, two skill development experts and MD and CEO of NSDC as members. The spokesperson said the state government had announced the constitution of a state steering committee to provide focused implementation of skill development policies. The committee would be headed by Chief Secretary with respective administrative secretaries of the department concerned as members. Five members of industry, two skill development experts would be members of this committee. The committee would frame policy, guidelines and rules for the mission and approve communication and social mobilisation strategy for the mission.
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14 yrs on, elderly yet to get
justice for his son’s murder
Jalandhar, October 12 Kamboj's son Brij Mohan (40) was allegedly murdered on March 2, 2001, in Karnal (Haryana). The accused had taken away cash and other valuables from his house after killing him. The postmortem report had confirmed that Brij was strangled to death. Kamboj said he had been demanding a CBI probe into the case as the police had failed to arrest the accused since one of them was a close relative of a former Haryana Police officer. Kamboj alleged: "After my son's murder, the policemen investigating the case were transferred. When nothing happened five years after the incident, I moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Eight years have lapsed since then, but I am yet to get justice. I have recently urged the Chief Justice to decide the case on a priority." He alleged the report of the special investigating team (SIT) of the Haryana Police submitted in the court was eyewash to ensure that the case was not handed over to the CBI. He mentioned a similar case of Rama Devi versus State of Haryana wherein the high court had ordered a CBI probe into the murder of her husband. "Since the Haryana Police have failed to deliver, I have urged the high court that a CBI probe be ordered so that culprits are put behind bars. The case is listed for hearing on October 14," he added.
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Patiala MC seeks nod for Rs 57 cr projects
Patiala, October 12 Another project worth Rs 15 crore is aimed at solving parking woes of the city. The MC plans to construct a multi-level parking facility. The MC proposes to widen the road from National Institute of Sports (NIS) to Rajpura Road to ease out traffic moving from the busy Rajpura Road towards the Mall Road. The MC has demanded an additional Rs 10 crore for miscellaneous works, including repair of roads, in various parts of the city. The MC's failure to complete even a single big project in the city had affected the ruling alliance partners' prospects in the recently concluded parliamentary and assembly elections. The Congress has repeatedly claimed that the state government is not bothered about the city for its residents voted for Congress candidates in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The city has been facing problems such as poor roads, shortage of drinking water and poor garbage collection. Mayor Amrinder Bazaz said once these projects were cleared, the corporation would complete the pending works at the earliest. Rs
170 crore drinking water project on cards
The MC is waiting for an approval for the canal water project which would help city residents draw water from the Bhakhra canal. The Rs 170 crore project is expected to solve the drinking water problem of the city for the next few decades. On road to development
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5 booked for attack on police station
Hoshiarpur, October 12 SAD leader Anil Hans had alleged that jeweller Balram Bagga allegedly pointed a pistol at him when he demanded the Rs 10 lakh that Bagga owed him. Hans then snatched his pistol and approached the police. However, when the police allegedly did not take action, Hans’ supporters gathered near the police station. They allegedly blocked the road and some of them allegedly had a scuffle with policemen. On the complaint of Station House Officer Amarnath, Chintu Hans, Rahul Adia, Mohit D Singh, Shani Gentry and Rakesh of Mohalla Ghanta Ghar have been booked.
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Home Guards protest low wages
Hoshiarpur, October 12 Home Guards often have to discharge duties for 8 to 10 hours and yet they get no overtime. A Section Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Assistant Platoon Commandant and Platoon Commandant get the same salary. They are paid a meagre Rs 80 per month as washing allowance. They also have to pay for their uniform. The Home Guards do not get any leave. They get a weekly off and are paid only for the days they remain present on duty. Palwinder Singh, who has been in service for more than 21 years, said, “We receive nothing more than an increment of meagre 5 per cent every year. On December 17, 2011 the government had issued a notification regarding free travel facility to home guards in the state, but that has not been implemented till yet.” Another guard Hitler, who has been in service for 22 years, said, “We are not offered any pension. When we retire at the age of 58, we return home empty handed.” Recently, they submitted a memorandum of their demands to the government, but to no avail. Their complaints
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Sale of low-quality veggies at Abohar Apni Mandi triggers stir
Abohar, October 12 Consumer Movement chairman Satpal Khariwal said that Apni Mandi was set up on every Sunday to benefit hundreds of teachers and other government employees who find no time to purchase vegetables and fruits on working days. Moreover, the Punjab Mandi Board hoped Apni Mandi would benefit farmers as they would be able to sell fresh vegetables on Sundays without having to pay charges to commission agents. “We expected that benefits will also be passed on to consumers, but complaints rose. Vendors outnumbered small farmers and prices at the mandi were more than the prices in the market,” Khariwal said. Samaj Sudhar Sabha president Rajesh Gupta said, “Most of the sellers here are using brick pieces and stones to weigh produce, whereas the state government has passed instructions that only digital scales be used.” Naresh Yadav, a consumer said vendors and farmers would argue with them if they objected to the high prices and the poor quality equipment being used. He complained that a huge pile of vegetables were often dumped on the roads near the makeshift market. Bhanwer Lal Khatri, former president of the Lions Club, complained that the vendors had partially damaged the memorial that the NGO had raised as a tribute to 34 citizens who were gunned down by terrorists on March 7, 1990.
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Mid-day meal staff demand regular pay
Hoshiarpur, October 12 Representatives of the MDM staff, Parveen Kumar, Gayatri and Rajwant Kaur said there were 216 Assistant Block Managers and 22 Accountants working under the MDM Society for 6 years. Their counterparts in Education Department's other schemes like SSA and RMSA were being paid a salary equivalent to regular employees after a notification issued in May. A delegation also handed over a memorandum to Tikshan Sud, Political Advisor to CM.
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British Columbia Premier offers jobs to Punjabis
Chandigarh,October 12 Talking to mediapersons this morning, Clark said about 1 lakh jobs would be created in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) line project worth $36 billion in which the Indian Oil Corporation had invested $4 billion in her state. The natural gas would be shipped out to India. Clark, who was on a two-day visit to the city, left for Delhi today. The project would create numerous jobs for plumbers, electricians, welders, mechanics and even qualified engineers and others. "As a large number of Punjabis are already settled there, my state would like to take maximum skilled worker from Punjab and India because they will have no problem in adjusting there." "It is the biggest Indian investment there. Once the project meets the deadline, we can expect more investment from India," she said. Showering praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said a serious effort was being made at the national level to change the mindset of the government. By empowering states to have direct trade ties with various countries, Modi had provided them with a big opportunity to make rapid progress, she said. The decision would bring more investment to various states in India, she added. "Modi is removing red tape to quicken the process of investment. This will bring more business and jobs," she said. She said her state was ready to help in the education sector by promoting collaboration between Indian educational institutions and those in Canada. "One school each in India and Japan are the two latest international schools approved to offer the BC curriculum," she said. SBRS Gurukul School located near Chandigarh would begin offering BC offshore school programme from 2015, she said. Clark announced funding 20 scholarships, worth $50,000, to support and encourage two-way exchange of students. Minister for Advance Education in Province of British Columbia Amirk Virk is accompanying Clark. Clark said she was a supporter of need-based selective immigration from various countries to Canada. She said she would also meet film-makers and others. "I am for more cultural exchanges between India and Canada," she said. Praises Modi
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High Court upholds PSPCL CMD’s extension
Patiala, October 12 Justice Kannan said: "I find no error in the decision of the first respondent (Punjab Government) to allow such an extension and the office of the third respondent (PSPCL's CMD) is pursuant to appropriate notification legitimising his continuation in office. There is no room for a challenge to such office in the manner canvassed in the writ petition." The petitioner had submitted to the court that Chaudhri was "illegally" granted extension of service. The court observed that the service extension had been granted to Chaudhri for the reason that he had rendered "excellent services". Chaudhri was to complete his term on February 9 on attaining 62 years of age, but the state government had extended the retirement age from 62 to 65 years on February 7 and granted him extension. An agreement signed between the state government, the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board and the employee unions in 2010, when the PSEB was unbundled into two entities, was amended. Chaudhri's extension had become a bone of contention between the serving PSPCL engineers who had opposed the move under the banner of the PSEB Engineers Association and the state government. The move had created a rift within the power corporations as one faction of engineers backed the incumbent CMD while another opposed it and decided not to cooperate. The PSEB Engineers Association had alleged that the government had taken the decision unilaterally without taking the association into confidence as per provisions of tripartite agreement. "The association views it as a betrayal by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Professional working of the management as suggested by the association and accepted by government in 2010 has been given a quiet burial for favouring an individual," the engineers' body had alleged. The government had maintained that there was no violation of the TPA as according to its clause the government had to consult the engineers and others. Case file
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Construction on disputed land in Abohar stayed
Abohar, October 12 Uttam Chand
Saneja, a freedom fighter along with some other residents, had last year approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. They filed a public interest litigation (PIL), stating that prime land worth several crore was being grabbed. Saneja claimed that the state Public Works Department (Building and Roads) had acquired some land for construction of additional reservoirs on the premises of Water Works. The documents were shifted from Jalandhar-based acquisition office to Ferozepur accordingly. As per the law, the mutation of the land earmarked under the “special khasra” could not be transferred since it was public land. But the district administration reportedly allowed its marking in 2012 without going through the set principles. The premises had been used by the Army Supplies Core (ASC) since 1965 Indo-Pak war. Since the mutation of the land in question was not done in favour of the state government, some vested interests reportedly encroached upon it after the Army vacated it. As the controversial revenue record transactions prominently figured in the PIL in the HC, the district administration on April 4, 2013 (letter No. 293/LFA) directed the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Abohar, not to approve the site plan. He was ordered to ensure no construction took place on the controversial land. The petitioners complained that the Municipal Council failed to take any action even though it had received the directions. The case
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Amritsar, October 12
Fazilka, October 12
Chandigarh, October 12
Faridkot, October 12
Ferozepur, October 12
Abohar, October 12
Abohar, October 12
The proposals include
Rs 10 crore sewerage pumping station to clear choked drains, especially during the monsoon;
Rs 15 crore multi-level parking facility; four-laning of road from the National Institute of Sports to Rajpura Road; and
Rs 10 crore for repair of roads
As a large number of Punjabis are already settled there, my state would like to take maximum skilled worker from Punjab and India because they will have no problem in adjusting
there.