The

P U N J A B

Tuesday July 7, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Farmers' convention
on Aug 24
JALANDHAR, July 6 — The Punjab Kisan Sabha will organise a state-level convention on August 24 to launch a sustained agitation against the state government for its myopic vision...

SSF to work for
spread of Sikhism
BATHINDA, July 6 — The Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) has declared that it would continue its struggle for the spread of Sikh religion in Punjab...

Amarinder to meet
President, PM
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 6 — The newly appointed Punjab Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, is lending full support to the demand for the exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district from the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal...

Nightmarish experience
CHANDIGARH, July 6 — Visiting the official residence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is part of a correspondent's professional duty. But it is also a nightmarish experience to do so...

Fault in thermal
plant detected
LEHRA MOHABBAT, July 6 — The Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant authorities today claimed that a fault in the unit one of the plant had been detected...

Cinema houses protest
LUDHIANA, July 6 — A meeting of the Ludhiana Cinema Exhibitors Association held here today under the presidentship of Mr Bhupinder Singh Malhotra, strongly protested against the 25 per cent hike in the lump sum tax on cinema houses in the state...

Peace marchers to arrive tomorrow
AMRITSAR, July 6 — Fifty young men of Maharashtra belonging to "Sarhad" and "Bande Matram" Pune will arrive in this holy city on July 8 on way to Srinagar on "Sant Sufi Sandesh Yatra"...

Vet doctors plan work-to-rule
LUDHIANA, July 6 — The veterinary officers in Punjab will start a work-to-rule from July 10 and state central body members of the Punjab State Veterinary Officers' Association (PSVOA) will sit on day-long dharna in front of the office of the Director, Animal Husbandary, Punjab, at Chandigarh on July 27 ...

Plea to raise retirement age
PATIALA, July 6 — Dr Naresh Raj and Mr Avinash Gupta, president and general secretary of the Punjab Medical Officers and Paramedical Staff Association of the PSEB, in a joint statement here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal...

Farmers' convention on Aug 24
Tribune News Service
JALANDHAR, July 6 — The Punjab Kisan Sabha will organise a state-level convention on August 24 to launch a sustained agitation against the state government for its myopic vision, in reducing interest rate by one per cent on loans to farmers and offering a pittance as compensation to the farmers who had lost their entire crop.
Disclosing this here today the general secretary of the Kisan Sabha, Mr Lehmber Singh Taggar, said that the decision was taken by the State Working Committee which was attended by the general secretary of the All-India Kisan Sabha, Mr S. Ramachandran Pillai, member Parliament from Kerala.
The Punjab Kisan Sabha will mobilise five farmers from every village in the state to attend the convention in Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here on August 24 and press the government at the Centre and state to revamp and reorganise the farm sector and waive loans of "desperate" farmers after an inquiry.
Recalling history Mr Taggar said that in 1940 the "Karza Maaf Lahore Morcha, 1904, 1905 Pagri Sambhal Jatta, 1946 Moga Morcha and then in 1959 anti-betterment levy" were waived after the farmers of the state organised themselves and held agitations forcing the government to wake up and give relief.

Economic position of the farmers is alarming, trapped, with no way out, they are under an estimated debt of more than Rs 57,000 crore and annually paying Rs 22,000 crore in interest alone. The increase in input with fertilisers and pesticides has gone up while the return has remained marginal. Moreover the payment is not assured. Recently more than 20,000 small and marginal farmers had to resort to agitation and fast to press the Oswal Sugar Mill, Mukerian to pay Rs 11.5 crore it owed to the farmers for their sugar cane produce. Relief came after 80 days only when the high court intervened, he said.
The farmers' convention, the first of its kind will demand revamping of the banks-national and cooperative, to give credit preferably "one window clearance". Crop insurance be made compulsory to give relief to the farmers in case of crop failure. Distribution of fertilisers and pesticides on controlled rates, support price for sugarcane, vegetables, maize etc on the pattern of rice/wheat and finally assured payment on the delivery of the crop in the mandis.

SSF to work for spread of Sikhism
Tribune News Service
BATHINDA, July 6 — The Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) has declared that it would continue its struggle for the spread of Sikh religion in Punjab.
In a resolution passed on the concluding day of the three-day Gurmat Training Camp held at Talwandi Sabo, 28 km from here, yesterday evening, the Federation declared that struggle for the spread of Sikh religion started by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale would continue till the goal was achieved.
The federation also announced that it would continue its struggle for bringing about fundamental changes in political, social and cultural values in Punjab according to the tenets of Sikh religion

In another resolution passed on the occasion, the federation appealed to Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to issue an edict to all members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Singh Sabhas, and other gurdwara committees to get baptised immediately.
Expressing concern over the fact that most of the members of the SGPC were not baptised Sikhs, the federation appealed to the Akal Takht Jathedar to take concrete steps in this regard to that tricentenary of the creation of Khalsa Panth could be celebrated in a meaningful way.
The federation also passed a resolution to stop the onslaught of western culture on Indian society and spare no effort to infuse the youth with Sikhism and its values.
In another resolution the federation activists declared that they would honour all those persons who had laid down their lives during the struggle launched by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale for the glory of Sikh Panth.
The federation also appealed to the Punjab as well as Indian government to ensure the release of all Sikh detainees. The federation also appealed to the UNO and other foreign countries to make efforts for the release of Bhai Sukhi and Bhai Kuki languishing in jails on foreign land without trial.
In another resolution, the federation activists opposed the move of Government of India to include the Sikh-dominated Udham Singh Nagar into the proposed Uttranchal state. The federation also appealed to the members of the SGPC to make efforts for weaning youths away from the menace of drugs.
The president and general secretary of the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta), Mr Rajinder Singh Mehta and Mr Rajinder Singh Chawla, respectively later told reporters that at the Gurmat Training Camp, 25 Sikh youths were baptised.

Nightmarish experience
by P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 6 — Visiting the official residence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is part of a correspondent's professional duty. But it is also a nightmarish experience to do so.
No matter who you are, the identity is inconsequential. This correspondent got a taste of the security at the Chief Minister's residence on Sunday night when the visit was necessitated by the SAD's Political Affairs Committee meeting held there.
Accompanied by a correspondent from Punjabi Tribune, as this reporter entered the reception, past a number of standing cops, one is made to stand erect once one has stepped in through the metal detector door frame. A cop moves a hand-held metal detector over the head, pausing on the turban. "Step forward and closer", commands the cop pointing to another

cop glued to a chair. He runs his hands roughly from hips to ankles and back.
Without a warning the cop with the metal detector in hand just pulls out the pen from the scribe's pocket, scribbles on his open palm and fiddles with it before pushing it back. "Show your purse". That is the second command without a trace of decency and politeness. Before you make up the mind either to return or tolerate the frisking the cop already has his hand on your hip pocket. "Any medicines? Open and show it."
As you once again whisper nervously about your identity as a newsman you are silenced": "Sada Kam ehho hai".
As one takes a deep breath feeling frustrated and humiliated, another person flips through his tattered visitor's register and asks for your name and signature. He could not get the name of the Punjabi Tribune correspondent and wrote down something else. We let that go and went into a waiting hall. A cop literally holds you from the wrist confirming if one has been through the drill.
With a deep breath, perspiring and a tolerant attitude one walks to the main gate of the residence, where another man prepares to take down your particulars. "We are already registered, why don't you check up with your own colleague".
"This is my duty", he growls.

At last one is allowed entry. Through several doors one is ushered into an air-conditioned room, where some other scribes are already waiting. Knowing pressmen will be there because of PAC meeting, one wonders why no one from the Public Relations Department was put on duty.
Request for a meeting with Chief Minister is brushed aside. No one lets you know where he is. Meanwhile, the resolution of the PAC is passed on.
As the pressmen move out, enquiring if Mr Parkash Singh will see them, the men around the Chief Minister try to insulate him from the press and remark: "He has gone up to his residential quarters". As pressmen come out Mr Parkash Singh is out there in the verandah, talking to some people. He acknowledges the greetings and leads the pressmen into his drawing room. He answers questions and is surprised that the resolution has been released.
One lesson one learns after the bitter experience and drill: better not to go to the Chief Minister's residence rather than getting humiliated.

Amarinder to meet President, PM
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 6 — The newly appointed Punjab Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, is lending full support to the demand for the exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar district from the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal. He told TNS here today that he was seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister and the President to present his party's point of view.
Elaborating, Capt Amarinder Singh said that he or his party were not against the creation of a new hill state consisting of Kumaon and Garhwal regions but by no logic the plain area of Udham Singh Nagar district should be included in that proposed hill state.

"This district has nothing in common with the hill people. They neither share their language nor their culture.The area is mostly inhabited by Punjabis and a small proportion consists of Bengalis. The farmers have recreated a prosperous area by virtually shedding their blood for years . They feel scared with this new idea. One major reason is that in the hill area, there is landing ceiling law which allows a land holding up to one hectare only and the farmers would be losing land and that means losing everything," he said
Capt Amarinder Singh said that he would also impress upon his partymen in Delhi to oppose this proposed merger. "Why should we merge these areas where people oppose it tooth and nail? There is no logic," he added.
Capt Amarinder Singh said that the entire Punjab Congress supported this demand of keeping this district out of the proposed hill state. Prosperity should not be an eyesore now, he added. The Congress leader said that the BJP-led government should realise the sensitivity of the whole issue and "we expect the Cabinet sub-committee to respect the sentiments."

Fault in thermal plant detected
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service
LEHRA MOHABBAT, July 6 — The Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant authorities today claimed that a fault in the unit one of the plant had been detected.
Mr T.L. Pakia, Chief Engineer of the plant, said that the engineers had located the fault in the condenser after checking all other components of the plant.
To remove this fault, the plant would have to be shut for eight to 10 days. It would be done after one-and-a-half months, when the demand of power comes down considerably.
He claimed that plant which tripped today at noon had been again lighted up and it would be put on 180-MW load by the evening. He said unit one generated about 30 lakh units of electricity yesterday. The plant would be run on 180-MW capacity at least for the paddy season.

He said that engineers of Jyoti Pumps Limited and TATA Consultancy Limited who came here about two days ago had established that the equipment supplied by their respective organisations was as per the specifications.
Mr Pakia said the plant authorities were also procuring an instrument to check the airs leakage in the plant as it could create trouble in the smooth running of the plant.
It may be mentioned here that unit one could not achieve its full load of 210 MW since the commissioning of plant about one and half month ago due to repeated development of faults in plant components.
On the other hand, the PSEB Engineers Association alleged that Punjab State Electricity Board had failed on all fronts by not providing the necessary minimum inputs for the timely completion of this project.
In a press note issued today, the association further alleged that the PSEB was not able to provide sufficient project infrastructure, including adequate human resources. The board alone was responsible for inducting the insufficient technical staff without the necessary orientation and certification.
They said that by abolishing the post of Chief Engineer (Operation and Maintenance) within three months of its creation, the board authorities had thrown all norms and statutory requirements to the wind.
The association alleged that suspension of Mr V. Sharma, who was earlier Chief Engineer of the plant allegedly on the ground of poor performance in commercial commissioning of the first unit was done by the PSEB authorities to cover its own lapses and to shift the onus on the technocracy.

Cinema houses protest
Tribune News Service
LUDHIANA, July 6 — A meeting of the Ludhiana Cinema Exhibitors Association held here today under the presidentship of Mr Bhupinder Singh Malhotra, strongly protested against the 25 per cent hike in the lump sum tax on cinema houses in the state.
In a resolution adopted at the meeting, it was stated that the cinema houses in the state had suffered badly during 12 years of terrorism in Punjab. It was promised by the government that in view of the losses suffered by the cinema houses, there would be no increase in the lump sum tax on cinema houses in future. But it was very regrettable that the government had gone back on its promises.
The meeting appealed to the Chief Minister that the hike be withdrawn immediately

Peace marchers to arrive tomorrow
Tribune News Service
AMRITSAR, July 6 — Fifty young men of Maharashtra belonging to "Sarhad" and "Bande Matram" Pune will arrive in this holy city on July 8 on way to Srinagar on "Sant Sufi Sandesh Yatra" for the restoration of peace and strengthening India's unity.
Starting this here today, veteran CPI leader, Satya Pal Dang said that noted social activist and fighter against corruption Shri Anna Hazare would accompany them to Amritsar, Mr Sanjay Ahear, Director Cooperative Bank, Maharashtra will be the chief of the yatra. Participants will also

include Mr Sanjay Nahar, president of "Bande Matram". This organisation had held 2/3 peace marches in Punjab during the days of terrorism. Mr Hazare and members of the 'yatra' will be given a reception at Sant Singh Sukha Singh school on the Mall, on behalf of the citizens at 12 noon. The Mayor and other prominent persons of the city will participate.
Prior to that they will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir and also pay homage at the Jallianwala Bagh. In the evening they will visit Wagah border. On July 9, they will go to Ferozepore to pay homage to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh at his samadhi at the Hussaniwala border.

Vets plan work-to-rule
From Our Correspondent
LUDHIANA, July 6 — The veterinary officers in Punjab will start a work-to-rule from July 10 and state central body members of the Punjab State Veterinary Officers' Association (PSVOA) will sit on day-long dharna in front of the office of the Director, Animal Husbandary, Punjab, at Chandigarh on July 27 in protest against the indifferent attitude of the government towards their demands.
Dr Gurcharan Singh Chahal, the state president of the association, said veterinary doctors were demanding NPA 25 per cent of basic pay on the pattern of central government, all veterinary clinics in the state to be manned by veterinary doctors and implementation of the fourth pay commission's recommendations.

Plea to raise age of retirement
From Our Correspondent
PATIALA, July 6 — Dr Naresh Raj and Mr Avinash Gupta, president and general secretary of the Punjab Medical Officers and Paramedical Staff Association of the PSEB, in a joint statement here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to enhance the retirement age of state government employees from 58 to 60 years on the pattern of the central government.
They said they would meet Mr Badal, Mr G.S. Tohra and Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra soon to apprise them of their genuine demands.
Meanwhile, in another statement, Mr Bhagwant Singh, president of the Accounts Officers Association of the PSEB, also demanded enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.