Tuesday, April 13, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, April 13, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Foreigners
steal limelight Tohra overwhelmed by response |
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 AmritsarAnandpur Sahib Bathinda Chandigarh Fatehgarh Sahib Jalandhar Ludhiana Mansa Moga Patiala
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No major power cuts likely Pakistan ‘ignoring’
Punjabi language Experts' plea to conserve
Amritsar's heritage Waterlogging brings social stigma No arrests in assault case
90 centres set up for procurement Forum's plea on Pak gurdwaras Paddy worth Rs 150 crore damaged |
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Foreigners steal limelight ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — Foreigners, who have adopted the Sikh religion, today stole the limelight at the "Fateh march" held as part of the Khalsa celebrations. Clad in spotless white and blue robes, they remained a major attraction for thousands of pilgrims who turned up here from various parts of the country. They played the "gatka" with mastery. Foreigners have turned up here in large numbers. They have come from Singapore, the USA, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Canada. In fact, they absolutely dominated today's show. High Commissioners of the UK, Canada and Australia in India paid obeisance at the Takht here. Sir Rob Young, British High Commissioner, greeted all with "Sat Sri Akal". Later, addressing a press conference, he said the Indian Government was satisfied with the cooperation extended by the UK Government with regard to tackling terrorism. Reacting to the Agni-II test fire, Mr Young said it would in the interest of India to exercise restraint. The Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Peter F. Walker, said the Canadian Government was interested in making more efforts to curb terrorism in any form. Justifying the NATO attack on Yugoslavia, British High Commissioner said all channels of resolving the dispute through a peaceful manner proved unfruitful and there was no alternative except to launch the attack. He said even Guru Gobind Singh had used sword against Aurangzeb when all other means failed to the stop the latter from committing excesses on defenceless people. A joint conference was organised by the All-India Sikh Students Federation and the youth wing of the Akali Dal headed by Mr Rajinder Mehtra and Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal. Addressing the conference, Mr Parkash Singh Badal called upon the youth to follow the path shown by the Sikh Gurus. He said the future belonged to the youth and they should prepare themselves for shouldering political and social responsibilities. He reiterated his appeal to all factions to address the people from a common forum set up by the Shiromani Akali Dal. He said he felt elated over the participation of Mr Bansi Lal, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr V.C, Shukla, former Union Minister, Mr Krishan Kant, Vice-President of India and Mr Mahabir Prasad, Haryana Governor, today's programmes. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Mr
Amrik Singh Aliwal, Mr Nirdharan Singh Brar, Mr Amarjit
Singh Chawla, Mr Rajinder Singh Mehta, Mr Manjit Singh
Bhoma, Mr Vishwanath, Head Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh
(RSS), north zone, Mr Kiranbir Singh, Mr Satnam Singh, Mr
Baljit Singh Nelamahal, Mr Kulwant Singh, Giani Puran
Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal and
Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan were among others present. |
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Tohra overwhelmed by response FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 12 — The former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said here today that he was overwhelmed by the response to the Khalsa marches organised by his followers. Talking to The Tribune at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib while receiving the Khalsa marches organised from Delhi and Talwandi Sabo on the way to Anandpur Sahib, he said the Sikh sangat had proved that they were not with any individual but they followed the principles of Sikhism. Their participation had proved that Bhai Ranjit Singh was the real Akal Takht Jathedar. He said they would launch a campaign to 'save the Akali Dal' and 'liberate Akal Takht' from Parkash Singh Badal and his followers after the tercentenary celebrations. Describing the Congress as the number one enemy of the Akalis he wondered why Mr Sharad Pawar and Mr Manmohan Singh were invited to the celebrations. Recently the Akali Dal had favoured the imposition of Article 356 in Bihar only because the Congress was opposing it. He said, Mr Badal knew that the days of the Vajpayee government were numbered that is why he invited Mr Pawar, a Congress leader, to the celebrations. He said no function at Anandpur Sahib had been organised according to the Sikh traditions. He termed it a 'sarkari tamasha'. He demanded that all MPs, MLAs, ministers, SGPC members and office-bearers of the Akali Dal (Badal) should get baptised along with their families during the tercentenary celebrations. He said the political leadership of the Sikhs had become very weak. They were not being true Sikhs. They demanded votes in the name of the 'Panth", but did not believe in the Panthic ideology. He called upon the youth to use the occasion to spread the message of 'amrit parachar and wage a fight against addiction. Interestingly when Mr Tohra was waiting to receive the Khalsa march from Delhi, the 'sarbansdani sardha yatra' led by Captain Amarinder Singh and Mrs Bhattal came to the gurdwara to pay obeisance, Mr Tohra shook hands with both leaders and exchanged greetings. Later local Akali
leaders welcomed the Khalsa march and distributed sweets
and fruits. |
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Amarinder's
absence
marks yatra's end ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — In the absence of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh and other top Congress leaders, the 11-day "Sarbansdani Shardha Yatra" organised by the PPCC to mark the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations ended at 7.15 p.m. today at the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here. When the yatra culminated here, Mr Jasbir Singh, a General Secretary of the PPCC and Mr Ramesh Singla, a former MLA, were accompanying the yatra. Talking to TNS, Mr Jasbir Singh said Mr Charanjit Singh, an MLA from Nawanshahar and Mr Upinder Sharma, a former minister, also participated in the march here. However, when asked about the absence of Capt Amarinder Singh, he merely said he returned from Ropar, while another Congress leader Lakhwinder Singh, president of the Backward Classes cell of the PPCC, said Capt Amarinder Singh left the march at Chamkaur Sahib. The absence of top Congress leadership at the end of the march was noticed here by many. Some of them even alleged that infighting in the Congress even at a religious march had surfaced. Earlier, the yatra began today from Fatehgarh Sahib and passed through Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar, Kiratpur Sahib before reaching here this evening. The yatra began on April 2 from Patna with ‘Gobind Jyoti’ and ‘shashtras’ of Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Hargobind Sahib. The "shashtras" were displayed in two decorated vehicles. These "shashtras" are in the possession of Maharaja Patiala Amarinder Singh, Maharaja Nabha and Bhai Sahib Bagrian. "Panj Piaras" were leading the march. The holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib was placed in a decorated palinquin. There were at least 1500 persons in buses, trucks and cars in the yatra. After reaching here, the processionists paid their obeisance at the takht and returned to the site of Congress stage near PSEB Rest House here and elsewhere for the night halt. Mr Lakhwinder Singh said that 16 Pakistani nationals would attend their conference tomorrow here. They would also take part in the tercentenary celebrations. Mr Jasbir Singh said that besides Capt Amarinder Singh, the top Congress central leadership including Mr R.K. Dhawan, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Gulam Nabi Azad, Mr Pranabh Mukerjee and Ms Ambica Soni would address the conference. However, he also said that Mrs Sonia Gandhi would not attend the conference as she had already received the yatra at Delhi. Jangveer Singh adds from Fatehgarh Sahib: The Punjab Pardesh Congress president, Capt Amarinder Singh, today said that there was no infighting in the state unit and that all senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, were actively involved in the celebrations of the tercentenary of the Khalsa. Talking to newspersons after the "sarbans dani shradha yatra" was accorded a warm reception here, he said Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal could not participate in the yatra as she was in Delhi to attend the meeting of the National Minority Cell. Mrs Bhattal had earlier arrived at the residence of local legislator Dr Harbans Lal who had accorded a separate reception to the yatra. He claimed that he had not been informed about the yatra route by the District Congress Committee president, Dr Sikander Singh. Capt Amarinder Singh said the District Congress Committee had made alternative arrangements for the stay of devotees last night after Sant Balwant Singh Sahoranwala, who was to host yatris yesterday, denied them hospitality. He alleged that this incident was in line with other cases where attempts were being made to scuttle the Congress yatra by the Akalis. The pradesh Congress president said the government had been acting with "vengeance" ever since the Congress decided to celebrate the tercentenary on its own. He said this decision had been arrived at after the government did not involve the Congress in any of the programmes finalised for the celebrations. He said the Congress at the conferences starting at Anandpur Sahib tomorrow would try to focus on the problems of Punjab, particularly its economic future. Referring to recent
statements of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal
which called for joint celebrations, he said the Chief
Minister's statements were contradictory. |
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Justice Kuldip Singh declines
Order CHANDIGARH, April 12 (PTI) — Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Kuldip Singh today declined to accept the "Order of the Khalsa" which was to be conferred on him by the Punjab government tomorrow at Anandpur Sahib as part of the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. The decision was taken to protest against "Punjab government’s callous attitude in regard to gross human rights violations and its total lack of concern for those who are suffering in jails without trial for years," he said in a statement here. Justice Kuldip Singh asked the Punjab and central governments to direct jail authorities to provide facilities to Sikh detainees within jails to become an amritdhari (baptised) Sikhs. "The detainees have the fundamental right to religion under the Constitution," he said, adding that detainees in jail here had been on fast since last week. The state government was "guilty of suppressing people’s human rights guaranteed under the Constitution", he said. He demanded that all
detainees languishing in jails for more than one year
without trial be released immediately on parole. |
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Shekhar not to annoy any group ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — As Mr Chandra Shekhar, former Prime Minister, does not want to annoy any of the Akali factions he will address congregations organised by both the Badal and Tohra camps. A spokesman of the Badal camp said here today Mr Chandra Shekhar would reach here tomorrow and at 9 a.m. he would take part in the kirtan darbar programme organised by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Later in the day he will
address the conference organised by the Tohra faction
under the patronage of Bhai Ranjit Singh, suspended
Jathedar of Akal Takht. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, a close
confidant of Mr G.S. Tohra, said Mr Chandra Shekhar would
come to the Sant Samaj stage also at which Bhai Ranjit
Singh will be the star speaker. |
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No major power cuts likely LUDHIANA, April 12 — Punjab may escape major power cuts this summer thanks to the augmentation of the power generation capacity in the state over the past few months. "However, curtailment of power supply to different categories of consumers to ensure the supply of power to the priority sectors cannot be ruled out," said Mr S.K. Tuteja, chairman, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) while talking to TNS today. He said there was a 10 per cent gap in the demand and availability of power in Punjab last year. This led to the imposition of major power cuts on various categories of consumers. However, with the augmentation of power generation capacity to the tune of 500 MWs, in the past few months, the situation had eased considerably. Therefore, he did not foresee any major cuts on power supply to consumers during summer. The demand for power in Punjab was 4500 MWs. As against this, the state had an installed generation capacity of 2250 MWs from thermal power plants and 1500 MWs from hydel units. Another 700 to 800 MWs was available as Punjab's share in plants being operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation. The commissioning of two thermal power units of 210 MW capacity each at Lehra Mohabbat near Bathinda a few months ago had further eased the situation. As regards the Ranjit Sagar Dam across the Ravi at Thein, Mr Tuteja said it was likely to go on stream by June. Water had already begun to be stored in the dam whose height was being raised to 478 metres. A trial run of the turbines had already been carried out. He was sure that the power generation at Thein Dam would commence in June. As regards the agriculture sector, Mr Tuteja said, the PSEB was committed to supplying regular power to the tubewells in the rural areas. Last year, the duration of power supply was eight hours. This year, the duration for uninterrupted power supply would vary between eight and 12 hours. Punjab had surplus power in winter and the PSEB earned about Rs 300 crore by selling surplus power to other states. He said Ludhiana consumed nearly 40 per cent of the total electricity produced by the PSEB. The line losses were also heavy in Ludhiana, indicating large scale theft of power. Mr Tuteja admitted that the pilferage on such a large scale could not take place without the connivance of at least a section of the PSEB staff. The board would adopt a three-pronged strategy to tackle the problem. Static meters, which had been installed at large scale industrial units in Ludhiana, would now be installed at medium units as well. The PSEB chief said
despite free power supply to the agricultural sector, the
PSEB would not be in the red this year. A sum of Rs 800
crore had been saved through a series of economy
measures. |
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Pakistan ‘ignoring’
Punjabi language WAGAH, April 12 — A 40 member delegation of World Punjabi Organisation (WPO) today crossed into India by road for the first time after Independence. The jatha of the WPO, which included 19 women, will participate in the tercentenary celebrations. Ms Shareen Masood, chairperson, Masud Khaddarposh Trust, an organisation for the promotion of Punjabi language, literature and culture in Pakistan, while talking to mediapersons said the Pakistan government was not promoting Punjabi in West Punjab due to political considerations. There was resentment among the Punjabis in West Punjab as there were reports that the government would abolish Punjabi language as a subject at the matric level. She said although Mr Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister, was a Punjabi, he was not promoting Punjabi due to political reasons. Giving details, she said "so much so one could not speak in Punjabi on the floor of the assembly without permission". When Sindhi, Balouchi and Pushto could be medium of instructions in the provinces of Sindh, Balouchistan and Frontier, why Punjabi could not be taught at the primary-level in West Punjab ? she said. "We have been meeting the officials concerned from time to time for the introduction of Punjabi at the primary level but in vain. She, however, said that Punjabi was being taught in West Punjab as a subject at the graduate and postgraduate level. We need teachers in Punjabi. We shall explore the possibility of getting good teachers of Punjabi from East Punjab who could teach this language in Pakistan as visiting lecturers." The president of World
Punjabi Organisation (Pakistan chapter), Mr Iqbal Z.
Ahmed said there was a possibility of strengthening the
bonds of friendship between the people of the two
countries. He said the bus diplomacy launched by Mr Atal
Behari Vajpayee, had ushered in an era of friendship. |
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Experts' plea to conserve AMRITSAR, April 12 — Distinguished planners, architects, academicians and administrators expressed concern that by this time a lot of damage had already been done to the city of Amritsar. They were of the opinion that earnest measures should be taken by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Punjab Government jointly to preserve this heritage. In this pursuit, non-government organisations (NGOs) and general masses should also be involved to protect it. These remarks were made by them in the inaugural session of the one-day workshop on conserving the heritage of Amritsar. The workshop was held here today at Guru Nanak Bhawan on the Guru Nanak Dev University campus. The workshop was organised by the Guru Ramdas School of Planning of the university in collaboration with the Chandigarh chapter of the Institute of Town Planners, India. In his inaugural address, Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, said the preservation of old buildings of the city was very essential as they were the mirror of our glorious past for the coming generations. He said Amritsar was not an ordinary city. He said its planning was done by experienced artisans before the foundation was laid. Dr Soch stressed that there were a number of beautiful havelis, katras and serais from the architectural point of view. Corrective measures should be taken to preserve them. He also announced the university would celebrate the silver jubilee of the Guru Ramdas School of Planning. He said in the recent past this department had rendered commendable service by planning development projects of Harike and the bus stand at Talwandi Sabo. Speaking on "Amritsar — Need to Conserve its Heritage", Mr Balwinder Singh, Head, Guru Ramdas School of Planning, highlighted that Amritsar should be declared a heritage site by UNESCO. He observed that conservation had never been considered in this important city. Though, he said, the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Site and Remains Act, 1964, had been enacted by the state government for the conservation of historical and architectural buildings but at present under this legislation only about 40 buildings in different parts of Punjab had been identified. Only three buildings had been identified in this city. Stressing on public awareness, he proposed to form a society for the protection of ancient areas and buildings which would act as a pressure group and make the public aware about the heritage of Amritsar. Prof Sarup Singh in his paper "The Present Perspective of Amritsar City", said in the context of development inside and outside the walled city of Amritsar the overall situation in the city had assumed serious proportions. He said the deteriorating situation was mainly due to the indifferent attitude of the authorities and the citizens. He remarked that concerted efforts would have to be made by everyone concerned with the city to render to fit for smooth functioning. Mr J.K. Gupta, Chairman of the Chandigarh chapter of the Institute of Town Planners in his speech "Conservation and Preservation of Built Heritage" said planned conservation and preservation could be done through town planning laws, development controls, schemes for built heritage, local bodies and public participation. Mr S.S. Rajput, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, speaking on the occasion said much damage had already been done to the historical buildings of this city due to various reasons. He wanted to involve the public to preserve the built heritage. Dr Inder Pal Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, in his presidential remarks said we should create such an atmosphere in which we should learn to respect, grow and preserve our heritage. He said it was difficult to build a monument but at the same time, it was more difficult to preserve it. Mr E.F.N. Ribiro,
President, Institute of Town Planners, India, inaugurated
a pictorial exhibition of built heritage of Amritsar
city. Mr J.K. Gupta presented a vote of thanks.
Architect, Mohinderjit Singh, Mr B.S. Sekhon, Prof Manjit
Singh, Prof S.N. Misra, Dr Harish Sharma, Mr E.F.N.
Ribiro also presented their papers. |
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Waterlogging brings social stigma MANSA: Have you ever heard about a crisis of brides and bridegrooms ? Yes, this is the situation faced by people in those villages devastated by waterlogging for the past two decades or so. Not only has the soil lost its fertility because of the menace of waterlogging but the availability of brides and bridegrooms has become difficult for families afflicted by it. While moving around in the villages affected by the waterlogging, this correspondent found that quite a number of families had been completely ruined by the waterlogging. The unusual crisis pertaining to brides and bridegrooms has two dimensions. There is a virtual glut of eligible bachelors in these villages, said a farmer of Tibbi (Jatana) village while narrating the area youths' tale of woe. "We are six brothers but only two are married. I am over 30 years of age but still a bachelor. My parents are making efforts to bring a divorce for my younger brother. She has two kids from her earlier marriage", said Sakhan Singh (name changed). Another story, related to some families even trying for inter-caste marriages so as to get brides. "Otherwise you know Jat Sikhs get their sons married in their own community, particularly in the countryside" One boy in the village got married to a gypsy. There are several boys of Jat Sikh families in waterlogged villages who go to the towns or metros for doing "dehari" (labour) for earning their livelihood. No farmer having an iota of self-respect gives his daughter to a boy doing "dehari". As the dowry system has deep roots in this area, people hit by the waterlogging are finding it hard to marry off their daughters. "We have nothing with us to spend on the marriage of our daughters so nobody accepts their hand", rued a group of villagers affected by waterlogging. People in the affected area have become petty minded, they say. Whenever a family from outside comes to the village for seeing the boy for marriage, back-biters take no time to convey to the father of girl that the family of the boy has nothing to live on. The same is the case of girls. Information is leaked to the family of the boy that the girl's father would not be able to give anything in dowry. This sort of social crisis has not been faced by affected people earlier. After the Green Revolution, people had become well off and even they were giving and getting cars and motor cycles as a part of dowry in the marriage of their daughters and sons. But all this has changed due to waterlogging. Before Independence in
this part of the Malwa region, only one or two sons used
to get married while the remaining ones, remained
bachelors. Most of the land in Malwa belt then was
barren. As a result of this infertile land and also given
the fear of fragmentation of land holdings, the polyandry
system was prevalent in the belt. Eminent playwright
Ajmer Aulakh has highlighted this aspect of Malwa's
social life in one of his plays. |
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No arrests in assault case BATHINDA, April 12 — The Sangat police has failed to arrest the five accused who were involved in putting copper sulphate into the eyes of Gurmail Singh of Nandgarh village on March 22. The accused — Teja Singh, Janta Singh, Kika Singh, Sohan Singh and Kaka Singh — were booked under sections 323, 324, 365, 148 and 149 of the IPC. Mr Manjeet Singh, SHO, Sangat police station, when contacted, said the accused had absconded. The medical report of Gurmail Singh was awaited. Meanwhile, the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties, which constituted a five-member team to probe into the incident, alleged in its report that the police did not make any effort to give medical aid to the victim, who was kept in the police station for about 10 hours after the incident. The report said there
was a dispute between Teja Singh, the main accused, and
Gurmail Singh over a piece of land. |
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Dal Khalsa criticises Ranjit
Singh AMRITSAR, April 12 — Dal Khalsa International (DKI) headed by Mr Gajinder Singh today criticised the suspended Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, for not taking up the issue of Sikh detainees in a "proper way". This is for the first time that the DKI, which used to issue statements in favour of the suspended Jathedar, especially at the time of the ongoing feud among the Akalis, has criticised him. In a written press statement issued by Mr Kanwarpal Singh, secretary-general, said it was a matter of concern that Bhai Ranjit Singh had provided only "lip sympathy" to the Sikh prisoners who had been languishing in various jails for the sake of "Sikh struggle". Except for Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) no Akali leader was really bothered about the plight of the detainees, the statement said. It also said the entire Sikh "quom" had taken up the case of Bhai Ranjit Singh with the Central Government for remittance of his sentence. However, he had done nothing for the Sikh detainees so far. The DKI has decided to
observe a "silent protest" before the dais set
up by the ruling party led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal on
April 14 at Anandpur Sahib on the issue. |
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90 centres set up for
procurement BATHINDA, April 12 — The district administration has made all arrangements for the procurement of wheat which has started arriving in various markets. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, in a press note here today, said about 90 purchase centres had been set up in the district so that farmers would not have to travel long distance to sell their produce. He said nine big markets of the district had been allocated to state government procurement agencies and the FCI, while the other markets had been allocated to different agencies. He added that 30 centres had been allocated to the FCI, 21 to Markfed, 15 to the Punjab State warehousing Corporation and 12 to Punsup. The procurement agencies had arranged gunny bags, tarpaulines, electricity and shelter for farmers at the purchase centres. Mr Ladhar said labour and vehicles had also been arranged for the daily transportation of wheat. He added that a yield of about 3,900 kg was expected from one hectare as compared to 3,475 kg last year. District officers had
been deputed to see the arrangements made at the purchase
centres. |
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Forum's plea on Pak gurdwaras PATIALA, April 12 — The Sikh Intelligentsia Forum of Punjabi University yesterday appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to form a committee of Sikh professors which could visit gurdwaras in Pakistan to rewrite their history and submit a report on their maintenance. Forum president Dalbir Singh Dhillon, in a statement here, appealed to the Chief Minister to approach the Pakistan Government to ensure that the SGPC President could be made a member of the Pakistan Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. Professor Dhillon said at a meeting, forum members recounted experiences of visit to Pakistan for the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. He said the members urged the Chief Minister to order the release of youths detained in various jails and announce policies and programmes for the welfare of the Sikh community. Prof Kulwant Grewal,
patron of the Sikh forum and Prof Surinder Singh Khaira,
president, Punjabi University Teachers Association
thanked Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, leader of the jatha,
and Mr Jasdev Singh Sandhu, chairman, Subordinate
Services Selection Board for their efforts to invite
university professors to participate in the Khalsa Chetna
March to Pakistan. |
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Paddy worth Rs 150 crore
damaged MOGA, April 12 — Paddy stocks valued at about Rs 150 crore, belonging to government procurement agencies, lying on the premises of Baghapurana town rice mills for the past several years have been totally damaged and are unfit for human consumption, according to reports reaching here today. Besides several lakh gunny bags in which these stocks have been stored have all been drenched and damaged. The reports said the entire area where these stocks were lying had started emitting a foul smell and causing health problems. Other stocks of paddy belonging to the Punjab Government, worth over Rs 2 crore, lying in the godowns in the open at Moga and Langiana village near here for the past several years, had also been totally damaged and were unfit for human consumption, the reports said. People residing in the 3
km stretch between Moga and Ludhiana complained that the
stocks in the open near Moga had started emitting a foul
smell and if no measures were taken to remove these, it
would cause health problems. |
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Bank employees feel deprived SAS NAGAR, April 12 — The Bank Employees' Federation, Northern States, has flayed the Punjab Government for depriving them of the privilege of taking part in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. Mr S.S. Sidhu, Convener of the federation, said here today that the Punjab Government had declared April 12 as a holiday for all state government employees, boards and corporations. This had been done to enable employees to take part in the celebrations. But the holiday had not been declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, thereby depriving the bank employees of the benefit given to other government employees. He demanded that bank
employees should be compensated. |
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2000 pilgrims leave for
Pakistan AMRITSAR, April 12 — At least 2,000 pilgrims left for Pakistan in three special Pakistani trains from here today to celebrate Baisakhi at Gurudwara Panja Sahib at Hasanabad. While the Punjab and Indian Governments did not allow as many as 85 persons out of the list sent by the SGPC for approval to accompany the jatha, the Pakistan Government denied visas to 45 persons without assigning any reasons, according to the SGPC today. During their 10-day stay
in Pakistan, jatha members would also visit the Sikh
shrines of Dera Sahib at Lahore and Nankana Sahib before
returning to India on April 21. |
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Sikh hope rests on the youth
: Badal ANANDPUR SAHIB, April 12 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said the future belonged to the youth. Their impressive presence in the Khalsa march today symbolised that on the youth rested the hope of the Sikh community as it marched into the next century. Talking to newsmen after addressing the youth conference here, the SAD President pointed out that if the Sikh youth had gone astray or fallen a prey to apostasy, a major portion of the blame must be apportioned to the SGPC. Without naming the former President of the SGPC, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, he made a frontal attack on him saying more than the society or even the parents concerned, it was the failure of the SGPC due to which the Sikh youth trimmed their beards and cut their hair. Unless the SGPC had exposed the youth to the Sikh traditions, explaining the value system of the Khalsa Panth, how could the youth be expected to get educated, he asked. The aim of the party as
well as the SGPC in future would be to infuse in the
youth a spirit of service, sacrifice, religious feelings
to prepare them as ordained by the Gurus to meet social,
economic and political challenges in the 21st century. |
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Sikhs from Pak visit Amritsar AMRITSAR, April 12 — "Dithe Sabhe Than Nahin Tudh Jeha" "Of all the places that I have seen, none compare with you"— the holy words of Guru Arjan Dev are written at the top of the hall gate here which he had uttered on the completion of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). These holy words of Guru Arjan Dev resounded in the ears of a jatha of Pakistani Sikhs and Hindus, 336 in number, who came to India for the first time when they paid obeisance at the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine for Sikhs all over the world. With tears in their
eyes, the Pakistani Sikhs, especially from Peshawar said
their dream of visiting this abode of god during their
lifetime had been fulfilled. "We never thought that
we would ever visit the holy city of Amritsar", they
said. |
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Robbers, chain snatchers held JALANDHAR, April 12 — The police has busted three gangs of robbers and chain snatchers and recovered weapons, cartridges, cash and ornaments from them, according to the SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, here. He said the breakthrough had resulted in tracing several cases of bank robberies and thefts. Those arrested have been identified as Paramjit Singh of Ghal Kalan, Raj Kumar of Kishan Nagar, Deepak Kumar, Kanwaldeep and Suraj all residents of Basti Sheikh and Neeraj Puri of Basti Guzan. In another case, Ram
Krishan of Wariana (Rohtak) has been arrested and seven
cycles have been recovered from his possession. |
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Congress yatra reaches Fatehgarh
Sahib FATEHGARH SAHIB, April 12 — When Captain Amarinder Singh along with Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister, was addressing the press conference someone outside in police uniform fired two rounds near the car of Mrs Bhattal. A close confidant of Mrs Bhattal objected to the firing. Sensing trouble, he made a call to the SSP. The SSP ordered the man should be booked. The police present there seized the weapon while the man ran away. Supporters of Capt
Amarinder Singh objected to it and said firing rounds in
the air was part of celebrations. Mrs Bhattal continued
to demand the arrest of the man. Later, both Capt
Amarinder Singh and Mrs Bhattal came out together and
requested the police not to take any action. |
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