Thursday, November 4, 1999
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Thursday, November 4, 1999 |
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Sehajdharis oppose
amendments ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 3 — The draft seeking amendments to the 1925 Gurdwara Act has come under sharp criticism from a section of Sehajdhari families residing in the holy city. Tackling graft, Badal way CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has evolved a new and effective technique to tackle corruption in public offices and secure total cooperation from the public in his 'do or die" fight against corruption. |
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Remnants of glorious past AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — Frail, thin and small built and an eye lost due to small pox, yet he became the "Lion of Punjab" and a legend in his lifetime. Akali Dal
wings single entity: Badal No
danger to my Cabinet: Badal Scrutinies
delay pensions Price
hike will hit farmers: Cong Kidnap
bid suspects face another case Ahmadiyas
allege denial of visas Truck
driver booked for raping minor Issue
passport to Mann: HC Engr
college teachers observe ‘black day’ CBI
probe ordered into minors’ death 3
cops suspended for ‘torturing’ farmer Boy
kidnapped Mann
seeks clemency for Rajiv’s killers Minister
raids tehsil office Rice
millers unhappy with FCI working Kerosene
sale to be monitored Row
over aid to orphanage takes new turn Calendar
issue to be discussed today PCMS
body decries police failure 2312
lecturers not paid salaries 2
MC employees suspended Tribune
employee bereaved |
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Sehajdharis oppose amendments ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 3 — The draft seeking amendments to the 1925 Gurdwara Act has come under sharp criticism from a section of Sehajdhari families residing in the holy city. As the controversial draft recommends denial of voting right to Sehajdharis in gurdwara elections, the families are harbouring a feeling of alienation. Though by appearance, most Sehajdharis are Hindus, they frequent gurdwaras for prayer and solace. Adhering to the Sikh tenets, many do not smoke and believe the 10 gurus as their prophets. Though the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has still not decided which way to go the families contacted by the TNS caution against such a move, fearing widening of gulf between the Hindus and Sikhs. “This will certainly create hostilities between the two communities”, a practising lawyer Mohan Lal warned. “We are better in many ways. Apart from visiting the gurdwaras, my family strictly adheres to the philosophy of a Sikh way of life”, he lamented. “One tenth of our earnings go to the gurdwara”, he added, cautioning against a move that might alienate Sehajdharis from the Sikh society. Dharampal, a grocer, who had his elder son sport long hair said the move clearly reflected a separatist agenda of a section within the Sikh political institutions, adding that half of his family is Sikh, Dharampal said, “My father has faith in Guru Teg Bahadur, who had laid down his life for Hindus. It pains when you see the leaders doing the opposite”. A cloth merchant, Sushil Chand Mehta, perceives the move as ‘communal’ and “politically motivated”. Reminding that he has been voting for the SGPC candidates in the past, Mehta said, “if I have faith in gurdwara, I am within my right to choose a competent person, who can take care of the religious matter with some amount of transparency”. Mehta, who recites Japji (morning prayer of the Sikhs) every day said, he did not smoke and most couples in the family were married through “anand karaj”. Shiv Chand Tikka of Nangal, who happens to be an Akali Dal leader, warned the move would weaken the mass base of the party that would unfortunately assume a communal colour. “It is for the Shiromani Akali Dal to frustrate such a design, or else it might become a Sikh version of the Muslim League or the BJP”, adding that the move was uncalled for on the eve of a new millennium. Tikka sought the party president P.S. Badal’s intervention to settle the controversy once and for all. Significantly,
Tikka’s family has the blessings of Guru Gobind
Singh, who had gifted a sword to his ancestors reminding
that the Guru had accorded honour to Bhai Nand Lal, a
Sehajdhari at Anandpur, Tikka said the draft actually
negated the Sikh ethos. |
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Tackling graft, Badal way CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 —
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has
evolved a new and effective technique to tackle
corruption in public offices and secure total cooperation
from the public in his 'do or die" fight against
corruption. He has started exhorting the people at his
public meetings to come forward fearlessly and give
specific instances of corruption. He, first makes the
complainant to swear to speak the truth, and then invites
him to announce publicly the work for which bribe was
given and to which particular functionary of the
government. The Deputy Commissioners in all the districts have been issued directions to give top priority to deal with the corrupt elements sternly and send their names to their respective heads of department for punishment. Details of some of the cases publicmen spoke about in the presence of the Chief Minister are as follows. GURDASPUR: Mr Tarsem Raj, a brickiln owner, alleged that he paid Mr T.S. Virk, Excise and Taxation Officer, Rs 20,000 when the officer visited his worksite. Mr Sucha Singh of Tung village alleged he paid Rs 400 to patwari, Mr Ajay Kumar, for entering a mutation. Mr Nishan Singh of Langh Jattan village alleged that he paid Rs 10,000 to Ms S. Rana, the then Executive Officer, Improvement Trust, Gurdaspur, for getting clearance of his plot allotted by the trust. Mr Sukhwinder Singh, a farmer of Lopa village, alleged that he paid Rs 5,000 to Mr Balwinder Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector, police station, Kalanaur, to settle a dispute; likewise, Mr Budh Singh of Gurdaspur said he allegedly paid to Mr Harbhajan Singh, another ASI, Rs 500 against a demand of Rs 5000 to settle a dispute. Mr Sarup Singh, a transporter, alleged that he paid Rs 12,000 to Mr Surjit Singh, Sectional Officer, Mr Surinder Mohan Luthra, steno, both officials of the District Transport Office Gurdaspur against Rs 40,000 paid by way of tax. While receipt was issued for Rs 28,000 the balance some of Rs 12,000 was pocketed by the two. Mr Jasbir Singh said he allegedly paid Rs 500 to one revenue assistant working in the office of the Executive Engineer, PSEB, for obtaining a temporary connection. He also paid Rs 200 to Dr Sudhir Kumar in Civil Hospital allegedly for treatment; likewise, he paid Rs 50 each to two officials of the court of Mr Harjinder Singh, PCS, Additional Civil Judge, for getting his name changed from Jaswant Singh to Jasbir Singh. One Mr Bua Singh of Wadala Banger village allegedly paid Rs 250 to a peon in a veterinary dispensary for treatment of his buffalo. HOSHIARPUR: Mr Rattan Singh allegedly paid Rs 2500 to Mr K.K. Bedi, Tehsildar and clerk of SDM,Garhshankar, to get mutation order. MUKTSAR: Villagers of Malout complained that Mr Preetpal Singh and Mr Ved Parkash, patwaris, took bribe to supply revenue papers and making entries. An unemployed youth alleged he had paid Rs 20,000 to a retired military personnel for recruitment into the Army. The Deputy Commissioners concerned are conducting preliminary enquiries in all these reported cases of corruption for appropriate action against the guilty as per the law. With a view to providing an effective mechanism to take all complaints regarding corruption to a logical conclusion, the Chief Minister is all set to overhaul the vigilance organisation. These policy guidelines broadly envisage for simplifying the procedure for taking stringent action against the corrupt public servants. Care has been taken to devise a system which ensured speedy conclusion of the vigilance cases on the one hand and provide for sufficient safeguard against any harassment of innocent or honest public servants on the other. The new policy defines the jurisdiction of the Vigilance department to give further impetus to his firm resolve to wage war against corruption. Mr Badal has convened a
meeting of all the officers of the Vigilance department
(down to the level of DSPs) in Chandigarh on November 9. |
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Minister warns officials on gifts BATHINDA, Nov 3 — “Don’t receive “forced” gifts on the occasion of Divali. If caught red-handed, the Punjab government will take necessary action against you”. This note of warning has been sounded by the Punjab Food Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, to the government officials here. He said that he would deploy his confidants in plain clothes in the markets and other places to keep a tab on the officials indulging in receipt of “forced” gifts. He added that he would also entertain each complaint made against any official who would pressurise any person for the gifts on the occasion of Divali. The name of the complainant would be kept secret. He also urged the senior officers not to receive gifts as it bred corruption. He added that these steps taken by him would help in the eradication of corruption in government departments. Mr Garg also warned that any government official found collecting money from the road side stall owners, shopkeepers and other traders in the markets on the Divali occasion would not be spared and strict action would be taken against him. The Punjab government had taken number of steps to check corruption in the government departments. The officials had been urged to do the ‘genuine’ work of any body without any delay. He disclosed that he had instructed the senior officials of the Food and Supply Department to take strict action against those ration depot holders who were selling kerosene and other items of subsidised rates in the open market. Mr Garg said that he had
urged the people to celebrate Divali to promote universal
brotherhood and communal harmony. |
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Remnants of glorious past AMRITSAR, Nov 3 (PTI) — Frail, thin and small built and an eye lost due to small pox, yet he became the "Lion of Punjab" and a legend in his lifetime. Such was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s appeal. Loved and respected by all his subjects, his reign symbolised the best in the tradition of Punjab. Today, remnants of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s glorious past are preserved in his erstwhile summer palace in the sprawling Ram Bagh Gardens of this holy city, now being used as a museum. A veritable treasure trove of information on the life and times of the "Lion of Punjab", the museum, the only one of its kind in North India, also has ample information on Sikh kingdoms during the 18th and 19th centuries. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had occupied Amritsar in 1805 and made the holy city his "spiritual capital". In 1818, he built a beautiful garden in the north of the city on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh in Lahore and named it Ram Bagh after Guru Ram Das, the founder of the city. Divided into parts, the museum comprises the palace and gardens on one side and houses prized possessions such as manuscripts, paintings, jewellery, artefacts and other priceless embodiments of the reign of the Maharaja. Despite low funds for maintenance from the government, the museum is upholding traditions of the Maharaja’s reign by preserving its art and craft. The main entrance to Ram Bagh Gardens is through Darshani Deori, a protected monument, and in the centre stands a two-storeyed palace, built at a cost of 1,25,000 "Nanakshahi" rupees. Encircled by solid masonry walls with four towers on the corners, the sprawling gardens, now being used as the museum has a moat, the water from which is used in the garden. Next to the palace is a bathing pool for the royal ladies and the central building served as a reception room. The buildings and garden were constructed under the supervision of Faqir Azizuddin, Sardar Dessa Singh Majithia and his son Sardar Lehna Singh. It is said Faqir Azizuddin brought special workmen from Delhi to adorn the buildings with the visible red stone work. Inside the museum are miniature paintings which show the camp and court of the Maharaja. The paintings present him as a thin little man with an attractive face with an eye lost due to small pox. Bedecked with gold ornaments and pearls, he carries a sword embedded with diamonds and emeralds. The paintings have a rich combination of colours of varied patterns. A huge painting on the city of Lahore with its fort and architectural beauty, showing arches, doorways and even pavements of locally made brick, is also displayed in the museum. There are also oil paintings of the Maharaja, his sons Karak Singh and Sher Singh, besides his grandson Naunihal. The most important painting is by a Viennese artist who visited Lahore in 1841 during the period of Maharaja Sher Singh. The collections also include a number of paintings by Lord Auckland’s sister Emily Eden, who visited Lahore in 1838. She was the last among the artists to paint Maharaja Ranjit Singh when he had become almost invalid, according to available information. There are also a large number of coloured lithoprints showing a series of battle scenes between the British and Sikhs which contain a wealth of information on war, including weaponry, the formation of troops and even uniform of that age. In a separate section of the museum are kept arms and armours of the times of the Sikh kingdom. The handies, guards and scabbards of swords are beautifully decorated with gold and silver work inlaid with costly jewels. But the most important manuscript preserved is the military manual which has coloured illustrations along with the text. A Persian sword which was presented to General Allard by Maharaja Ranjit Singh has a horse-head shaped jade hilt studded with rubies, with a miniature portrait of the Maharaja. There is also an iron and brass shield of exquisite workmanship in relief and cut work prepared by a Muslim craftsman of Lahore, whose name is inscribed on it. The Zafarnama issued by Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a military manual pertaining to the rules and training of the Army during his reign. One of the most remarkable objects on view is a "parwana" of the Maharaja addressed to Raja Fateh Singh of Kapurthala. It bears the seal of the Maharaja and his palm impression in saffron. Inscribed on April 13,1827, it is still intact. Other important correspondence with the chief is also preserved. Several coins kept in the museum display the secular outlook of the king. One of the coins even has a trident of Lord Shiva and on another "Om" inscribed. In some coins "Ram" is written in Devnagri script. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had become a legend in his lifetime loved and respected by all his subjects. Religion was given equal weight in the administration and his reign symbolised the best in the tradition of Punjab that could bring all its people together. The museum truly relives
the glorious times of the Maharaja which needs funds to
spread the saga of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. |
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Akali Dal wings single entity:
Badal CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, reiterated today that the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the party’s legislature wings were a “single entity and completely united” when it comes to religio-political and administrative matters. Talking to newsmen here this morning, Mr Badal said besides filling vacancies in the Council of Ministers, there are seven of these, there might be the induction of one or two new ministers as well. Preference would go to unrepresented districts namely, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Mansa. “I have to lessen my burden”, he added. He, however, did not appear keen on reshuffling the present portfolios. “We must have benefit of experience of present colleagues”. The Ministry expansion will take place by November-end.” The SAD president dismissed the signature campaign reports as also active involvement of his Cabinet colleague, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura in creating any hurdles as a “trouble shooter” in SGPC elections scheduled later this fortnight. The president-designate of the SGPC will be decided on November 6, he added. On the role of Mr Ravi Inder Singh and his not joining the dinner hosted at his (Chief Minister’s) residence last week for the party MLAs, Mr Badal said that he had been invited for the Political Affairs Committee meeting on November 6. “I was not aware who all had been called for the informal dinner meeting”. I have not received any memorandum or communication from the MLAs”, he answered a question. Mr Badal pointed out that relations between the SAD and the BJP were strong and intact. He had personally attended the BJP stock-taking meeting in Chandigarh earlier this week, and all was well. “There appeared to be a vilification campaign against the BJP”. The Chief Minister
hinted at convening a formal meeting of the party’s
legislature wing soon. The main task before the party was
to ensure good governance, and service to the people. |
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No danger to my Cabinet:
Badal FEROZEPORE, Nov 3 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has categorically said the Hindi-speaking villages in Abohar and Fazilka areas would not be transferred to Haryana at any cost as these areas were an integral part of Punjab. Talking to mediapersons at the residence of the local Akali MLA and the Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Punjab, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, today, he added that the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, perhaps did not know that the fate of these villages had already been decided a few years ago. He added that during the regime of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala in Punjab, a census was conducted in Kandukhera village and at that time the villagers had refused to go to Haryana. Mr Badal, stated that Mr Chautala’s claim on 107 Hindi-speaking villages was not based on facts. Mr Badal, who had arrived here to attend marriage ceremony of Mr Sekhon’s son, emphatically said there was no danger to his Cabinet from any of his opponent. A majority of the Akali MLAs were with SAD and all of them had expressed full faith under his leadership. Moreover, the BJP MLAs were also supporting him, he added. To a question, he added that merely 3-4 Akali MLAs were with the SHSAD President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, and these handful of MLAs were spreading rumours that there was a threat to his Cabinet. He accused Mr Tohra of being an agent of the Congress and fielded his party candidates only to support the Congress indirectly in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Condemning the tactics of Mr Tohra, Mr Badal alleged that he wanted to weaken SAD. But Mr Tohra would not succeed in achieving his goals, he added and said the SAD was united and no one could disintegrate it. Anyone who tried to do the same by leaving the party, had lost only his identity, he added. Mr Badal said his
government was seriously considering to withdraw the
facility of free power and water available to farmers and
held the Congress and militancy responsible for the
present financial crisis in the state. Efforts were on to
get the state out from the financial crisis, he added. |
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Scrutinies delay pensions PATIALA, Nov 3 — Field staff of the Punjab Government in the district has spent nearly six months of the 30-month rule of the SAD-BJP government in making repeated scrutinies of old-age pension applicants. Even though the applications had been scrutinised thrice and bank accounts of 25,000 applicants opened, yet the government ordered another scrutiny. The scrutiny had started since the beginning of the month with even PCS officers being involved this time. The fortunes of the aged have swung waywardly with each scrutiny. While 1.10 lakh applicants were identified immediately after the SAD-BJP government was formed, the applicants were reduced to only 8,000 following a second review. After this another review resulted in the number of applicants becoming 25,000 it was to be seen but the fourth review had in store for the aged as the government believes still ineligible persons had taken advantage of the scheme. After the third scrutiny even, as child development project officers spent nearly two months to get the accounts of the beneficiaries opened in banks, the beneficiaries have not received any money for the second quarter. The series of surveys started immediately after the present government came into power when only 9000 pensioners were registered with the District Social Security Office. Following an intensive campaign to carry the pension scheme to the doorsteps of the people, field officers of the Revenue and Health Departments collected 1.10 lakh forms during a two month drive in mid 1997. A second review was ordered as it was felt that Akali workers had used underhand means to get a large number of ineligible persons registered as aged. A review was ordered on the base of the 1988 voter list. However, the scrutiny of the voter list by the child development project officers led to other complications. People who were otherwise beneficiaries under the scheme became ineligible as their age had been wrongly recorded in the voter list. After more than a month only 8,000 persons were found eligible for the scheme. This itself created a problem as too many people were left out of the ambit of the scheme. Subsequently, after the Budget, last year the government asked the applicants to give affidavits with regard to their age. A scrutiny was conducted after the submission of the affidavits which again took more than a month. Following the scrutiny 25,000 pensioners were identified and their bank accounts opened. Though money was deposited by the government in the banks for the first quarter, that for the second quarter had not been deposited till now. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, when contacted said the development and revenue work was not suffering due to the repeated scrutinies. He said the latest scrutiny had been ordered as the earlier reviews had not been conducted in a systematic manner. He added that the feedback about the present list had revealed that as many as 25 per cent of the applicants were bogus. Mr Bir further said it was because of this that now PCS officers had been associated with the review. He said the new process for the registration of further pensioners would be done only after the bogus applicants were weeded out. Regarding pensioners not getting their pensions, he said pensions had been stopped after March and would be restarted after the verification was completed by month end. The scrutiny may take
some time longer to be completed given the lengthy
process of verification of 33,000 applicants, including
the original 9,000 and the 25,000 identified by the state
government. District Social Security Officer Rupinder
Jaijee said though the government had directed that the
entire verification be done by month end, the process was
likely to take longer. |
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Price hike will hit farmers:
Cong GURDASPUR, Nov 3 — Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, Senior Congress leader and member, AICC, Mr Khushhal Behl, former minister and Mr Sukhjinder Singh, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, while talking to mediapersons here said today that the Congress would mobilise public opinion against the rising prices in view of the hike in sales tax imposed by the state government on petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG and against the registration of a case against former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. These leaders said Mr Parkash Singh Badal himself appealed to the Centre to withdraw the hike. Under the circumstances it was unexpected of the Chief Minister to have increased sales tax. They reminded Mr Badal that the price hike in diesel would adversely affect the economy of the farmers which was already in bad shape. The leaders accused the centre for involving late Rajiv Gandhi in Bofors case to derive political mileage. These leaders said the propaganda launched by the Chief Minister against corruption by taking action against junior officials in the state is a political stunt. All transfers and appointments were controlled by the family of the Chief Minister, they added. They said the industry in the state had been adversely affected during SAD-BJP regime. They appealed to the Chief Minister to issue an industrial package for border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore from where industry was shifting to neighbouring states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh where electricity tariff was cheap. The leaders said paddy stocks were piling up in the state because of non-lifting by the FCI. They demanded that the state procurement agencies should come forward and procure these to avoid harassment to the farmers. HOSHIARPUR: Members of the district unit of INTUC and Mr Naresh Thakur, former Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, staged a dharna in front of the municipal library here on Wednesday protest against the price hike of essential commodities. Addressing the gathering the speakers criticised the Central government for its failure to control the prices. They warned the
government to take effective steps to control the prices
failing which the INTUC would launch a statewide
agitation. |
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Kidnap bid suspects face
another case LUDHIANA, Nov 3 — The police has intensified the search for the two prime suspects in the cine star Mamta Kulkarni kidnap bid, Kamal Sharma and Gurcharan Singh, the Sahnewal police has registered another case against the duo on charges of violence, trespassing, use of threats and illegal use of arms. The new FIR registered by the Sahnewal police under Section 34 of the IPC and Section 27,34 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered on the complaint of a petrol station owner, Mr Anil Jain. The complainant has alleged that Kamal Sharma, Gurcharan Singh, one gunman and a woman had driven at his petrol station in a fiat car on October 30 (one day prior to their attempt to kidnap Mamta Kulkarni) and beat him up and also broke the windshield of vehicle parked there. He has alleged that Kamal Sharma had threatened him with dire consequences if he did not leave possession of the petrol station. It is learnt that the petrol station is in the name of Kamal Sharma’s mother and BJP councillor, Mrs Rekha Sharma but was in the possession of Mr Anil Jain who had hired it. The two parties are believed to have a long-standing dispute on the issue. When contacted, the SSP,
Ms Gurpreet Deo confirmed that the FIR had been
registered against Kamal Sharma, and Gurcharan Singh at
the Sahnewal police station. She also informed that Kamal
Sharma had been in touch with her over the telephone and
had claimed himself to be innocent. |
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Ahmadiyas allege denial of visas AMRITSAR, Nov 3 (UNI) — The Ahmadiya community today claimed that the stringent visa policy adopted by the Union Government towards members of the community could prevent a large number of Ahmadiyas from coming to India for participation in the 108th annual Ahmadiya international convention to be held at Qadian (Gurdaspur) the head quarters of the sect from November 13 to 15. A statement issued by sadat Ahmad Jawed, press secretary of the Central Ahmadiya Organisation here said that the committee in charge of organising the convention had received a large number of complaints from members of the community residing abroad that the Indian embassies or missions were not granting them visas for the convention. Despite repeated reminders to the Indian Foreign Office no concrete steps had been taken to issue visas to the Ahmadiyas interested in attending the convention, the statement added. The statement said that the Ahmadiyas are spread out in 165 countries and their one desire had been to visit Qadian and listen to the message of their supreme head Harat Mirza Tahir Ahmed—even last year visas were issued after the annual convention had started, the statement claimed. The statement further said that a large number of Ahmadiyas residing in Pakistan were prevented every year by the government of that country from coming to India for participating at the annual convention, this matter should be taken up by the Indian government with Pakistan the statement demanded. The statement alleged that the Ahmadiyas residing in Pakistan were often targeted by the government and they were not allowed to pay obeisance in mosques, the Fundamental rights of the Ahmadiyas in Pakistan had been stripped through an ordinance promulgated in 1984 . The statement appealed
to international human rights organisations and the
United Nations (UN) to put pressure on Pakistan in order
to halt the prosecution of the Ahmadiya community. |
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Truck driver booked for raping
minor KAPURTHALA, Nov 3 — The police has registered a case under Sections 363, 366, 376, 342 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code against Balbir Singh, a truck driver of the local Bakkarkhand mohalla, on the charge of abducting and raping a minor girl of Sundernagar mohalla. In a first information lodged with police, the girl, who is about 16 and studies in the local government school, alleged that the truck driver with whom her brother was working as an apprentice visited her house and raped her repeatedly in the presence of her blind mother when her brother was away. The driver threatened to kill her if she disclosed the crime to anybody, she alleged. The rape has resulted in her pregnancy. When this fact became known in the locality, the elders intervened. Balbir Singh was persuaded to keep her with him as his wife. After the birth of the child, Balbir Singh started beating and ill-treating her. The matter was reported to the police which registered a case of raping and abduction on her statement. The police is searching
the driver who has absconded. |
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Issue passport to Mann: HC CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Union of India and the Regional Passport Office, Chandigarh, to issue a passport to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP. Mr Mann, who has been elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Sangrur Parliamentary constituency, has been denied passport by the Regional Passport Office, here, since 1990, on the plea that some police and criminal cases were pending against him since 1985. Justice V.K. Jhanji yesterday ordered the office concerned to issue a passport to Mr Mann within a week of the receipt of the court orders. The Regional Passport Officer, Mr Jagdish Chand, however, said though court orders had not been received by the RPO here, a passport would be issued to Mr Mann as per court directions. As an MP, Mr Mann is entitled to a red, diplomatic passport and Mr Jagdish Chand said: "We will issue him a passport as per rules and his entitlement The High Court order said yesterday that since Mr Mann had taken oath as an MP expressing faith in the Constitution of the country, he should be issued a passport. In his petition, Mr Mann
had stated that investigations into various FIRs
registered against him in 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1992 had
not made any headway and that he had not been convicted
by any court in the country. |
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Engr college teachers observe
‘black day’ FEROZEPORE, Nov 3 — Members of the Engineering College Teachers’ Association (ECTA) of the local Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology, on consecutive second day today, observed ‘black day’ by wearing black badges in protest against the non-implementation of revised pay scales effective from January 1, 1996. According to Dr A.P. Singh and Mr T.S. Sidhu, president and general secretary, respectively, of the ECTA, three engineering colleges namely SLIET, PEC and REC of Longowal, Chandigarh and Jalandhar, respectively, have already been given the revised pay scales. Besides, neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Haryana too have implemented revised pay scales. They added that only teachers of the Punjab Government funded or aided engineering colleges had not got the revised pay scales. They were merely 300 in number. As a result, they were presently drawing their pay even less than that of their subordinates. The ECTA leaders said due to the delay in the implementation of revised pay scales, the amount of arrears was accumulating day by day, which would result in enhanced financial burden on the teachers in terms of payment of income tax in that financial year when it would be paid either in cash or deposited in GPF or CPF. They pointed out that had the arrears amount been paid in cash or deposited in the GPF or the CPF two years ago (1998) with other departments, the tenders would have earned attractive amounts of interest till now. Any further delay in this direction would enhance their financial loss. If the arrears were not
paid before March 21, 2000, the Punjab Government would
fail to get the Centre’s share of 80 per cent on the
same, they further apprehended and added, they would
continue wearing black badges till November 5. |
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CBI probe ordered into
minors’ death CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered a CBI investigation into the alleged killing of two minor children Pawan (10) and Puran (5) of Den Dhai village in Rewari district. A petition was filed by Mr Ram Kumar, uncle of the deceased, who alleged that the two boys had been murdered and the body of Pawan was recovered from a well with a handkerchief tied round his neck. It was revealed during the investigation that the family of one Shiv Dayal had allegedly kidnapped the boys. Sanjay, a member of that family, had been punished by the village panchayat with five strokes, fine of Rs 5100, blackening of his face and making him ride a donkey for allegedly pulling the "chunni"of a girl belonging to the complainant's family. It is alleged that Sanjay's family had wanted to teach the complainant's family a lesson. Mr Justice Chalapathi
directed the S.P., Rewari, to hand over the record of the
cases to CBI and ordered it to complete investigation
into the FIR (No.151) lodged at Rewari Sadar police
station on March 4, 1996. |
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3 cops suspended for
‘torturing’ farmer ROPAR, Nov 3 — The district police chief, Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, has suspended three policemen- Parvinder Singh, SHO, Chamkaur Sahib, Ramesh Kumar, an ASI, and Des Raj, following a preliminary inquiry conducted by SP (Operation) Mr Gurmeet Singh in a case of alleged torture of a farmer, Gurmukh Singh, of Bama Kulia village near Chamkaur Sahib. He was taken in custody a couple of days ago by the Chamkaur Sahib police in connection with the suspected killing of a six years old boy, Jaswinder Singh. Talking to TNS this evening, Mr Bhullar said as soon as he got information of the allegations levelled by Gurmukh Singh, he immediately sent SP (Operation), Mr Gurmeet Singh, to Chamkaur Sahib to inquire into the matter. Acting upon the preliminary inquiry made by the SP (Operation), he had ordered launching of departmental proceedings against the trio and strict action would be taken against them. Gurmukh Singh was medically examined yesterday but no external injury was found on his body. Talking to TNS, Mr
Balwinder Singh Sandhu, President of the Arhtiya
Association, Ghamkaur Sahib, said that he, along with
some other persons, produced Gurmukh Singh before the
Chamkaur Sahib police on October 31. Gurmukh Singh was
wanted by the police in the case of Jaswinder
Singh’s death after his grandfather named Gurmukh
Singh in the FIR. Jaswinder’s body was found from a
well in Bama Kulia village. |
||
Boy kidnapped HOSHIARPUR, Nov 3 — Rohit (8), son of Mr Guru Dutt, a leading cloth merchant, was kidnapped from the Nai Abadi locality yesterday. According to his father Rohit who was a student of Mount Carmel School, was not feeling well due to which he took him from the school to his shop from where Rohit went to his house alone. After leaving his school bag at home, Rohit went to the adjoining shop to buy fireworks and was kidnapped. Mr Dutt said about 4.15 pm his daughter received a telephone call from the kidnappers who told her that her brother was safe and they would again contact them on the telephone. The kidnappers again contacted him on the telephone and warned him that he should not report the matter to the police. Meanwhile, the police was informed and after that the kidnappers did not contact the family. A case under Section 387 of the IPC has been registered by the police. Shopkeepers observed a
strike today in protest against the kidnapping. |
||
Mann seeks clemency for
Rajiv’s killers LUDHIANA, Nov 3 — Member of Parliament from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency and president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann appealed to the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan to grant clemency to the four accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. In a letter sent to the President a copy of which was released to the press here today, Mr Mann appealed that the death sentence of the four converted to life imprisonment. Claiming that the SAD
(Amritsar) had always stood for the recognition and
implementation of international norms of criminal
jurisprudence and abolition of the death penalty. Mr Mann
said that when capital punishment was handed out in
political judicial cases it led to bitterness amongst the
affected communities as in the case of Maqbool
Butt’s and Satwant Singh, Kehar Singh, Jinda and
Sukha’s hanging. |
||
Minister raids tehsil office HOSHIARPUR, Nov 3 — Mr Sewa Singh Shekhwan, Public Relations and Revenue Minister, Punjab, raided the tehsil office here today and checked the movement and attendance registers of the staff and found three employees missing from the office. He recommended action against them. The Tehsildar was on tour and the Naib tehsildar was on leave. Mr Shekhwan met the visitors at the tehsil complex and listened to their problems. Later he addressed the
visitors and said corruption by any government employee
would not be tolerated at any cost. He added that he had
instructed the SDM here to ensure the presence of at
least out revenue officer in the office so that visitors
may not suffer. He also instructed the employees to make
entries in the movement register before going one from
office for some work. He instructed the patwaris to be
present at their respective circle offices. |
||
Rice millers unhappy with FCI
working AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — The Amritsar-based rice millers were up in arms against the tactics of the Food Corporation of India by forcing them to shift damaged old stocks of paddy for milling and levy purposes. The president of the millers association, Mr Harish Devgan told The Tribune that the FCI was compelling them to take deliveries of old stocks of paddy which he alleged was not suitable for milling as per specifications which were very harsh and stringent with regard to quality. Mr Devgan pointed that the millers had offered to give levy rice from the fresh paddy purchased in the current season which was of very good quality and would meet the FCI’s specifications but the officers of the corporation were adamant on getting old stock milled on priority. He added that the millers would not succumb to any such pressure but were ready to work out some compromise to help the FCI tide over their difficulties. The millers claimed that during this season, they alone had bought over 4 lakh tonnes against the agencies buy up three lakh tonnes in the hope that the FCI would start lifting levy rice upto 75 per cent of the production unlike last year when the millers had suffered at the hands of government’s stand when they redecided to lift levy rice. The president added that
the association was not very happy with the working of
the FCI here as the latter was not willing to help trade.
He urged to government to look into their problem and
direct the FCI to lift the rice on priority while they
could work out some compromise for milling the damaged
paddy too. |
||
Kerosene sale to be monitored ROPAR, Nov 3 — The Punjab Food and Supply Department has been ordered to constitute special raiding teams to check the distribution of kerosene being done through the PDS in the state. Disclosing this today, the state Food and Supply Minister, Mr Madan Mittal, said the government had decided to keep a check on distribution of kerosene being done through the PDS after receiving several complaints in this regard through the media. He said even he himself was informed by the party workers in the field about the irregularities in the distribution of the kerosene. Mr Mittal said instructions had been issued in this regard to the Director, Food, Punjab, who would now initiate proceedings in that direction. He said the Director would form special teams consisting of officers available at the Head Office. The minister said
special teams would conduct raids to bring the
‘erring’ depot holders to book. These raids
would certainly help in ensuring proper distribution of
the kerosene, he added. |
||
Row over aid to orphanage
takes new turn CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — The controversy over the stoppage of assistance by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to Gur Assra Trust, looking after orphan children and widows, took a new turn today. The trust president, Ms Kulbir Kaur Dhami, in a letter addressed to the Jathedar of Akal Takht has sought his intervention in getting the necessary assistance, both in kind and cash, resorted to it. The letter, a copy of which was faxed to The Tribune, inter alia, has attacked the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, as well and demanded that in the larger interest of the inmates of the trust it should be pulled out of the quagmire, preferably before Divali. The SGPC has been
helping the organisation for the past three years. |
||
Calendar issue to be discussed
today AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — A crucial meeting of the Sikh clergy would be held at the Akal Takht tomorrow in which the controversial “Nanakshahi” calendar will be discussed at length. The ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ has kicked off a controversy between the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Akal Takht. The SGPC had unanimously passed a resolution for implementation of the calendar. However, Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht had banned the implementation till it was passed by representatives of various Sikh organisations. It is unclear whether
Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib, will attend
tomorrow’s meeting as a case has been registered
against him at Talwandi Sabo in connection with the death
of his daughter-in-law. PCMS body decries police
failure AMRITSAR, Nov 3 — The PCMS Association held an emergency meeting in the Civil Surgeon’s office today to take a strong notice of the attack by some unscrupulous elements with lethal weapons, inflicting grievous injuries on one of their senior members Dr G.S. Passi while he was on duty in Kangra Colony Civil Dispensary. In a joint statement Dr R.S. Buttar, Dr Harpartap Singh and Dr J.S. Khalsa, senior vice-president, organising secretary, and president local unit deplored the alleged inaction by the district police authorities. The association has
threatened to go on strike if those elements were not
arrested immediately. |
||
2312 lecturers not paid
salaries FAZILKA, Nov 3 — As many as 2,312 lecturers working in different government senior schools in Punjab have not been paid salaries for the past two months of September and October, 1999. The reason for the non-payment is that the sanction for these posts by the Education Department is still awaited. Lecturers have alleged that they will be forced to celebrate a “Kali Divali”. Mr Raj Kishore Kalra,
spokesman, Government Secondary Teachers Union, Punjab,
in a statement has urged the Education Secretary, Punjab,
to release their salaries without any further delay. |
||
2 MC employees suspended LUDHIANA, Nov 3 — The Commissioner municipal corporation, Mr S.S. Sandhu, has suspended two employees of the corporation Mr Harpal Singh, "safai sewak" and Mr Gursev Singh, a typist attached to the Joint Commissioner (H). While Harpal Singh has
been suspended for negligence of duty and causing damage
to municipal property, Gursev Singh has been suspended
for signing his attendance in advance for November 4 as
well as November 5. |
||
Tribune employee bereaved JALANDHAR, Nov 3 — Mr Naunid Rai, father of a Tribune employee, Mr Rajinder Kumar, passed away early this morning at Batala. He was a former Municipal Commissioner, a member of the Improvement Trust and secretary, Punjab Working Journalists Union. Presently, he was working with several social organisations. He was president of the district Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. He leaves behind his
widow, four sons and a daughter. His funeral at Batala
was largely attended. |
||
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