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Badals’ plea for regular bail adjourned Ropar, December 5 Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Sukhbir Badal are currently lodged at Patiala’s Central Jail following the rejection of their pleas for interim bail. As soon as the hearing resumed at about 2 pm, the special public prosecutor told the court that an SLP had been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try the case, besides the failure of the prosecution to obtain proper sanction for prosecution, along with non-holding of the preliminary inquiry in the matter before the registration of the case. The public prosecutor added that all these issues were being agitated before the Ropar court in the regular bail applications also. As such propriety demanded that the hearing of the bail applications should be adjourned till the decision on the SLP by the apex court. An application was also submitted in this regard. Opposing the plea, Punjab’s former Advocate-General Hardev Singh Mattewal, former Additional Advocate-General Gurminder Singh, senior advocate Baldev Singh and advocate Sant Pal Singh Sidhu argued that the prosecution was simply looking for excuses to delay the matter. They added that the SLP had been filed by the petitioners simply for the transfer of the case outside the state of Punjab with subsequent prayer for the stay of the proceedings and bail. The matter, they claimed, was not actually taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court, but was simply mentioned. No interim order was passed by the court, only the date was advanced from December 15 to December 8. They further asked the court to continue with the hearing of the case as “Article 21 of the Constitution of India was being violated”. An affidavit was also filed. After hearing the arguments for over an hour and perusing the affidavit, besides the application, Mr Goel ruled: “Admittedly, the SLP has been filed by the accused in the Supreme Court for the transfer of the case outside the state of Punjab with a prayer for stay and grant of bail. The head note of the SLP also mentioned ‘Application for stay and grant of bail’. The judge further ruled: “Again, in para 12 of the SLP, a payer clause shows that the petitioners have prayed for enlargement on bail to the satisfaction of Ropar’s Special Judge”. The judge concluded: “Perusal of the material placed before me shows that the matter regarding bail application of the petitioner is pending before the Supreme Court and it is already seized of the matter and has fixed the date of hearing on December 8. Keeping in view the pendency of the matter before the Supreme Court, it is not justifiable and appropriate to hear the bail petitions today. Therefore, the applications are adjourned to December 9 for awaiting the orders of the apex court....” |
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Wrong moves at wrong times Chandigarh, December 5 Taking advantage of the SLP, the prosecution managed to get the case adjourned to September 9. At the very onset of the case, the special public prosecutor informed the court that propriety demanded the adjournment of the case as the Supreme Court was seized of the matter. This is not the first time that the prosecution was able to take advantage of the move by the Badals. Even before the filing of the challan in the Ropar court, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Member of Parliament son Sukhbir Singh “procured” and “leaked” two vital documents pertaining to the challan. Appearing before the court, the prosecution opposed their applications for regular bail on the ground that the capacity of the Badals to influence the investigations was apparent from the fact that they had managed to procure the documents prior to the filing of the challan. The story does not end here. Legal experts are also of the opinion that the Badals gave the prosecution an opportunity to seek judicial remand for them by not moving the court before the filing of the challan. “If political vendetta was the reason behind their alleged implication in a corruption case, the Badals should have realised that the things were not going to be easy for them. As such, they should have filed petitions for the grant of anticipatory bail, instead of applying for regular bail after appearing before the court”, they claim. After all, all former ministers, booked by the Punjab Vigilance Department, have been moving the court either for the grant of anticipatory bail or issuance of a seven-day notice in case they were required by the police, experts add. Otherwise also, in the absence of proper summoning, either of the Badals, instead of both, should have appeared before the court to judge the mood of the prosecution and decide further course of action. Learning from their experience, they are now rightly considering the feasibility of filing a petition for the grant of pre-arrest bail to Mrs Surinder Kaur Badal. The luminaries also insist that the Badals, in the very first place, should have challenged the summoning orders either in the Punjab and Haryana High Court or before the Supreme Court. Instead of agitating the issues of jurisdiction and sanction before the courts now, they should have sought the quashing of the summoning orders on these very grounds before the date fixed for appearance of Badals before the Ropar court. They also assert that at the present stage the defence should have kept the arguments short. By now they would have obtained orders from the Ropar court on the bail applications. In case of an unfavourable order, they would have been in a position to file an appeal before the superior court by now. |
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No need for acting President, says
Badal Patiala, December 5 The former Chief Minister stated this when a few newspersons managed to enter the office of the Jail Superintendent where he was slated to meet visitors along with Akali leaders and workers. Mr Badal seemed to be in good health and was wearing his trademark blue turban, white kurta-pyjama and Punjabi jutti with thick socks. He had a black jacket over his
kurta. A large number of people came to meet him and took his blessings by touching his feet. Mr Badal maintained that there was no need for an acting President, but did not elaborate on the issue. Asked as to when his son had joined him in the special cell allocated to him, he said this had taken place last evening after the visit of Minister of State for Jails Malkiat Singh
Birmi. He said Mr Sukhbir Badal had been transferred to his cell because the state government did not want the NDA team, which was slated to visit the jail, to see the conditions in which his son was being kept in the complex. Mr Sukhbir Badal, who met visitors separately in the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, when questioned about his incarceration, claimed that the Minister of State for Jails was lying by claiming that he had all along been with his father. He said he had been allocated a cell meant for condemned prisoners, who were awaiting the death sentence. He said such a cell had been allocated to him because the state government wanted to take revenge on him as he had aggressively opposed the actions taken by it against his family as well as workers and leaders of the SAD. The former minister also claimed that a television set had been provided in his father’s cell only yesterday and that the cable connection which the Jail Minister had referred to was still to be put in place. He maintained that the state government would not be able to prove any charge of corruption against his family. He said the matter was now no longer one of corruption but had been turned into a case of personal enmity. He said the recent framing of charges against the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, in a case of defamation filed by him had vindicated this stand. The Akali leader was wearing a “parna” around his head. Like his father, he was also clad in a
kurta-pyjama, jacket and Punjabi jutti with socks. A former Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while talking to newspersons outside the jail on behalf of the party, said the SAD was not satisfied with the facilities being provided to Mr Badal and his son. He said the former Chief Minister was not being allowed food of his choice from outside nor had any “sewadar” been appointed to look after him. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said Mr Badal and his son were being treated like criminals, adding that they should be given treatment applicable to political prisoners. Mr Manpreet Singh Badal said the issue at stake was of political decency and morality, and not corruption. Other leaders who called on Mr Badal and his son today included SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr Tota Singh, Mr Janmeja Singh
Sekhon, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr Gobind Singh Longowal, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, Mr Surjit Singh
Rakhra, Mr Mantar Singh Brar and Mr Harmail Singh Tohra. |
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SIDELIGHTS Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today came to meet his friend Parkash Singh Badal in jail after informing the district administration about his visit in advance. Mr Chautala met the SAD President and his son Sukhbir in the office of the Jail Superintendent for around 40 minutes. Later, talking to newspersons, he said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh would have to pay for “wrongly” putting the Badal duo in jail. He said there was no law and order in Punjab and that Capt Amarinder Singh should put in his papers. *** A former Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should have behaved like Alexander the Great while dealing with the SAD President. He said even the foreign ruler had behaved with dignity when his enemy, King Porus, had demanded treatment befitting a king after he had been defeated in a battle by Alexander. *** Former Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was today seen sporting a “mala” of black beads on his right writ. *** The district police today deputed policemen on horses to ensure that Akalis, who had collected in front of the inner jail gate, did not make a rush for its entrance in one go. Policemen held a long rope in front of the jail gate for this purpose. *** Akalis, who at one time were getting restive to meet the SAD President and were trying to proceed to the main gate, were stopped from doing so by Mr Manpreet Singh Badal. The Akali leader asked the assembled crowd to make “jathas” on the basis of the districts from which they had come following which each “jatha” met both Mr Badal and his son Sukhbir in an organised manner. The Sangrur “jatha” went in first. *** Local Akali leader Harkirat Singh Manga, who has filed an election petition against Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, today served tea in a truck parked outside Central Jail. Akali workers, who came to meet the SAD President, partook of tea being served by Mr Manga and his workers. *** The jail authorities did not allow former minister Ranjit Singh Balian to take his car into the jail complex. Mr Balian, who is physically challenged had to go a long distance on his wheelchair. Later, he complained against this to the ASP, Dr Kaushthav Sharma, who expressed regrets. *** The SAD has started building a concrete stage in front of the office of the Manager of Dukhniwaran Gurdwara in the city. The stage is being built for the party’s political leadership as workers will collect in the precincts of the gurdwara before marching to Central Jail, where the Badals are incarcerated. |
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Bhattal reposes confidence in Sonia
Gandhi Chandigarh, December 5 She chose the reception party of Jail Minister Malkit Singh Birmi’s son here this evening as yet another occasion to demonstrate her strength. It was the third successive show of strength giving credence to the speculations that dissidence was brewing within the Punjab CLP. Before the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh accompanied by Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bir Devinder Singh and others could reach the venue of the reception, Ms Bhattal and her entourage of 20-odd ministers and MLAs had called it a day and left the function. Accompanying her were Mr Raj Khurana, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Dr Harbans Lal, Mr P.S. Bhatti, Mr Tarlochan Singh, G.S. Atwal, Mr Sadhu Singh, Ms Razia Sultan, Mr Sukhjinder Singh, Mr Ram Lubhaya, Mr Surjit Mann, Mr Romesh Dutt, Ms Aruna, Mr Jugal Kishore, Mr Rakesh Pandey and Mrs Dulo and some others. Like the previous two occasions, all members of the so-called Beant Singh group came together, blessed the newly weds together and sat in a group and did not wait for the Chief Minister to arrive or greet him. Today a couple of ministers who had earlier come with Ms Bhattal later followed and joined the Chief Minister at the function. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Mr Avtar Henry, Mr Dimpa, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang and Mr Jagjit Singh besides a few others. In yet another move, Ms Bhattal held a meeting of party legislators and ministers at her residence after which she sent a letter to the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, expressing “on behalf of dear colleagues in the CLP and Congress workers”, her full and unflinching faith in Mrs Sonia Gandhi “reiterating full faith in her undisputed leadership.” |
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Dy Speaker for action against
‘corrupt’ ministers Ludhiana, December 5 Known for his candid views, Mr Bir Devinder Singh has made scathing comments on intra-party affairs and had said he is in favour of action against ministers of the Amarinder Singh government who have been charged with corrupt practices and misuse of public office. Participating in the “Kharian Kharian” programme, to be telecast on Lashkara TV on Sunday at 7.45 pm, he admitted that the ruling Congress was not totally free from corruption, but pointed out that corruption reached its acme in Punjab during the regime of Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Answering a question about the prevailing discontentment among members of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party over the style of functioning of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Deputy Speaker admitted that parleys were being held on the issue and various alternatives were being discussed in the CLP and by the Congress high command. Parrying a direct question about the possibility of Mr Amarinder Singh being shortly replaced as Chief Minister, he said, “the Congress high command’s worry is to ensure a victory in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. To achieve this goal, if positive signals do not come forth from the present party set-up in the state, the party high command can take any decision it deems fit”. Claiming to be leading a new school of thought in the Punjab Congress, Mr Bir Devinder said this school was of the view that the party should adopt a more balanced policy towards Punjab vis-a-vis Sikhs. An opinion was gaining ground among party leaders that in the changed socio-political scenario in Punjab, the party should no more bank upon winning poll by dividing voters, he added. |
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DC’s explanation sought on Khalsa Diwan
row Amritsar, December 5 A fax message, received by the Deputy Commissioner here stated that the NCM had taken cognizance of the report, published in The Tribune that the District Magistrate had appointed SDM, Bhupinder Singh as administrator who had locked offices of the Diwan. The directive further reads that this was for the first time in the 100-year history of the Diwan that an administrator had been appointed for elections. The administrator had been appointed for two months. Mr Tarlochan Singh, chairman of the NMC said that the act of the Deputy Commissioner was unconstitutional. The commission has noted that the administration had interferred in the administration of the reputed minority institution which violates Article 30(1) of the Constitution. Mr Raminder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, told The Tribune that he had issued speaking orders under Section 144 as there was apprehension of a breach of the peace due to extreme postures taken by the two groups of the Diwan in wake of the forthcoming elections. Mr Raminder Singh said that he would send his reply to the NCM tomorrow. Replying a question, the Deputy Commissioner, said that the administration would hand over the management to a group immediately after the elections were over or in the light of a verdict by Akal Takht. Taking a serious note of the action of the district administration, SGPC honorary secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta said it amounted to direct interference in the affairs of the Sikhs which won’t be tolerated. He alleged that taking over the management of the Diwan was part of the ‘deep-rooted’ conspiracy, of the state government. Mr Calcutta said that the matter was pending with Akal Takht and hence district administration must withdraw the orders issued under Section 144
CrPC. |
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Archbishop for Sikh-Christian talks Amritsar, December 5 The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, offered his services for any initiative taken by the Pope, St John Paul, for creating complete harmony among different religions of the world. The Archbishop also visited the Golden Temple to pay his obeisance. Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, international adviser to Jathedar Vedanti, said Akal Takht would reciprocate any initiative for the world peace taken by the Vatican. Earlier, the galaxy of religious scholars who participated in the three-day international conference were of the unanimous view that this holy scripture of Sikhs was a strong votary of inter-faith understanding and peaceful co-existence. The messages of the Sikh Gurus, as enshrined in the Sikh scriptures, inspire the whole mankind to eradicate evil from all walks of life. Dr Jagdev Singh Rai of the Sikh Human Rights Group said Guru Granth Sahib promotes pluralism. It further encourages rationalism but also brings home the limits of human logic. The conference was organised by the Department of Guru Nanak Studies of Guru Nanak Dev University here in collaboration with the Academy of Guru Granth Studies, USA. On the concluding day, Dr Sukhdial Singh, Dr Surjit Kaur Jolly, Dr Rajneet Singh
Bahwa, Dr Dharam Singh, Dr Paramjit Singh Sidhu, Dr Sukhdev Singh
Sohal, Dr Daya Singh Sandhu, Dr Jaspal Singh, Dr Ajeet Singh, Dr Gursharanjit Singh, Bibi Inderjit Kaur presented their papers on various aspects of Guru Granth Sahib. |
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Vilayat Khan’s sitar, Komkalis’ songs enthral audience Amritsar, December 5 After the divine vocal recital by Pt Jasraj, who was preceded in his presentation by Biswajit Roy Choudhury and Johar Ali on the sarod and violin yesterday, it was the turn of Ustad Vilayat Khan to take the affair of melody to unsurpassable heights today. Perturbed by the theft of some musical instruments of his troupe members, who were struck by robbers while on board the train in Bihar during the journey to Amritsar, Ustad Vilayat Khan prepared himself all day long for the instrumental recital, which was part of the festival. In a conversation prior to the recital, the musician, in his patently humble style, said, “I still need to prepare before the concert. For all these years, I have been worshipping music, but there is a lot about this realm that I need to discover. I am a learner. Pray that my recital is worthy of the audience.” These words make the Ustad of Vilayat Khan, who remains too humble to acknowledge fame. Known to sing with his sitar, the Ustad is still remembered for his classic presentation during a festival organised in Mumbai some decades ago. He mesmerised the audience, comprising doyens like Ustad Fayyaz Khan to the extent of being recalled for a performance five times. Keeping purity and precision, Ustad Vilayat Khan represents the Gauripur Gharana of sitar recital. After being guided by his father Ustad Inayat Khan, he went on to learn vocal music from his grandfather Bande Hasan, who also taught him to play the ‘surbahaar’. Having mastered the sitar over the years, he is now characterised by his beautiful presentation of the ‘gayaki ang’. When he strikes melodies on the sitar, the composition ceases to remain a piece for the instrument. It suddenly acquires lyrics and stands detailed as a song. Before the sitar maestro unleashed spiritual melodies at Khalsa College today, Vasundhara and Kalapini had already set the tone for the evening by delineating the style of Kumar gandharva — pure and classic. Innovating within the ragas, they wove a musical spell that merged well with the grand ambience of Khalsa College. Vasundhara Komkali, the wife of Kumar Gandharva, was naturally superior in presentation to daughter Kalapini, who has rendered Malwa’s folk melodies in the new historical film titled, “Ahilya Bai Holkar”, which is slated to open the International Film Festival at Pune. Based on the life and times of the Indore, empress Ahilya Holkar, the film features Shabana Azmi and South Indian actress Mallika in lead roles. In an interface with The Tribune, the two musicians who run the Kumar Gandharva Sangeet Academy at Devas, talked about their theme concerts, a concept projected by Kumar Gandharva himself. Recently Vasundhara and Kalapini merged their musical skills to produce a concert titled, “Aaye badariya”, that draws on clouds. They have also documented the folk tunes of Malwa, besides now recording 1,000 hours of Kumar Gandharva’s recital. |
Cong’s rout to benefit us, says
Ramoowalia Bathinda, December 5 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Ramoowalia said his party had been widening base in the country, and would launch a campaign against the politicians and officials, indulging in corruption. He said that apart from it, the party would stage a dharna and hold a rally at Jalandhar on December 18, 2003 to press visas for the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) living in various European countries and sought political asylum in these countries and now were being denied the same by the Indian Embassies and High Commissions there. He said that he had met Pakistan High Commissioner, Aziz Ahmed Khan and had submitted a list of these 33 Punjabi youths, languishing in Pakistani jails to him. A copy of the list had also been submitted to Foreign Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha so that the Indian government could also help in this matter. Apart from it, a list of six youths of Haryana in Pakistan’s jails would also be submitted on same day. He added that he had convinced Mr Khan about the fact that all Punjabi and Haryanavi youths in European countries, who sought political asylum in their countries and now were being denied the same by the Indian embassies and High Commissions there were not criminals but innocent youths, who had become victims of unauthorised travel agents. To a question, he said that former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal and his son Mr Sukhbir Badal had been reaping what they had sown. They indulged in corruption and hence they were in jail. |
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SAD youth wing factions
unite Chandigarh, December 5 Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, President of the youth wing, owing allegiance to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said he had no differences with Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, who was appointed President of the outfit by Mr Badal. As both Mr Tohra and Mr Badal had joined hands, there was no question of maintaining the separate identity of the two youth wings. Mr Panjoli said he had named two nominees to discuss the organisational matters with Mr Dhillon. Addressing a press conference, Mr Panjoli and Mr Dhillon said they had started mobilising youth workers for participation in the December 8 rally at Patiala to celebrate Mr Badal’s birthday. |
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Dist unit of CPI splits Bathinda, December 5 The decision to remove Mr Joga from his post was taken at a meeting held here today under the presidentship of Mr Gama Ram. At the meeting, the activists alleged that Mr Joga was holding the post undemocratically as his term of two years had elapsed. Dr Joginder Dyal, state secretary of the CPI, while rejecting the removal of Mr Joga from the post, said the latter would continue to function as district secretary. He added that Mr Joga could be removed from his post only through the party organisational elections. He said those who had held a meeting and elected Mr Gulzar Singh as acting secretary would be taken to task. Dr Dyal said all elected units of the party, would continue to function till fresh elections were held. |
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Ravi Inder Akali Dal’s conference Chandigarh, December 5 |
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Cong connection in flesh trade case
denied Amritsar, December 5 Talking to The Tribune today she said even president of the Punjab Congress’s Mahila Mandal Ms Gurkanwal Kaur was not aware of the district body’s existence much less of the body’s vice-president (Neelam). She said the ousted president of DCMM Ms Gursharan Kaur who had nominated Neelam as vice-president had did not taken either of them into confidence before forming the body or the Neelam’s nomination. The PPCC vice-president who assumed control of the DCMM into her hands today following humiliation of the party after the exposure of Neelam a few days ago, disclosed that Neelam had defected from the BJP along with 30 supporters, was expelled in 1999. She said she was suspicious of her source of income from which the latter donated a lot of money. “Neelam maintained a pious front by donations and even holding ‘satsangs’ in her residence at Chheharta (where from she was caught). She said she owned a factory in Delhi when asked to explain her sources of income” revealed the vice-president. Meanwhile, bail of Neelam in the case of immoral trafficking was rejected. The police failed to get her police remand, said SP (I) city Pawan Kumar Rai. He revealed that first-hand report stated that she was definitely running a ‘brothel’. He admitted that some phone numbers in her diary were ‘suspicious’. Meanwhile a five-member probe committee has been constituted to inquire into Neelam affair in which the role of a ‘councillor’ of the Municipal Corporation is being suspected. The committee formed on the orders of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh includes MLAs Dr Raj Kumar, Mr Jugal Kishore, Prof Darbari Lal (Minister for Education)Mr Harjinder Singh Thekedaar, Mr Om Parkash Soni (former Mayor) has no woman member either from mahila wing or other party activists. Ms Gursharan Kaur’s role in the nomination of Neelam and the district body have also come under scrutiny. She was dismissed by the state Congress vice-president after the exposure of Neelam a few days back. Meanwhile Ms Vimla Dang, patron Istri Sabha demanded expulsion of the Congress Councillor tender whose patronage the ‘adda’ was being run in the Chheharta area. She also demanded action against the policemen who had allegedly been accepting inducements for turning a blind eye to the flesh trade. She said it was shameful that a woman with such credentials had become a leader of a major political party. |
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Substandard medicines purchased:
pharmacists Chandigarh, December 5 However, the department has denied the pharmacists allegation. “No substandard medicine has been purchased”, said a senior officer of the Health Department today. Countering the stance of the Health Department the pharmacists say “let there be an independent inquiry to find out the truth”. A spokesman of the Punjab State Pharmacists Association said “we have specifically told the Health Minister about the medicines that are of poor quality. Such medicines cannot be given to patients. “The minimum we expect from the governments to get these medicines inspected providing such medicines to the patients would amount to playing with their lives,” he added. The minister and other authorities were also informed about the bulk purchase of a medicine which was sparingly used as it was a habit-forming drug. About two lakh tablets of this medicine were lying with various hospitals. A major part of this stock had expired. The association alleged there was rampant corruption in the department. Even though the minister had been apprised of all this, no action had been taken. The association had not decided to take the issue to the public. “We will hold demonstrations at all district headquarters till December 19 in this connection. Effigies of the authorities concerned will be burnt during such demonstrations. A rally will be held in the second week at Dasuya, which falls in the constituency of the Health Minister”, said Mr K.K. Singla, General Secretary of the association. |
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Khanduri inaugurates two-laned bridge Sarsa (Ropar), December 5 Under the NHDP, the Union Government has also taken up the ambitious project for the development of the Golden Quadrilateral connecting four major metros and the development of north-south and east-west corridors linking Kashmir and Kanyakumari, and Silchar (Assam) and Porbandar (Gujarat). Major-Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd), Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways, gave this information while talking to newspersons here today. He was here to inaugurate a two-laned bridge over the Sarsa river. The construction of the 334-metre bridge was started in 1998. Initially, it was expected that it would be opened to public during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa. However, it took four years and three months for the completion of the bridge. Along with the bridge, 3-km approach roads have also been constructed. The total cost of the project was Rs 12.20 crore. He refuted claims of the Punjab Government that the Union Government was not releasing funds for the development in the state. He said during the past four years, Punjab had received Rs 164.34 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF) programme. Under the CRF, 76 works involving Rs 160 crore have been sanctioned and work on about 45 projects has already been completed. General Khanduri claimed that during the past 50 years, just 11-km of national highways were four-laned per year. However during the rule of NDA government, 11-km of national highways were being four-laned per day. Earlier, General Khanduri was welcome at the Sarsa bridge by the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain, former Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, and local leaders. He later addressed a public rally at Sarsa village, which was attended among others by Mr Jagmohan Kang, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Sports, Punjab, and Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Minister of State for Grievances, Transport and Cooperation, and Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, state president of the BJP. Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, who represents the area, demanded from Mr Khanduri that the project of four-laning the Ambala-Kiratpur Sahib National Highway No 21 should be given clearance at the earliest. The Union Minister assured that he would look into the proposal. Chandigarh (TNS): The Centre has decided to connect all state capitals by roads which could not be linked under the Golden Quadrilateral project, meant to link the four major metros and the roads running through the North — South and East — West corridors, said the Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways, Maj-Gen B.C. Khanduri ( retd) here today. The minister, who was in the city in connection with the inauguration of a high-level bridge in Ropar, said around 10,000-km length of roads would have to be laid to connect the state capitals. |
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Tributes paid to
revolutionaries Jalandhar, December 5 Paying tributes to the two martyrs after lighting a lamp, Mr Philip McDonagh, Ambassador of Ireland, who was the chief guest, said there were similarities between Indian and Irish freedom struggles and as contribution of the freedom fighters to the freedom of their respective countries. McDonagh, who was accompanied by senior Congress leader D.P. Sehgal and former Punjab Speaker Surjit Singh Minhas, also sang an Irish patriotic song. Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Punjab Local Bodies Minister, announced a grant of Rs 50,000 to the committee. Chander Mohan, Editor of “Vir Partap” said Jatinder Nath Das, who laid down his life in Lahore’s Borstal jail after a fast of 63 days, served as an ideal for Shaheed Bhagat Singh, whom at that time was under pressure to write a petition for mercy to save himself to the Governor-General. “Instead of mercy petition, he wrote a kind of charge sheet and this was most likely for his having been inspired by Jatin Das,” said Mr Chander Mohan. Two freedom fighters from Bengal — Biswajit Dutta and Mr Milan Kumar Das, a cousin of Jatin Das, were also felicitated by Mr Donagh. Those who paid tributes, included Prof Jagmohan Singh, a nephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Mr Jagjit Anand, Editor of “Nawan Zamana”, Mr Surinder Mahey, Mr Iqbal Singh, a former MP, Mr Tejinder Bittu, Chairman of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust and Mr Munish Sehgal, district president of the Human Rights Department of the Congress. |
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Rice bran destroyed in fire Sangrur, December 5 Talking to TNS tonight, Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, said the fire engines from Sangrur, Mansa, Patiala and Barnala had been summoned to fight the flames. The fire was controlled by 9.45 p.m., he added. The Deputy Commissioner further said there were 30,000 bags of the rice bran in two godowns of the plant, of which 10,000 bags were shifted to a safer place. |
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37 sheep die after consuming factory water Jalandhar, December 5 Even as the factory owners claimed that the mishap occurred due to the carelessness of the young shephard Jaspal Singh, who was grazing the animals in the industrial area meant for factories, the latter alleged that as he reached the place herding animals, some animals drank water and quickly collapsed on the ground. The shephard has demanded compensation for the loss. |
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7 Pak prisoners deported Amritsar, December 5 They are Noor Mohammad, Shaukat Ali, Mohammad
Ismile, S. Karim, Mohammad Niwaz, Nazir Ahmed and Mohammad Anwar. They were brought here by Mr Jalaldin a secratary in Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi at
Wagah. Mr D. K. Sharma, Commandent BSF handed them over to the Pakistani Rangers. |
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Flag Day function held Sangrur, December 5 Mr Sarvjit Singh appealed to the people to donate generously because this amount was spent on the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. A meeting of the District Sainik Board was also held. Drafts worth Rs 39,000 were given to three ex-servicemen as financial assistance and two sewing machines to two widows of ex-servicemen. |
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Dharna by villagers Sangrur, December
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Shamsher Mehndi seeks
bail Patiala, December 5 In an application submitted in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate P.S. Dhanoa, Shamsher Mehndi alleged that the police had targetted him under a conspiracy to target famous and popular personalities. It was also alleged in the application that the police had inserted provisions of the Indian Passport Act against him only to intensify the severity of the charges against him. The application claimed at the time of the registration of the case against him, his brother Daler Mehndi had alleged that Patiala police officers had demanded Rs 1.5 crore to defuse the entire case. It said when a complaint in this regard was submitted to the Zonal Inspector General of Police, the latter transferred the case to the Sangrur police. The application said, however, the State Director General of Police (DGP) transferred the case back to the Patiala police to the same members who were early accused of demanding a bribe. The application said recently all member of the special investigation team formed by the Patiala police to investigate the case had been transferred out of the district. It said all these facts hinted that the petitioner and his family were discriminated against. The court has given notice to the state for December 12 in the case. Meanwhile, Mr H.V. Rai, advocate of Shamsher Mehndi, also filed two more applications seeking bail for Shamsher’s wife, Balwinder Kaur, under Section 438 of the CrPc and another applicationcalling for revision of the orders of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate who had declined the petition of Balwinder Kaur urging proceedings for getting her declared a proclaimed offender be recalled. |
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Bibi Jagir Kaur arrested, freed on bail Ropar, December 5 Bibi Jagir Kaur was booked by the Anandpur Sahib police on December 1 the day Mr Parkash Singh Badal appeared in a court at Ropar, for violating Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in the Ropar district. Since the offence was bailable, she was released on the spot on bail by the police officials. |
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Improvement trusts get more powers Jalandhar, December 5 Addressing a press conference here today, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Punjab Local Bodies Minister, said the decision would enable Improvement Trusts to work in a more free manner. The minister accompanied by Jalandhar Improvement Trust Chairman Tejinder Bittu, said according to the decision, Chairmen of all Improvement Trusts had been authorised to allot additional land up to 50 square yards adjoining regularly allotted plots, provided the area did not fell in the green belts. Beyond 50 square yards, the powers were with the government and a committee under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioners would fix the price of the land. Similarly, the Chairmen of Improvement Trusts would be competent to waive penal interest and penalty up to 50 per cent in respect of non-construction of plots in deserving cases. |
Police burns poppy husk Bathinda, December 5 Mr Kapil Dev, District police chief, in a press note issued today said that as per court directions the poppy husk recovered in various cases was burnt. He said that nearly 10.31 quintals of poppy husk recovered in 46 cases was burnt. The other members of he observers committee were Mr Shiv Kumar, SP, and Mr Vijay Kumar, SP. In another press note Ms Neerja, SSP, Mansa, said that 79.85 quintals of poppy husk was burnt in Pamkot village on the orders of competent courts. She said that this had been recovered in 46 cases registered against various persons. The poppy husk was destroyed in the presence of an observers committee headed by the DIG, Faridkot Range. |
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Employee in robbery case at CM’s house held Patiala, December 5 The police had earlier arrested another servant, Shri Dutt, from Gonda in Bihar. Three servants were accused of having stolen a bag containing Rs 15,000 in cash from an almirah in the office of the manager of the stud farm on April 20 this year. The third servant is still at large. The police claimed it had arrested Ashok Kumar from near Daru Kutiya basti on the outskirts of the city yesterday. It said the former stud farm employee had been arrested following a naka bandi in the Daru Kutiya basti area. The Patiala police had earlier sent its special squads to Bihar to arrest the former employees and the move had borne fruit with one of them being arrested. Sources said the police was likely to conduct further search operations to arrest the third accused in the case, - Ram Swarup.
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Infant recovered from septic tank dies Barnala, December 5 The child was thrown into a septic tank in Taajoke village 25 Km from here on December 4, by her mother Mrs Kiran Kaur daughter of Mahinder Singh. According to Civil Hospital Barnala sources, the autopsy on the body of this infant girl was done and cause of the death was found to be pneumonia. The Tapa police has registered a case against Mrs Kiran Kaur mother of the victim under Sections 307, 201 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. |
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2 travel agents
held Kapurthala, December 5 |
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Bank looted of Rs 3.5 lakh Moga, December 5 The robbers came on two scooters. They snapped the telephone connection and warned the staff against informing the police before one hour. SSP Anita Punj, who reached the scene, is supervising the investigation. —
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7 PCCTU leaders held near CM’s
residence Patiala, December 5 The president of the union, Prof S.S. Hundal, alleged that the state government had failed to implement its promise of 95 per cent grant to colleges and pension/gratuity to the college staff. He added that the staff of 120 aided colleges of the state had not been paid salary for months. Lack of post-retirement security makes them hard-pressed. The PCCTU demanded full 95 per cent salary grant for all colleges including 35 unaided colleges. Addressing the gathering general secretary of the union Dr V.K. Tiwari said that retention of 10+2 classes in the colleges was essential for standards and for saving the surplus staff in the colleges. The union also demanded House Rent
Allowance (HRA) for rural colleges and 15 per cent HRA for Patiala city. They also demanded 10 per cent of GDP allocation for education for sustainable development. The union stated that all colleges would observe stay-in strike on December 6 and December 8. |
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School sans regular teacher for a
year Fazilka, December 5 The Education Department undertook an exhaustive rationalisation exercise this year, but no teacher was appointed in the school for reasons best known to the authorities. According to the set norms, at least six teachers are required for teaching Punjabi, Hindi, English, science, maths, social studies and physical education, art and craft and agriculture in classes, VI, VII and VIII. Sources point out that this middle school was upgraded in May, 2001. At that time a woman teacher was posted who got transferred in October, 2002. Since then the school is being run by one teacher on deputation from the Government Senior Secondary School, Ladhuka. Mr Harish Maini and Mr Raj Kishore Kalra, president and secretary, respectively of the Government Teachers Union, Ferozepore unit, have in a joint statement demanded that regular staff be posted at the school. They said the panchayat of the village had through several memoranda to District Education
Officer (Secondary) demanded posting of teachers in the school but in vain. |
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