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Amarinder extends hand of friendship to dissidents Mohali, December 12 Speaking to mediapersons at the wedding of the daughter of Deputy Speaker Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, held here today, a seemingly unruffled CM said that he had been asked by the Congress high command to go back to the state and get down to work. As far as he was concerned, the matter had been solved in his favour. ‘‘I have been asked to unite the party, join ranks and start work towards elections which are expected within the next four or five months,” he said Denying that he was heading a minority government in the state, the Chief Minister today said he was ready for a trial of strength in the Vidhan Sabha with the Akalis. Terming Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s behaviour as an act of ‘indiscipline’ and a direct challenge to the authority of the Congress President, the CM said, ‘‘The high command was concerned and upset about the public statements given by Ms Bhattal. The statement that she will not leave New Delhi till the matter is solved in her favour, is tantamount to blackmailing the Congress President. Everyone in the Congress party in Punjab should be ashamed of such behaviour which challenged the authority of the Congress President,’’ he added. Despite the scathing attack by Ms Bhattal against the CM in Delhi yesterday, the CM measures his words when he said that Ms Bhattal and those supporting her were doing all this only to subserve their ambition. ‘‘There is no other reason. It is unfortunate that some of the MLAs were behaving in this fashion specially when I have never given them any cause for resentment. I have always made myself available to them and have acceded to their various demands regarding transfers and posting,” he said. Denying that the high command had asked him to get signatures of the MLAs whose support he had, the CM said that he had ‘proved his strength’ before the high command and paraded 40 MLAs and showed letters of the two MLAs who could not reach Delhi. The CM reiterated that once the crises within the party was over he would be expanding his Council of Ministers not just to appease the dissidents but also to improve the efficiency of the government. The CM also clarified that no compromise formula had been either offered to him or was being worked out with Ms Bhattal. When asked if an amicable running of the government will be possible in face of such open bitterness within the party, the CM replied in a reconciliatory tone that ‘‘fights don’t have to necessarily lead to a divorce. Fights are bound to happen within a family,’’ he said. Flanked by MLA Mrs Harbans Kaur during the impromptu press conference, the CM arrived at the wedding at about 2 am. Other than the Punjab Governor who attended the wedding, three ministers Mr Khushal Behal, Mr Santokh Chaudhry and Mr Lal Singh, MLAs Gurjant Singh, Nathu Ram and Parkash Singh attended the wedding. The Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Kewal Krishan, was also present.
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CM took colleagues’ nod in Badal case Amritsar, December 12 Since it was a state subject and part of the election manifesto of the Congress to book corrupt Akali leaders, there was no point of seeking permission from Ms Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress, on the matter, he added. This was stated by Mr Rana Sodhi, political adviser to the beleaguered Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, while talking to TNS on telephone today. |
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Amarinder should quit, says Umrao Singh Jalandhar, December 12 “Revolt by 33
MLAs, including some ministers, against the Chief Minister has shown that the Captain has no right to continue as head of the state government as he has already lost faith of his own
MLAs”, Mr Umrao Singh told reporters here today. “As PCC chief he got free hand in the distribution of ticket during the Assembly election in the state and even the elected MLAs on the basis of ticket distributed by him, have revolted against his style of functioning” he said quipping if within two years of formation of the state government the Captain had lost faith of his
MLAs, what about the public of the state? On the anti-corruption drive of the state government the senior leader termed it as “total failure” as corruption had continued in the state machinery “as it was” during the previous regime. Regarding the allegations of corruption levelled by Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal against the Chief Minister, former MP said that Captain should give clarification for the allegations. On the corruption case against Bhattal, he said that only charges would be framed against the former CM on December 18 and she was not guilty until and was convicted. Moreover, the NDA leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi, MP Chief Minister Uma Bharati and even Captain Amarinder Singh was facing criminal charges in the court of law, he added. —
PTI |
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CM puts up brave face Mohali, December 12 In wake of the ongoing crisis within the Congress in the state, the marriage, which would otherwise have seen the attendance of the top leaders of the party was solemnised in the presence of hundreds of well-wishers but very few political bigwigs. Even the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who managed to attend the wedding, came hardly dressed up for the occasion. Dressed in a crumpled white kurta pyjama and a light brown sweater, sporting a pink turban which also seemed to be hastily tied, it was apparent that he had landed straight from Delhi. Putting up a brave face and greeting everyone with a smile, the Chief Minister however, was not at his charming best. The Governor who had reached the wedding almost 20 minutes before the Chief Minister, stayed on for about 45 minutes before leaving. Both the Chief Minister and the Governor were escorted from the VIP gates to the dais where the newly wedded couple seated. However, neither Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal nor any her MLA supporters were present on the occasion. Holding a rose which had been handed to him by a guest, the Chief Minister confidently answered every question of mediapersons with practiced ease. And if there was anything weighing on his mind about his future as the Chief Minister of the state, he did not let it show. Senior bureaucrats and policemen were also present as were a large number of senior and local journalists. And it was not just the scribes who were counting the MLAs who showed up there. The current political crisis remained the topic of discussion among the guests. Not believing a word the Chief Minister said about the crisis being over, one guest said: “Had the crisis been over, he would have not come here at all. He would have been celebrating in Patiala.” Grand
arrangements and elaborate decorations had been made for the wedding
feast. Amid tight security arrangements at Dara Studios, the venue of
the wedding, over a thousand people attended the ceremony. |
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MP ridicules Badal’s demand for special Phagwara, December 12 Talking to reporters in the presence of her MLA husband Mr Ram Lubhaya, she questioned the locus standi of Mr Badal for such a demand. The Congress was in majority and there was no confusion at all, she asserted. She said that crisis in the Congress in Punjab would blow over as the party High Command would settle the issue. She urged Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal Punjab Minister and Captain Amarinder Singh Punjab CM to sink differences for the interest of party. She admitted that infighting of the Congress had cost the party in three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. When asked with which camp she was, Ms Choudhary shot back that she was with the Congress High Command. She admitted that certain MLA’s had grievances but regretted turning these into a Congress vs Congress street fight. She refused to comment on Ms Bhattal’s charges on corruption against the CM. Ms Choudhary later inaugurated the new building of Blood Bank for which she had given Rs 10 lakh from her fund. She gave Rs 5 lakh for the Blood Bank Van today. Mr Kuldip Sardana, President of the Blood Bank, Mr Jagat Singh Palahi, Patron, Mr Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, President, Nagar Council also spoke. Mrs Choudhary was felicitated with a shawl and her husband with memento.
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Badal’s wife fears arrest, gets bail Ropar, December 12 The bail has been granted on the conditions that the Mrs Badal would not leave the country without the prior permission of the court, would deposit her passport in the court and would cooperate with the investigating agencies. Mrs Badal, through her counsels, had moved the anticipatory bail application yesterday, following which the judge had issued notice to the Vigilance authorities. The public prosecutor — as per the earlier announcement of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh — did not oppose the bail application of Mrs Badal. The public prosecutor told the judge that they had no objection if the Mrs Badal was granted bail. The counsel of Mrs Badal maintained that earlier, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal appeared in the court on their own but the prosecution sought their judicial custody on flimsy grounds. In these circumstances, Mrs Badal has sufficient reasons to believe that her liberty might be curtailed on account of mala fide approach of the prosecution, he said. The councils of Mrs Badal also maintained that she was old and suffering from medical problems like spinal pain, due to which she should be granted anticipatory bail. Legal experts said since Mrs Badal was not in judicial custody and had applied for bail beforehand, she had been granted the anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the CrPC. However, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Sukhbir Badal did not apply for the anticipatory bail beforehand. They instead presented themselves before the court. The regular hearing for the case has been fixed for tomorrow. |
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Badal
to contest Ropar court empowerment Ropar, December 12 Sources said the defence counsels in the case, led by a former Advocate-General of Punjab, Mr H.S. Mattewal, is likely to present a case for getting the notification null and void. In the notification issued on November 17, the powers were conferred under Section 3 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, to Sessions Judge, Ropar and First Additional Sessions Judge, Ropar, for trying all cases of corruption as special judges lying within the jurisdiction of the Mohali police station of the Vigilance Bureau. The defence counsels of Mr Badal are likely to challenge the notification on a legal lacuna. Section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, states that if there are more than one special judges for an area, the work to them may be allotted by the Central Government. Since the Prevention of Corruption Act was a central act in case of appointment of two special judges at Ropar, the work to them should have been allotted as per the notification of the Central Government, the defence counsels of Mr Badal would maintain in the court. However, in the present case, no such notification was issued by the Centre. |
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3 accused in Badal case may be discharged Ropar, December 12 The counsel of the above accused, who were at present under judicial custody, today pleaded before the special judge, Ropar, to discharge them on the basis of lack of evidence against them. The judge fixed the date of hearing of their bail application on December 15 while extending their judicial remand till December 23. The sources said on December 15 the state might allow them to be discharged as there was no evidence against them. —
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Ravi Inder asks Badal to quit Jalandhar, December 12 Talking to reporters here, Mr Ravi Inder Singh alleged that Mr Badal was trying to divert the attention of the people of the state from his corrupt deeds by demanding a special Assembly session. Earlier, 20 local leaders of the SAD (Badal) joined the Akali Dal, who were welcomed to the party fold by Mr Ravi Inder Singh during a simple ceremony. |
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Kabootari case accused seeks bail Patiala, December 12 In an application filed in the court of the Sessions Judge here through his counsel H.V. Rai, the petitioner also accused the Patiala police of having made a false request to the court to take measures to declare him proclaimed offender. The application claimed that Bul Bul Mehta was not served notice under Section 160, CrPC. The application claimed that the police had misreported to the court that the arrest warrants could not be executed against him and created circumstances under which an impression was given that coercive measures were needed to procure the presence of the petitioner in the case. The petition said Bul Bul Mehta had already petitioned to the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate P.S. Dhanoa for recalling the orders under which steps were to be taken to declare the petitioner a proclaimed offender. The petition is pending for December 13. The court, meanwhile, served notice to the state for tomorrow with regard to today’s application. |
Pak ready to give
PSGPC to Sikhs Amritsar, December 12 However, the governments of India and Pakistan will have to amend the agreement signed between Foreign Ministers of the two countries in 1955, under which religious places were declared evacuee properties. This was stated by Bhai Harbans Lal, a former president of the Sikh Students Federation and the president of the Academy of Guru Granth Sahib Studies, USA, while talking to TNS today. Bhai Harbans Lal said the Sikh shrines could not be called “evacuee properties” as mentioned in the agreement. He said terming gurdwaras as evacuee properties amounted to hurting Sikh sentiments. He asked whether Muslims would accept any agreement to call Mecca as an evacuee property in case they were evacuated from Saudi Arabia. Bhai Harbans Lal said Gurdwara Nankana Sahib was Mecca for the Sikhs while Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib was their Medina. He claimed that the Pakistan Government was aware of the demand of the Sikh Panth about handing over the management of gurdwaras to Sikhs. However, bureaucratic hurdles were coming in the way of transfer of the charge of the gurdwaras. In a related development, Mr Gyan Singh, a founder member of the PSGPC and a nominated Member of Parliament of Pakistan, has been baptised and can take active part in gurdwara politics in the future. Bhai Harbans Lal said as per “sharyat”, no Islamic republic could be complete unless religious places belonging to minority communities were protected. Bhai Harbans Lal said Sikh radicals who had taken shelter in Pakistan had initially opposed the formation of the PSGPC in 1999 to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa Panth. He raised objections to the draft of the All-India Sikh Gurdwara Act to bring the control of all Sikh shrines within its ambit. He alleged that the contents of the proposed draft had been prepared on a bureaucratic pattern. Instead, local committees should be formed by religious persons to manage the gurdwaras, he stated. |
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Age fails to diminish freedom fighter’s zest for life Moga, December 12 While youngsters may not know that the old man with a wizened visage attesting their legal documents at the local courts is a renowned lawyer of yore, the older generation sets great store by his advice and guidance in legal matters. Though he stopped appearing in court about two decades ago and started working as notary public, eminent lawyers can be still seen discussing their briefs with him. The sunken eyes have witnessed the freedom struggle and bloodshed during Partition and the transition of power. Not content with the freedom of the nation, he set about freeing the people from the clutches of ignorance and illiteracy. For this, he laid emphasis on the education of women — this at a time when it was considered taboo to educate women. He is the founding father of the SD School for Girls set up in 1943, which was upgraded as college after Independence. Similarly, AD School and College, Dharamkot, were also set up by him. He has also tried to keep alive the memory of the freedom fighters of the area, especially Lala Lajpat Rai. In this regard, he founded the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Trust. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was the president of the trust and he the secretary. Lala Lajpat Rai’s native village Dhudike near Jagraon was visited by the then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, because of his efforts only. A humble man to the core, he has been host to famous personalities like the late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. He also has the proud distinction of working with former Punjab Chief Minister Bhim Sen Sachhar, G.S. Bhargav and Pratap Singh Kairon. Walking down memory lane, the freedom fighter, he was incarcerated for three years in Multan Central Jail for taking part in the Quit India Movement, says, “I was born at Salina village, near Moga, on December 16, 1906, and did my BA (honours) and Ll.B from Panjab University, Lahore. “I was permitted to start legal practice for Ferozepore and Moga in 1930, but after 1938, I confined myself to Moga district only. At that time, there were only 14 lawyers who pleaded cases before one SDO (sub-divisional officer) and two magistrates. I specialised in civil matters although several of my colleagues were also accepting criminal cases”. Refusing to comment on the changed face of the legal practice and degeneration of values, he said democracy was definitely better than colonial rule. He observed that senior British officers always tried to drive a wedge between the minorities by favouring Muslims. A father of five sons and four daughters, all of whom are well-settled, he takes pride in the fact that all his daughters are post-graduates or Ph.D. degree holders. They completed education in the face of stiff opposition from the community, which then thought that education was a waste of time for women. One of his daughters, Ms Pushpa Jain, retired as Deputy Director, Public Relations, Haryana. One of his sons, Dr S.K. Goyal, was adviser to then Chandra Shekhar government. The others are also comfortably placed in life. Only one of his sons, Mr Subash Goyal, has chosen to become a lawyer. He does not like to talk about himself much but revealed that the success of his long life was a strict regimen of diet and exercise, especially yoga. A vegetarian and teetotaller throughout his life, he also claims never to have taken bath with cold water as one factor of his health. In the twilight of his life, he is fighting with the biggest challenge. He is suffering from skin cancer but the disease has failed to bog him down. Currently undergoing chemotherapy, he refuses to heed to the advice of the family to rest and is hopeful of continuing with his avocation soon.  |
US dons deliver lectures Patiala, December 12 Professor Buttny said communication and culture were major areas of study in American universities. “Culture is hard to define but easy to recognise when cultural clashes occur”, he said. Prof Jodi Cohen, another scholar from the USA, spoke on the American culture. Prof Navjit Singh Johal, Head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, described the stay of Professor Buttny in the department for 42 days as fruitful. The books which Professor Buttny had donated to the department library and his lectures would help in research, he said. The seminar was inaugurated by Prof
U.C. Singh, Dean (Academic Affairs). A vote of thanks was presented by Prof
N.S. Kapoor, Dean (Faculty of Education and Information Science). The Vice-Chancellor, Mr Swarn Singh
Boparai, presented a set of university publications to Professor
Buttny. |
Parade MLAs before Governor, BJP asks Capt Phillaur, December 12 Mr Khanna demanded that the MLAs should be paraded in front of the Governor of Punjab and not before Ms Sonia Gandhi. Mr Khanna alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh was wasting government funds on transporting MLAs by using government helicopter and lodging them in five-star hotels. |
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Himachali as Punjab YC chief opposed Phillaur, December 12 To a question on infighting in the Congress, Mr Mehta described it as unfortunate. He urged state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh that the now people wanted development. |
Barjinder hums ‘Dard’ tune JALANDHAR: Media baron Barjinder Singh Hamdard has created history of sorts by becoming the only active and established journalist in the country to have dared to venture into the field of music with his intensely emotional and romantic number — ‘Jazbaat’. True to its title, “Jazbaat” is a bunch of Hindi-Punjabi ghazals and songs, which not only depict longings of a true lover, but shades of his emotive outbursts. Going by his performance, which beats many a professional singer, Hamdard’s only competitor can be Bhupen Hazarika, another potent combination of a journalist, musician and singer. “I failed to stop myself. It was spontaneous. My inner-self kept pricking me for years till I came out with “Jazbaat” after a great deal of pondering over the subject. While I was young, I dreamed to be a “Tansen” while I was a child,” said Dr Barjinder Singh, the Editor-in-Chief of daily “Ajit” after an initial reluctance. “Jazbaat”, which has been adorned with music by music director Gurdip Singh, was released by former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral at Jalandhar’s Desh Bhagat Yaadgaar Hall on December 6. “I want to do something more creative and meaningful in this part of life. Don’t worry, I am still young at heart and feel that one should be,” said Dr Hamdard. His flight in the firmament of romance is unparalleled and so is the intensity of pain and the yearning to meet his ‘beloved’. See one of the ghazals, “Dono Jahan Ko Teri Mohabbat Mein Haarke, Woh Jaa Raha Hai Koyi Shab-e-gham Guzaar Ke,” or “Duniya Ne Teri Yaad Se Begaana Kar Diya,” followed by, “Ek Fursate Gunah Mili, Woh Bhi Chaar Din, Dekhe Hain Humne Hausle Parvar Digaar Ke.” The resolve of a lover to re-affirm his conviction with every passing moment has been depicted through, “Marna Teri Gali Mein, Zeena Teri Gali Mein, Mit Zaaegi Hamaari Duniya, Teri Gali Mein.” Everybody knows that love leaves its fragrance behind, still, the lover carries a misconception that it could be concealed and is seemingly a bit confused when he questions — “Duniya Kare Sawaal To Hum Kiya Jawaab Dein.” The most touching number of Dr Hamdard inevitably is about the state of a girl who does not want to leave the house of her parents, but has no other choice to join her husband. This is depicted through, “Rang Rangili Doli Meri, Rakh Lai Ik Din Hor.....Baabul.” Dr Hamdard has already videos of two songs. He said some of songs were old ones and some had been taken from different poets while the concept of the project was the responsibility of Harjit Singh, a former Assistant Director of Doordarshan, Jalandhar. |
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156-member panel for 2004 functions Chandigarh, December 12 The celebrations would include functions to mark the 400th year of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in Golden Temple, Amritsar; 500th year of ‘Parkash Utsav’ of Guru Angad Dev and 300th year of the martyrdom of Sahibzadas. The government would contribute Rs 2 crore towards a fund to be created for organising these events and the account would be maintained by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation. The notification stipulated that the members of the committee would not claim any TA or DA for attending any function in connection with these celebrations. |
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Clash case probe team changed Sangrur, December 12 In a press note issued here today, Mr Gurinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, said Mr Balbir Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Special Branch, would be the investigating officer now in this case. Inspector Darshan Singh, in charge city police station, Sangrur, would assist him. He further said Mr Mandeep Singh, SP (Headquarters), would supervise this case. The SP (Headquarters) would also be the nodal officer to coordinate with the SSP in handling the Hasanpur social tension between the two communities, he added. Mr Dhillon also said on the receipt of the medical legal report, the police had re-added Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC into the FIR, registered against 18 persons (belonging to zamidars’ group) after the clash on November 11 under various Sections of the IPC and Section 3 of the SC Act, 1989 at Dhuri police station. |
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Admn to recover sangat darshan grants Bathinda, December 12 The district administration has taken the decision after the organisations concerned failed to return the money even though a number of notices were issued to them by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) in the past about two years. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner, said today that it had come to the notice of the government agencies concerned that some of the organisations had misused the grants given to them under the two funds. He said 39 organisations in the district had been given grants amounting to about Rs 15 lakh. He said office-bearers of these organisations had been asked to return the amount to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) by December 30, failing which the money would be recovered from the presidents or secretaries in the form of recovery of arrears of land revenue. Some of the social and religious organisations which got grants worth lakhs are now non-existent. Some organisations, which were floated overnight by unscrupulous elements to cash in on the sangat darshan scheme of the previous SAD-BJP government, “disappeared” after getting the grant and hence the government agencies concerned could not fetch the accounts of the grants from these religious and social bodies. Under the sangat darshan programmes, liberal grants were allegedly given to some organisations which were not registered with the Registrar of Societies. The grants were given to the organisations despite the fact that objections were raised by some of the government officials who were involved in the programme. The organisations included religious musical groups private schools, drama clubs, community kitchen associations, blood collection societies and welfare clubs. Some of these organisations were given grants to the tune of Rs 5 lakh each. |
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Pharmacists announce stir plan Fazilka, December 12 They alleged that instead of considering the demands, the Director had started the victimisation of office-bearers of the association and served chargesheets on Mr Kewal Krishan Singla and Mr Jagseer Khara, general secretary and senior vice-president, respectively, of the state unit of the association, based on false allegations. Some office-bearers have been transferred on one pretext or the other, they said. The association has decided to hold district-level rallies and burn effigies of Dr Sandhu in front of the offices of Civil Surgeons during the first phase of its agitation. Mr Kant said 180 Pharmacists working in Ferozepore district would hold a protest rally on December 19. Protest rallies will be held at Moga, Mansa and Kapurthala on December 15, at Ludhiana and Bathinda on December 16, Gurdaspur and Nawanshahr on December 18 and at Hoshiarpur and Ferozepore on December 19. In the second phase of the agitation the association will stage a state-level protest march on January 11, 2004, at Dasuha, the native place of the Health Minister. Mr Kant and Mr Luthra expressed concern over alleged corruption in the office of the Director, Health Services, Punjab and the silence maintained by the Health Minister over the issue. They warned the government that if the demands were not accepted, the agitation would be intensified. The major demands are issuance of notification for change of designation of pharmacists as pharmacy officers as promised by the government, withdrawal of chargesheets against office-bearers, cancellation of transfers made on vague administrative grounds, increase of basic pay and allowances and registration as medical practitioner after 10 years of service. |
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Pharmacists burn Health Director’s effigy Patiala, December 12 The association demanded change in the designation of pharmacists, removal of anomaly in pay scales and authorisation to prescribe medicines in the absence of a medical officer. They also demanded cancellation of transfers made on administrative grounds and also cancellation of chargesheets served to representatives of the association. The association demanded a probe into the purchase of substandard medicines and vehicles and postings and transfers of employees under the directorate. The association threatened to intensify its struggle if the state government failed to meet its demands. The rally was addressed by block presidents Mr Kewal Sharma (Rajpura), Mr Vinod Nanda (Harpalpur) and Mr Narinder Mohan Sharma (Bhadson) and Mr Nevtej Pal Singh, Joint Secretary (PSPA), Patiala. |
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Award money donated to school Amritsar, December 12 This was informed by Mr Brij Bedi here today. Situated in the Maqboolpura area, also known as a locality of widows due to the drug menace, Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir was established in 1999 by Master Ajit Singh. The school is being run by Master Ajit and his family in their house. Started with 20 students, it has about 350 children at present. |
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Women to take up foeticide issue Amritsar, December 12 Addressing a press conference on the eve of the celebrations here today, Mrs Basu said the meeting would advocate steps to stop female foeticide. |
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Two cows slaughtered Amritsar, December 12 The police has registered a case under Sections 429, 379 of the IPC and 3/4 of the Cow Slaughter Act. |
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Punsup inspector denied bail Moga, December 12 The court, while rejecting the bail plea yesterday, directed the Vigilance Bureau to give one week’s notice to Gurpritam Singh in case his arrest was required. —
UNI |
BKU (E) activists block traffic Bathinda, December 12 In a press note issued here today, Mr Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, state general-secretary of the BKU (Ekta), said state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh had been committing astrocities on farmers. He alleged that first the Congress government withdrew the facility of free electricity and water for agricultural use and then carried out campaign to cut the power of hundreds of tubewell connections. He added that apart from it, the Congress government had also backtracked from its promises of giving Rs 30 per quintal bonus on the paddy procured during 2001. |
Herd registration ordinance sent for President’s nod Ropar, December 12 Mr D.S. Bains, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Sports and Youth Affairs, gave this information while talking to newspersons here today. He was here to conduct random checking of the cattle census in Khauspura and Pheora villages. He also visited the Ropar-based semen bank. He said the registration would help control the problem of stray cattle in the state. The owners who abandon their cattle after they fail to yield could be held responsible if such an ordinance was passed. Besides, the government has started a programme for controlling the population of stray cattle. Under the programme, each veterinary dispensary and hospital in the state has been given the target for castrating at least 15 stray bulls in a year. On the suggestions of social organisations, shops or commercial establishments in cowsheds were being exempt from the Rent Control Act to boost their income for better upkeep of stray cows. He also said under the Government of India scheme, a cattle census was being carried out in the entire state. Commercial animals, including the poultry animals, are being counted on the basis of their varieties. The census is likely to be completed by December 15. The data collected would be computerised to create a bank that would help in nationwide planning of the programmes for promoting animal husbandry in the country. The entire process of census is likely to be completed in Punjab by the first week of January. The acreage of land under fisheries was also being determined in the census. At present, about 1 lakh high yielding cows and 50,000 buffaloes are produced in Punjab. To promote the poultry in Punjab, the government mooted a proposal to include eggs in the mid-day meal scheme. Under the scheme, it has been proposed that schoolchildren should be given at least two boiled eggs in a week during winter as the mid-day meal. |
Rs 1.03 lakh looted from bank Fazilka, December 12 According to report three persons armed with pistols reached in the bank at 3.30 pm in a Maruti car bearing no registration number. The glasses of the car were covered with a black film. They entered the bank premises and threatened Ramesh Gupta officiating manager, Baljinder Singh cashier and peon and carried away Rs 1,03564. They fled in a Maruti car which was parked outside. Sadar Police Fazilka has registered a case and are investigating. On December 2002 bank branches of State Bank of India and the Fazilka Central Co-op Bank in nearby Abhun village situated in the same premises were looted and Rs 2,80,000 was taken away. |
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2 booked in dowry death case Amritsar, December 12 Mr Sukhchain Singh, father of Manjit Kaur, in a complaint stated that her daughter was married to the accused about four months ago. He said on the day Manjit was killed he got a call from her daughter that her in-laws were torturing her and requested to take her back. |
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Granthi
arrested Fazilka, December 12 The granthi was arrested and produced in a court yesterday which who remanded him in police custody for five days. A case under the Arms Act was registered against the
granthi. — OC |
BSNL launches ‘Tarang’
service Patiala, December 12 While addressing a gathering, Mr Prithipal Singh said the base stations of urban equipment had been set up at Patiala and Rajpura, while the base station of rural equipment had been set up at Samana, Patran, Dera Bassi, Sirhind and Devigarh. With the commissioning of the equipment, customers of the city would be able to avail of limited mobility service under “Tarang” in these areas. For fixed line on the WLL, registration amount, security deposit, installation charges, rental, pulse rate of local, STD and ISD would be the same as those of a land line connection of that area. In addition, the subscriber who has a land line connection of the BSNL will be exempted from security deposit for connection. Subscribers may opt for one of the available options for a handset. The customer may purchase the handset from the BSNL in 25 equal monthly installments of Rs 200. Besides, one may buy his own handset. |
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