The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

City man stuck in Malaysia
Wife claims four more need help
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
Before sending her husband abroad through a Jalandhar-based travel agent in hope of easy money, little had this 35-year-old debt-ridden woman of Shimla Puri known that she would have to make arrangements for his return too for he is living his life in the confines of a room, being an illegal immigrant.

Tarsem Singh, a 40-year-old man and father of two children, had left for Malaysia on October 7, this year, after his wife Balwinder Kaur had borrowed an amount of Rs 1.2 lakh from a financier to arrange for his illegal immigration. She was persuaded by a family of Shimla Puri, which claimed that one of their members was earning Rs 15,000 per month by working in a unit in that country.

The family had referred them to a Jalandhar-based travel agent, who had claimed that he would make arrangements for legal immigration of the man. He had even shown them some papers, a copy of which is possessed by her. The papers claimed that a Malaysia-based company required labour from India. The list contains 17 names and includes that of Tarsem Singh.

“Since the day he reached Malaysia, he has not gone out for work. He goes without meals for days. There is a fear of him being caught and imprisoned. Now he wants to return. The travel agent is demanding more money to bring him back, as my husband’s papers had been snatched by a travel agent’s associate in Malaysia,” said Balwinder Kaur.

“Now he calls me up on the phone asking for a copy of ration card and to talk to the travel agent. One morning he even asked me if he could commit suicide. I am very scared. The travel agent is unmoved. He needs more money. He has now stopped answering my calls on his mobile phone. I don’t understand what to do,” she added.

Tarsem Singh flew from Dum Dum Airport, Kolkata, on October 7. He used to sell clothes on a bicycle here. The family was in a financial mess when the travel agent came as a last hope for them.

Balwinder Kaur, helped by her old father Sucha Singh, is running from pillar to post. They have not yet complained to the police. She claimed that there were four more persons from various villages of Punjab stuck in Malaysia. She said she had spoken to the wife of a victim in Nadala village, near Kapurthala, also but she was not even aware that her husband was in need of help.

She urged the state government to take up the matter with authorities concerned and arrange for their return. “I have a message for those who want to go abroad — Never go to other countries with the help of travel agents. It’s better to sleep with empty stomach in your country than go abroad in search of greener pastures and then even lose your near and dear ones,” she added.

Despite repeated attempts by this reporter, the travel agent did not answer his mobile phone.

U-turn by Bar executive members
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, December 14
With the countdown for the annual election of the District Bar Association having begun, rival factions have started making claims and counter-claims. Questioning and contradicting the claims of the K.K.Bagai group that it had garnered the support of six unanimously elected executive members, another group led by Mr B.K.Goel maintained that five of the six executive members were with him.

The five executive members — Mr Rajesh Kumar Mouraya, Mr Mukesh Kumar, Mr Wazir Singh, Mr Gurjinder Singh and Mr Ravinder Kumar Arora — issued a joint statement, announcing their support to Mr Goel, a candidate for the post of president.

Yesterday, Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, sitting bar president, had paraded all six executive members before mediapersons and had announced that they would support the candidature of Mr Bagai. At that time none of the executive members, who today issued a joint statement showing solidarity with Mr Goel, had objected that they were not with Mr Bagai.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Mr Harjasdeep Singh Rana, and the convener, Mr Sandeep Kapoor, of the Organisation of Young Lawyers (OYL), issued a press note in which they condemned Mr Dhanda, stating that he misguided the newly elected executive members. They claimed that the executive members were invited to have lunch with the outgoing executive of the Bar, but the occassion was used in a different way.

The president of the OYL, Mr Malwinder Ghumman, said the way in which young lawyers were manipulated to serve narrow political ends was a matter of concern.

Mr Dhanda and Mr Bagai termed the development as unbelievable. The said, “yesterday, during the press conference five executive members had announced their support to us. How they can retract from their previous statement in less than 24 hours is beyond comprehension”. Mr Dhanda said he could comment only after meeting the executive members, but prima facie it appeared to be a case of manipulation.

‘Motivation key to success in competitive exams'
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
‘Motivation and a mind set to succeed is the key to competitive examinations. A majority of the students aspiring to compete in medical and engineering entrance examinations have in them the knowledge, will and determination but what they need to achieve the ultimate goal is psychological moulding.'

These observations were made by Mr J.C. Choudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Institutes, a premier coaching institute for medical and IIT entrance examinations while addressing a news conference on the eve of opening of the 10th centre, first in the state of Punjab, here last evening.

Established in 1988 in the national Capital, the institute has provided coaching to more than 28,000 students and created a history of sorts by having 3650 of its students admitted to MBBS course in various medical colleges through CBSE joint entrance examination and other medical entrance examinations like AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU, AMU, CMC and BVP. In 2003 alone, nearly 600 of Aakash students were selected in medical entrance examinations and another 110 made it to the IIT/JEE and All India Engineering Entrance Examination.

Mr Choudhry remarked said the institute had helped transform the education system by setting professional standards in educational innovation while keeping pace with the technological advancement in this field. "Our mission is to provide quality education in the field of medical and IIT/JEE and nourish the talent and aptitude in students to make them eternal winners."

He said that faculty at the Ludhiana centre would be intensively trained in New Delhi so that the pattern and style of teaching remained the same as at Delhi. Utmost care would be taken to uphold the legacy and tradition of the institute with respect to selection of dynamic and result- oriented faculty members, teaching methodology and the high standards of education.

Mr Amrit Lal Aggarwal, chairman of the local centre, asserted that it would be their endeavour to keep intact the mission and philosophy of the institute and provide quality education to the students from the city and surrounding areas in Punjab. He said with the opening of the institute in the city, students, seeking high quality education, would be saved the botheration of going to Chandigarh or Delhi and their parents would save money which had to be spent by way of travelling and suitable accommodation at outstations.

Migrants ‘changing’ Punjab’s demography
Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
“The mass influx of migrants into Punjab is a serious threat to the identity of Sikhs and there is great need to take up this issue in earnest. If we do not see the writing on the wall, a clash between the two communities is imminent in the near future,” said Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, a panch of the Khalsa Panchayat. He said large-scale migration was changing the demographic map of Punjab, a state which was created especially for Punjabis. “Not many want to admit that this is happening, but the fact is that in a majority of the cities, the deciding vote is cast by migrants.”

He said the day was not far when the ground situation in the North-East would be replicated here also. Jobs were shrinking and whatever blue-collar jobs were available were being cornered by migrants. “All trains passing through Punjab are full of migrants and for the uninitiated it seems as if all of UP and Bihar is on the move to Punjab. Railway stations and bus terminuses are choked with migrants. So are the shanties coming up on the outskirts of every town in the state,” he pointed out.

Mr Channi said more than 10 lakh ration cards of migrants had been made so far and their number was rising every day. Similarly, all daily wage and contract jobs in milk plants, PUDA sites, rail coach factory and other such institutions had gone to migrants.

On the other hand, educated and semi-educated Punjabi youth were selling their meagre landholdings to migrate to greener pastures abroad. This was due to the inability of the government to create jobs in the state. The backlash of the North-East was due to these reasons, he added.

“Ironically, the antecedents of Punjabis are screened in whichever state they migrate to, but we are not paying any attention to thousands of people who are settling in the state every day. The rising crime graph and the arrest of migrants for heinous acts is a pointer towards the crises we are hurtling towards. A perusal of police files shows that the migrants are involved in distributing drugs and intoxicants. Gunrunning, too, is another avocation practised by the migrants,” he said.

Akalis upbeat over Cong rumblings
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
The Akalis could never have it better, at least during the Chief Ministership of Captain Amarinder Singh. Almost during the entire period most of their leaders were on the run. A number of them, including the former Chief Minister and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, along with his son Mr Sukhbir Badal, were jailed also.

With the rumblings in the Pradesh Congress continuing and the controversy refusing to die the Akalis are heaving a sigh of relief. May be for the time being only. But they seem to be quite optimistic that the current crisis in the party may only end up in the removal of their bete noir, Capt Amarinder. Despite the fact that the Congress high command had ruled out his removal, the Akalis still hope that the ongoing crisis might hasten the exit of the Chief Minister.

Well-placed sources in the SAD maintained that with the reprieve for Mr Badal, after his bail in the corruption case, the party was trying to evolve an aggressive posture against the beleaguered government. They added that the party, in association with the Bharatiya Janta Party was also planning to counter the mass contact programme of the Chief Minister, who had decided to address at least two public rallies in a week. Moreover, the party is also trying to cash in on the “sympathy factor” in the aftermath of Mr Badal’s arrest and subsequent release.

Senior Akali leader Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal said here today that although the Akalis were “absolutely unconcerned” about the developments within the Congress, at the same time it must be ensured that the incumbent government enjoyed the confidence of the House. “We have nothing to do with the happenings in the Congress, but as a responsible Opposition we want to ensure that the government enjoys the confidence of the house”, he said.

City gets a treat of Ras Leela
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
Tales of Lord Krishna never fail to fascinate people. And when a troupe of world renowned Acharya Ram Sarup comes from Vrindaban to stage Krishna Ras Leela, the audience cannot be but thrilled with their performance.

The Ras Leela has been brought to the city by the Shri Raghunath Society, Agar Nagar, and the first part of the Krishna Ras Leela depicting the birth of Lord Krishna was staged yesterday at Community Centre, Agar Nagar, from 6 pm to 9 pm. It was inaugurated by Mr H.K. Mittal, Commissioner, Central Excise and Taxation. Swami Nishta Ji Bhikshu, a disciple of Sadguru Shri Swami Gitanand Ji Maharaj, was also present at the inauguration.

Around 50 performers from Vrindaban participated in the performance. The Chairman of the Shri Raghunath Mandir Society, Mr N.G. Goel, said the Ras Leela would conclude on Sunday.

The troupe will perform Bal Leela, depicting the playfulness of Lord Krishna as a child, on Monday, while on Tuesday Mira’s devotion to the Lord will be staged. On Wednesday the episode of disrobing of Drapudi will be staged. The tales of Krishna-Sudama friendship, Gita Jayanti, marriage of Rukmani and Narsi ji ki Bhat will be depicted the following days. The last day will see the colourful episode of Lord Krishna playing with gopis of Brij with colours of Holi.

In yesterday’s performance, the scene of Lord Krishna’s birth in jail was staged. The 1,000-strong audience saw the episode of young Krishna being carried by Vasudev in a basket and the latter’s struggle in the swelling Yamuna. The acting was good amidst a fetching backdrop.

Unions seek pension for MC employees
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
The National Organisation of Government Employees president, Mr K.R. Tripathi, Indian National Trade Union Congress’ Punjab unit General Secretary Shiv Gupta, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (Labour and Employment) chairman Balwant Rai Kapoor recently submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Ch Jagjit Singh, seeking pension for those employees of municipal committees and corporations who had retired before 1990.

The PPCC President, Mr H.S. Hanspal, has also recommended the case to the Local Bodies Minister for consideration.

Dr Shiv Gupta, general secretary of INTUC, stated that the Department of Local Bodies had fixed the cut-off date for pension to MC employees as April 1, 1990. He further said the date was discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the of the Constitution of India.

Mr Sunder Lal Mehta, vice- chairman of PPCC (Labour and Employment) stated that there would be no additional burden on the state government by paying pensions to these employees.

Two held with charas
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
The Jodhewal police yesterday arrested Lalit Kumar of UP, who lives in Panjabi Bagh on Tibba Road, with 480 gm of charas. The Division No 6 police arrested Ashok Kumar, a migrant from UP living in Fauji Mohalla, with 1 kg of charas.

Poppy husk seized: The Sadar police on Friday arrested Rajesh Samrat, a resident of Mohalla Hari Pur, Jhajjar, Haryana, and seized 18 kg of poppy husk from his possession. The police said the suspected was intercepted in Himmat Singh Nagar during routine checking.

2 travel agents booked: The Sarabha Nagar police yesterday registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC on a complaint of Mr Surjit Singh of Nurpur Bet village against Gurnam Singh of Nanak Pur village in Jalandhar district and Vinod Kumar. The complainant alleged that he had paid Rs 1.10 lakh to the suspects, who had promised that they would send him to a foreign country. The complainant alleged that the suspects neither sent him abroad nor returned his money.

Forgery case: The Civil Lines police registered a case under Sections 467,468 and 471 of the IPC on a complaint of Mr Prem Chand Gupta, an advocate living in Udham Singh Nagar, against Paramjit Singh, Satpal Singh, Iqbal Singh, Surinder Singh, Harjinder Singh, Ranjit Singh and Manmohan Singh. The complainant alleged that one of the suspects, Satpal Singh, posed as Prem Chand and after preparing forged documents pertaining to his 2,500 sq yd plot at Daad village sold it to the other suspects for Rs 2.55 lakh.

Gamblers held: The Haibowal police has registered a case under the Gambling Act against Harinder Kumar, a resident of Dhai Marla Colony, Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Pura, Bikram Kumar, a resident of Kundan Puri, Rakesh Kumar, a resident of New Kundan Puri and Raman Keshav, a resident of New Patel Nagar. The police said the suspects were arrested while they were gambling in a park in Durga Puri and a sum of Rs 35,200 was recovered from their possession.

Duplicate CDs seized: The Sahnewal police yesterday arrested Himmat Singh and Dharminder Singh, residents of Ram Garh village, with pirated CDs. They have been booked under the Copyright Act. Mr Harpump Singh, a resident of Panjab Mata Nagar, who works as a field officer for a Mumbai-based copyright protection company, had complained to the police about the activities of the suspects.

Illegal possession: The Sahnewal police has registered a case under Sections 382,447,336,506, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act on a complaint of Mr Harbans Singh, a resident of Mohar Singh Nagar near CMC Hospital, against Darshan Singh, a resident of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Manmohan Singh, a resident of Dhandra village, Saroj Rani, a resident of New Delhi, Arun Kumar, a resident of Milap Chowk in Jalandhar, Jagmohan, who lives on Daresi Road and six other persons accompanying them. The complainant had stated that the suspects took illegal possession of his brick-kiln at Kanech village on the night of December 5 at pistol-point and also stole Rs 4,800 from there.

Knives seized: The Division No 6 police yesterday arrested Paramjit Singh, alias Kala, who lives on Amloh Road at Khanna, and Rajwant Singh, alias Raja of Fagrani village in Ballia district of UP, from near Partap Chowk and booked them under the Arms Act. The police said today that a scooter without documents, along with two knives, was seized from their possession.

Another case under the Arms Act was registered at the same police station against Rajwant Singh, alias Raja, in connection with a knife seized from him.

Liquor seized: The Division No 76 police arrested Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Vishwakarma Nagar, from the Tajpur Road area yesterday with 11 bottles of country-made liquor. He has been booked under the Excise Act. Two cases under the Excise Act were registered at the Model Town police station on Thursday.

The suspect arrested in the first case, Arun Kumar, a Bihari migrant living in Dashmesh Nagar, had 20 bottles of illicit liquor in his possession. The second case was registered against Sukhdev Singh, alias Chhotu, a resident of Bhai Himmat Singh Nagar in Dugri, who was arrested with 20 bottles of illicit liquor.

Havell’s sets target for Punjab
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
Havell’s India Ltd, a power distribution equipment company has set an aggressive target of Rs 50 crore for the current financial year. In this line the company has rolled out its complete range of products including the new range of fans, lighting fixtures and new innovations in existing product groups.

Disclosing this here today, Mr Anil gupta, Director Havell’s India said, “we are aiming at further consolidating our market share by expanding our distribution network at a rapid pace with increased focus on smaller towns”. He expressed confidence that by the end of the fiscal 2005, Punjab alone would contribute to the extent of Rs 50 crore in the over all turnover.

He maintained that the electrical equipment industry was dominated by the unorganised sector. havell’s aim, he said, was to increase its market share to 15 per cent in the next two years by expanding the distribution infrastructure and introducing its complete range of products in the market.