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CM offers olive branch; promises
self-introspection Chandigarh, December 19 “There are many challenges ahead such as the Lok Sabha elections, devolution of powers to the panchayats, the WTO threat to the agricultural sector, sides providing 24-hour power supply to rural areas by June-end”, he said. “I welcome the change in the attitude of my of colleagues and am prepared for self-introspection to bridge the gap by initiating corrective steps and to redress the grievances of all concerned”, said the Chief Minister. Capt Amarinder Singh said the Congress which had earlier also faced similar upheavals many a time, would emerge stronger and united in the present situation. Describing it as family quarrel, he denied that any crisis was persisting in the CLP. “The crisis is over because I and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal have left the matter for to the party high command and to abide by whatever verdict is announced by Congress President, Sonia Gandhi”. No meeting of the CLP had been fixed and there was no proposal to send any observer to Punjab by the party high command”, the Chief Minister said. Asked about the Akali Dal-BJP demand for calling a special emergency session of the Chief Punjab Assembly to prove majority, Capt Amarinder Singh, said he was prepared to prove his majority but there was no need to call the session. “Not a single Congress MLA is going to oppose the government in the House. Hence the SAD-BJP demand is irrelevant”. “I am the leader of the House enjoying the support of 67 MLAs, including 62 of the Congress, two of the CPI, who merged with the Congress, and three associate members- Mr Om Parkash Soni, Mr Sher Singh Gagowal and Mr Surjit Dhiman”, he said. When pointed out that at one stage he had claimed support of 40 MLAs, Capt Amarinder Singh said “I did not make such a claim but on that day I referred about 40 MLAs, who were with me to meet the Congress high command. I am not in a number game. I am the leader of all Congress MLAs in the house”. Capt Amarinder Singh conceded without any fuss the flaws pointed out in the functioning of his government by media-persons. “I would take all necessary steps to ensure that what has happened in the past is not repeated in the future”, said the Chief Minister. “I admit that there was delay on my part to perceive that there was something wrong in my government that led to the current crisis in the party,” he added. About his campaign against corruption, he said, “Let the corruption issue be kept aside today”. About the allegations levelled by Mrs Bhattal against him, Capt Amarinder Singh, said he would not join issue with her. |
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CM calls up Bhattal Chandigarh, December 19 Sources said Mrs Bhattal was suffering from pneumonia and was likely to stay in Delhi for a few more days. Capt Amarinder Singh was not available for confirmation. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today visited various ministers in their rooms. Accompanied by Mr Suresh Kumar, he, however, skipped the room of Mr Harnam Dass Johar, another Minister, who is in the camp of Mrs Bhattal. He also went to the room of Mr Lal Singh, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Choudhary Jagjit Singh, Choudhary Santokh Singh, Mr Avtar Henry, Mr Khushhal Bahl and others who were present in the Secretariat today. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said today that Mr Suresh Kumar had been appointed Principal Secretary to him in place of Mr Sanjit Sinha. |
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What sealed Sinha, Chahal
fate Chandigarh, December 19 Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, today made it clear that on the completion of his three-month leave, Mr Chahal, would not stay as Adviser to him. “Mr Chahal would be appropriately accommodated elsewhere,” said the Chief Minister. Admitting that Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha have been removed from their important positions at the behest of certain party colleagues, Capt Amarinder Singh, said “there was widespread anger against both. Mr Chahal annoyed many party leaders and perhaps the same was true in the case of Mr Sinha. Capt Amarinder Singh said the party comes first and individuals later. Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha should not become an impediment in the reconciliation process”. Mr Sinha now holds the post of Principal Secretary, Home, which is otherwise an important position but not as much as that of Principal Secretary to the CM. “Mr Sinha was a loyal friend. I know him for the past 20 years. I did not want to remove him but my party colleagues asked for it”. “In fact, Mr Sinha opted for himself as he did not want of cause me any embarrassment,” said Capt Amarinder Singh. Sources said the statement made on December 17 by the Chief Minister at Bathinda that he would not remove any of his officers, created a flutter in the Bajwa camp as their only demand for the removal of Mr Sinha and Mr Chahal had not been implemented by the Chief Minister even after promising to do so. Mr Bajwa and others followed the Chief Minister, who had left for Delhi on December 17 evening following a call by party President, Sonia Gandhi. They held a detailed meeting with the Chief Minister next
morning to make it clear that it would be difficult for them to stand by him if he continued with the services of Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha in his office. At that meeting several family members of Capt Amarinder Singh were also present. One of Capt Amarinder Singh’s sisters finally clinched the issue. She advised Capt Amarinder Singh to do what Mr Bajwa and others say. “It is the party that matters the most”, she told him. Immediately after this meeting, Capt Amarinder Singh made up his mind to remove Mr Sinha. He rang up Chief Secretary, Jai Singh Gill, from Delhi to issue the necessary orders relieving Mr Sinha from the post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Admitting that he and his associates had been telling the Chief Minister for long that the services of Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha were not proving helpful to the state government, Mr Bajwa said “the Chief Minister was given an honest assessment and advice to say goodbye to both officials. We are thankful to him as he has acted on our advice”, he said. Sources said Mr Bajwa and others were so upset with the continuation of both officers in the CMO that they opened channels of communication with Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, though, they had remained staunch loyalists of Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Bajwa was also present at the press conference addressed by the Chief Minister today. Amritsar, December 19 Talking to the mediapersons here today, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, general secretary of the SAD, said the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had admitted that Mr Chahal had proceeded on a three-month leave to attend the marriage of a relative in Canada. Mr Badal alleged that Mr Chahal and Mr Sinha were trying to flee the country as they had indulged in huge embezzlements at the behest of Capt Amarinder Singh. Ridiculing the removal of Mr Sinha as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and sending Mr Chahal on leave, Mr Sukhbir Badal said it was strange that Capt Amarinder Singh had ditched his loyalists to save his skin. Mr Badal said his party would urge the Central Government to sound red alert on all international airports. Mr Badal demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations of corruption against Capt Amarinder Singh by his own Cabinet colleagues, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Mr Badal claimed that the days of the Congress government in the state were numbered and the SAD would win the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections with a thumping majority. |
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CM delaying selection of Lok Pal:
Badal Rampura Phul, December 19 Mr Badal, while addressing a press conference here today, said the anti-corruption drive launched by Capt Amarinder Singh had been exposed after he refused to set up a judicial commission to probe corruption charges against the politicians. He added that apart from this, Capt Amarinder Singh had become a mute spectator to the corruption charges levelled against him by Mrs Bhattal. Demanding the resignation of Capt Amarinder Singh from the chief
Ministership, he said political instability in Punjab had been causing immense harm to the common man. Mr Badal criticised the government for making a hike of only Rs 10 in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat. He added that the farmers of Punjab had already been feeling the pinch of withdrawal of facilities of free power and water for agriculture. He demanded that the farmers should be extended these facilities again to make both ends meet. |
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News Analysis Chandigarh, December 19 Though Congressmen in general and members of the party Legislature Party (CLP) in particular are awaiting the verdict of the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, over the demand for change of CLP leadership in the state, confrontation is gradually paving the way for reconciliation. The general feeling in the Punjab CLP and Members of Parliament from the state has been that continuation of confrontation would affect the chances of the party in the coming Lok Sabha elections. “Unless differences are sunk and the party is united, it would face a rout in the General Election,” has been their unanimous viewpoint. How the dissidents respond to the new reconciliatory approach of the Chief Minister remains to be seen. The Chief Minister and his camp are very hopeful, especially when all “irritants” have been removed and an “open arm welcome policy” has been announced. The return of the Chief Minister and his loyalist ministers and legislators to the deserted Punjab Civil Secretariat building, which had been a mute spectator to several such battles for political supremacy in the past, also ended the extended holiday for both bureaucrats and other employees. The release of the list of holidays for next year is also indicative of the government’s intention to end its confrontation with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Early this year, the government had challenged the authority of the SGPC in refusing to accept the Sikh religious Nanakshahi calendar. The present government had remained in confrontation with the SGPC, first over the election of its executive committee, including the president in 2002, and then over the implementation of calendar. Now when the divided opposition — the Akalis — have been united, the government started relenting by changing the date of the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur. The confrontations not only vitiated the general and political atmosphere in the state, but also took the state off the track of development. Though the Chief Minister had announced that 2003-04 would be year of development, hardly any noticeable infrastructure development or any other developmental project was unveiled. Capt Amarinder Singh told The Tribune yesterday that since the final decision had been left to the party president, neither he nor any of his ministers needed to go Delhi unless they had some official engagements there. Because of the split in the ruling party, the corridors of power in the Punjab Civil Secretariat as well as the Punjab Vidhan Sabha mostly remained deserted. The Assembly sessions throughout the year were held more to meet constitutional or ritualistic necessities than discuss and debate on issues of public importance. After the death of the previous Lok Pal, Justice Dharamvir Sehgal in December 2002, the government decided not to fill the post. At the same time, big staff of the office of the Lok Pal, including a director-general, and inspector-general, superintendent, deputy superintendents and their subordinate police staff, the secretary and registrar, remained jobless throughout the year. The problem became so acute that even the DGP, who is the second seniormost police officer of the country after the DGP of the Bureau of Police Research, could not draw his salary for several months for lack of sanction of the post. |
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Sodhi’s relative held for
smuggling Lambi, December 19 Bikramjit Singh Sodhi and his three associates were arrested by the police near Killianwali on the Punjab-Haryana border yesterday evening as they were taking opium in a car on the Fazilka-Delhi highway. The police found about 460 gm of opium. Police sources said Bikramjit Singh Sodhi, Beant Singh, Malkeet Singh and Gurpreet Singh were bringing opium from Jandawala village in Sirsa district in Haryana. They were arrested after a tip-off. Mr Lakhwinder Singh, SHO,
Lambi, when contacted, said the accused had brought narcotics from neighbouring Haryana. Earlier also he said the accused were taking opium to Guru Harsahai in Ferozepore district. He added that it could not be ascertained if the accused had brought the opium for personal consumption or for selling it. A case has been registered against them under the NDPS Act. The accused have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the Judicial Magistrate, Mr Nirmal Singh
Lubana, today. The SHO said in another case a lecturer Bikramjit Singh, of Chappianwali village in Muktsar district was arrested for attacking followers of Baba Ashutosh at his dera located in Dabwali Malko village. A case has been registered. |
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Daler to be presented before Patiala
court Patiala, December 19 The Patiala Senior Superintendent of
Police, Mr A.S. Rai, said a team headed by the Superintendent of Police (City), Mr R.L. Monga, has been sent to Delhi to take the pop star in custody. The team will present Daler before a Delhi court in the morning following which a transit remand would be secured to get him to Patiala. Once in the city, the SSP said Daler was likely to be presented before the appropriate court here. Mr Rai disclosed that the police would present the challan against him before January 4, which is the last date for doing so. The police is, meanwhile, expected to seek police remand of Daler to interrogate him. A case in the human trafficking case was registered against him on September 19 by the Sadar police following a complaint by Bakshish Singh, a commission agent of Balbehra, a small town near here. Bakshish Singh had claimed that Shamsher Mehndi, the brother of the pop star had taken money from him. He had also named four other persons in the FIR, including Daler Mehndi, Surinder Singh, Tejinder Laddi and Harchand Singh alias Dhian Singh. UNI adds: The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Mr P.S. Dhanoa today dismissed the regular bail plea of Shamsher Mehndi. The ACJM had yesterday reserved the order on the regular bail of Shamsher, who has been in police and judicial custody since October 5 when the case was registered. Patiala, December 19 A local court today rejected the anticipatory bail applications filed by both Shamsher Mehndi’s wife Balwinder Kaur as well as Bul Bul Mehta who calls himself a business associate of the Mehndi brothers. Both of them had earlier claimed that they had been falsely implicated in the case by the Patiala police. Balwinder Kaur had even complained that she was suffering from a serious brain ailment and was not fit to travel in such a state and that nothing had been recovered from her house which could necessitate her custodial interrogation. Bul Bul Mehta had also filed a separate application appealing for the recall of the orders under which proceedings had been started to get him declared a proclaimed offender in the case. He claimed that he was surprised to know that such proceedings had been started against him as he had never dodged the law. He claimed that he was ready to cooperate in the case and an order be passed to recall the earlier direction in the case. The application was dismissed. Meanwhile, there was much excitement in the district court complex today with Daler Mehndi expected to present himself before the appropriate court in the human trafficking case. However, Daler, who has time till tomorrow to surrender in the case, failed to show up. Sources said the pop singer had filed for bail in a Delhi court in the case and that he could be awaiting the decision of the court before he gave himself up. In a related development, Punjabi singer Sukha Dilliwala, who is also accused of running a human trafficking racket on the lines of the Mehndi brothers, was today remanded in judicial custody for 14 more days by a local court. |
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Samjhauta — the train of
emotions Amritsar, December 19 It took more than two years for Qadian-based journalist Maqbool Ahmed to marry his first cousin Tahira, a Pakistani national. They were engaged a few days before the attack on Parliament. It took great efforts and time to arrange a visa for Tahira, who finally reached India through the land route to get married this month. Samjhauta Express is also called the train of ‘emotions’ as it unites many Muslims families separated during Partition. The Attari station is being spruced up for the big day — January 15, 2004. However, intelligence agencies will have to increase surveillance and checking. More than 50,000 passengers who had come to India by the Samjhauta Express in the last decade never returned back to Pakistan. The Indian agencies failed to trace the whereabouts of the missing passengers. |
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CPI for probe into Bhattal’s charges against CM Phagwara, December 19 Addressing party workers at Bhabiana village, 12 kms from here, Dr Dyal said both feuding groups did not have people’s agenda. He was here to attend barsi function of Jathedar Swarn Singh Bhabiana. Dr Dyal demanded probe by a Supreme Court Judge into the charges of corruption of Agriculture Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal against Captain Amarinder Singh. The probe should also cover sale of Punjab Tractors at throwaway price of Rs 265 crore. The assests of this PSU are Rs 500 crore and it had recorded a profit of Rs 137 crore last year, he said. Mr Amarinder Singh was answerable for the amount spent on the renovation of his Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala alleged by Mrs Bhattal, he remarked. Dr Dyal declared that Akalis and the Congress men were chips of the same block as corruption was concerned. Dr Dyal demanded summary trial and hanging of the corrupt politicians to rid the society of the evil. He took to task SGPC President Jathedar GS Tohra for misusing SGPC for saving SAD President, his son and his wife by launching an agitation for the Badals who were facing corruption charges. |
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BJP distributes district-level
work Chandigarh, December 19 The distribution of work has been done as following Bibi Gurcharan Kaur (Bathinda/Muktsar), Ch Swaran Ram (Jalandhar rural/Nawanshahr), Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla (Batala/Amritsar rural), Mr Shakti Sharma (Kapurthala), Mr Avinash Jaiswal (Patiala rural), Mr Vinod Sharma (Ludhiana urban/Gurdaspur), Mr Arunesh Shakar (Amritsar urban), Mr Charanji Lal Bajaj (Abohar/Faridkot), Mr Ashok Juneja (Moga), Dr Balbir Chand Kapila (Ludhiana rural/Sangrur), Mr Vipin Chander Paul (Fatehgarh Sahib), Mr Bal Krishan Mittal (Hoshiarpur), Mr Mohan Lal Garg (Mansa), Mr Faquir Chand Goyal (Ferozepore), Mr Harbans Lal Sethi (Ropar/Jalandhar urban), Mr Hans Raj Nakra (Mukerian) and Dr Nand Lal Sharma (Patiala urban). |
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Architects, engineers cross swords over building
plans Amritsar, December 19 The controversy was sparked off following a letter written by Mr Paremendra Raj Mehta, president of the COA to chairpersons of the Improvement Trust and other agencies, asking them to enforce the Architect Act, 1972, in toto so that licences could be issued to competent persons (Architects) by local government agencies. Mr Mehta, in his letter claimed that the Act was being violated by the Local Bodies, municipal corporations, municipalities and Improvement Trusts despite “clear” directions issued by the Central Government. He had alleged that some “unqualified persons” such as draftsmen, diploma holders, surveyors and engineers have been preparing and submitting building plans for approval. Joining the issue, Mr P.S. Sandhu, president of the
APCE, asked Mr Mehta to withdraw his “derogatory” statement as engineers were more qualified and competent to prepare the building plans than any professional related to the construction industry. He alleged that Mr Mehta had no locus standi to defame engineers by describing them as unqualified. Taking serious view of the statement, Mr Sandhu said that the APCE might move the court. The APCE president claimed that due to their knowledge, skill engineers were considered as the backbone of the construction industry and far ahead than any other professional in this field. Mr Sandhu said though the architects were one of the constituents of the construction industry, surveyors, diploma-holders and draftsmen were also playing key roles in their respective fields for the successful running of the industry. The APCE also took exception to the alleged biased approach of PUDA towards registered engineers. The statement added that PUDA had refused to accept the building plans and completion certificates prepared and submitted by registered civil engineers since June 2002 without assigning any reason. However, the building plans and completion certificates being prepared and submitted by the architects were being accepted by them. The association alleged that this was happening on flimsy grounds and wrong information was being provided by some agencies. |
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CM approves memorandum for waiver of
loan Chandigarh, December 19 According to a spokesman of the government, the state government had also pleaded that the commission should allow consolidation and rescheduling of repayment of Central loans outstanding as on March 31, 2005, over a period of 25 to 30 years and the rate of interest on Central loans be lowered in order to reduce the fiscal deficit of the states. In addition, 50 per cent of the principal which is due for repayment during the forecast period should be written off to relieve the states of their debt. The Central assistance to the states fo the plan schemes should be lump sum with the major portion as grants. The grant and loan component of 30:70 which was fixed long time ago be revised to 70: 30 and the allocation across development projects should be left exclusively to the state. Referring to the financing of relief expenditure, the spokesman said it had been emphaised in the memorandum that the coverage of the relief fund might be enlarged so as to include calamities caused by pests and water logging. The contribution of the state in the Calamity Relief Fund might also be reduced to 10 per cent as against 25 per cent recommended by the previous commissions.
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Security arrangements for
Jor Mela reviewed Fatehgarh Sahib, December 19 More than 10 lakh devotees are expected to pay obeisance to the younger Sahibjadas of Guru Gobind Singh at the mela starting from December 24. Later, addressing a press conference, the DIG said this year the police would make
foolproof security arrangements. He said the district administration had decided to commemorate the mela as per “gurmaryada” and the police too would make all efforts to make it a
success. He said more than 2,100 police personnel of all ranks would be deputed for the mela and 12 nakas and eight barriers would work round the clock. He said the entire mela site had been divided in four sectors and 1 SP and 2
DSPs, along with police personnel, would supervise in their respective sectors. Mr Sahota said eight observation posts were being erected and policemen having latest equipments would be posted there to keep a close watch on activities of criminals and anti-social elements. He said besides this, policemen in plain clothes would also be posted. Addressing the meeting, Mr Shiv Kumar, SSP, said the district administration had banned all means of entertainment like circus, amusement, gambling, skill stalls and dances, and the police would strictly implement the decision. He assured devotees that elaborate security arrangements had been made. He said four assistance posts were being set up, where the police would provide medical aid, information regarding missing persons and other necessary instructions for the mela. He said the traffic would be regulated through link roads and two special buses would be operated up to the gurdwara for old people. Mr Ahluwalia said the martyrdom of younger Sahibjadas would be commemorated in a religious spirit “bhakti sangeet sammelan” would be held in which Wadali brothers would perform. Var gayan competition, painting competition on sahibjadas and shabad gayan competition would be organised by the district administration. He said after identifying the exact time of their bricking alive, a siren would be sounded so that the devotees could pay homage. The Public Relation department would organise a special light and sound programme, “Sirhind Ki Dastan”. Besides this, basic civic amenities like toilets, drinking water, cleanliness would be ensured and five enquiry centers and dispensaries would work round the clock, he said, adding that wine shops would remain closed for three days.
Educationists to commemorate saga of Chamkaur Sahib Chandigarh, December 19 Only handful of disciples were left with Guru Gobind Singh in a mud fortress after that battle there. Five Sikhs had then prayed to Guru Gobind Singh to leave the fortress for protecting the Sikhs. The guru left the place at midnight and settled a few miles away where now Gurdwara Jhar Sahib is situated. Educationists would march on foot from Chamkaur Sahib to Jhar Sahib at 1 am on the night of December 21. They would reach Jhar Sahib at 6 am. They propose to make it an annual affair. Among those who would participate in the march are Mr Manjit Singh Khatra, former Principal of Gurusar Sudhar College, Dr B.S. Gill, Professor Emeritus, Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof Kanwar Ranbir Singh (Ludhiana), Principal B.S. Watni, Dr J.S.Cheema, a former Principal. |
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PSEB finds 208 power theft
cases Bathinda, December 19 Sources added that about 17 teams of enforcement wing raided hundreds of residential premises with the help of police and found a large number of cases of power theft. Mr H.S. Khurmi, Director, enforcement wing, PSEB, when contacted said earlier teams had raided various residential and commercial premises in Mansa, Malout and Moga and detected many such cases. The PSEB authorities had imposed penalty to the tune of Rs 30 lakh. |
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Panel: probe into case against
contractor Abohar, December 19 Admitting a complaint filed by Mr Jagga Singh of Johri Mandir and finding it to be a good prima facie case for taking cognizance under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the commission directed that it should be registered as a case. The complainant had stated that he was earning his livelihood by filling earth with his tractor-trailer here. On October 7, while he was driving his tractor-trailer loaded with sand, he was allegedly intercepted by the contractor who asked him to pay octroi on sand. Since he had not imported the sand from outside the municipal limits, the complainant refused to do so. Thereafter his tractor-trailer was forcibly taken to a saw mill owned by a former councillor near the central octroi post. He was allegedly abused and threatened of dire consequences and was illegally detained. His tractor was still in the contractor’s custody, he said. He also alleged that the octroimen were charging Rs 20 on account of market fee but issued receipts for Rs 10 only. |
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Punjab holidays Chandigarh, December 19 The Central Government and the Chandigarh Administration have also decided to follow the Nanakshahi calendar as far as the Sikh religious festivals and historic days are concerned. For instance, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh will be celebrated all over on January 5 and that of Guru Nanak Dev on November 26. Similarly, the martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will be observed on November 24. The list of public holidays in Punjab during 2004 will be: birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (January 5), birthday of Guru Ram Singhji (January 26), Id-ul-Zuha-Bakrid (February 2), Guru Ravi Dass Jayanti (February 6), Mahashivratri (February 18), Holi (March 6), Hola Mohalla (March 7), International Women’s Day (March 8), shaheedi day of Sardar Bhagat Singh (March 23), Ramnavami (March 30), Mahavir Jayanti (April 3), Good Friday (April 9), Shri Parshuram Jayanti ( April 22), May Day (May1), birthday of Prophet Mohammed Sahib-Milad-ul-Nabi or Id-e-Milad (May 2), Kabir Jayanti (June 3), martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev (June 16), martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh (July 31), Independence Day (August 15), Janamashtami (September 7), birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (October 2), Maharaja Agar Sain Jayanti (October 15), birthday of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (October 16), Dasehra (October 22), birthday of Maharshi Balmik (October 28), New Punjab Day (November 1), Divali (November 12), Vishwakarma Day (November 14), Id-ul-Fitr (November 15), martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (November 24), birthday of Guru Nanak Dev (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25). The following is the list of restricted
holidays: New Year Day (January 1), Lohri (January 13), Nirwan Divas of Bhagwan Adinath (January 20), Basant Panchami (January 26), Muharram (March 2), Budh Purnima (May 4), Nirjala Ekadashi ( May 30), death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ( June 29), birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh (September 12), Anant Chaturdashi (September 27), Karva Chauth (October 31), Goverdhan Pooja (November 13), birthday of Sant Nam Dev (November 22) and Jor Mela Fatehgarh Sahib (December 26, 27 and 28). The festival of Raksha bandhan falls on August 30, 2004, and the government offices will open at 11 am on that day. |
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4 Pak prisoners repatriated Wagah, December 19 Ibrahim, a resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan, was arrested from Suratgarh railway station in Rajasthan about 16 years ago. Though he was sentenced for three years, he had to languish in various jails as the Government of Pakistan did not give him a clean chit for his identification. He said that he wanted to reach Ajmer sharif to pay his obeisance. He claimed that he was not aware that he should have got a visa to visit the holy place. The other three Pakistanis who were repatriated are Mohammad Sanaullah, a resident of Mujaffarnagar, Mohammad Faisal of Karachi and Maqsood Ahmad of
Gurjanawala. |
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Govt employees stage dharna Patiala, December 19 Leaders of various unions were unanimous in asserting that the employees would intensify their agitation in case their demands were not accepted at the earliest. Spokesman for the committee Gurnam Singh Ghanour said their demands include the payment of bonus, grant of promotion scale after a time period of four and nine years, immediate halt to the privatisation process, regularisation of daily wagers and part-time workers, filling up of vacant posts and grant of a medical allowance to the tune of Rs 500 to the workers. Among those who addressed the gathering were Gurnam Singh
Ghanour, Tejinder Singh Lohgarh, Kulbir Singh Saidkheri, Sukhdev Singh Saini, Gurdev Singh Duldi , Charanjit Singh Walia, Hari Singh Tohra , Ranbir Dhillon and
Karamchand. |
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Power connection of health institute cut Kharar, December 19 Students, who are undergoing two weeks’ training programme at the institute and are staying in hostels on the campus, are going to have a difficult time. Thirty students, who have come from schools in Gurdaspur district, are being made aware of the latest strategy on primary health care. Sources say that the institute owed about Rs 2.05 lakh to the PSEB, as no payment for bills had been made since March. The authorities had requested the PSEB officials to delay the action by about a week so that students did not suffer as the course was going to finish by that time. However, power board officials did not relent. Officials at the institute said that the payment for the bills could not be made as no funds had been received from the government in this regard. Mr
N.S. Rangi, SDO, PSEB, said that the permission for cutting the power connection to the institute had been taken from the Superintending Engineer. He said that several letters had been written to the institute to clear their pending dues but to no avail.
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Pollution control board told to issue guidelines Sangrur, December 19 Dr Surinder Singla, chairman of the Bio-medical Waste Management State Committee of the IMA, said here today private doctors were feeling harassed, especially with regard to liquid waste management of their hospitals/nursing homes. He said the Punjab IMA was of the view that the PPCB should issue feasible guidelines to get the rules, implemented by the government as well as the private health institutions simultaneously. Dr Singla said the state council of the Punjab IMA would discuss the problems being faced by the doctors regarding the implementation of the rules at its meeting to be held on December 21 at Jalandhar. He said members of the state committee of the IMA, under the leadership of Dr Kuldip Singh, state president of Punjab IMA, would meet Chairman of the PPCB on December 23 to sortout these problems. Dr Singla said the state council would also discuss about the setting up of its own waste treatment plants to handle the problem. |
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CM to unveil Prabodh Chandra’s
statue Jalandhar, December 19 The statue will be unveiled by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, on December 23 during a “Sanman Divas” rally at the grain market in Gurdaspur. The rally, which is being organised to honour freedom fighters, is likely to be attended by Senior Congress leader, Ms Mohsina Kidwai. This was stated by Mr Ashwani Kumar, MP Rajya Sabha, in a letter to The Tribune here today. Throughout his political career spanning over four decades from 1923 to 1977, Mr Chandra led a crusade against corruption and zealously guarded values in public life. During the freedom struggle, Mr Prabodh Chandra was arrested in Multan bomb case in 1929 and was first jailed in 1930 and 1936 and later again from 1942 to 1945. |
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Army relaxes recruitment condition Bathinda, December 19 In a press note issued here yesterday, he said that presently, Army authorities had been making recruitment in the local Government Rajindra College and the students, who had become eligible after reducing the percentage of marks scored in class X could, could avail the benefit. |
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Probe purchase of bad medicines:
pharmacists Fazilka, December 19 They alleged that there was rampant corruption at all levels in the department, particularly in regard to transfers, purchase of medicines and equipment which was of sub-standard quality. Several crores of rupees had been spent on such kind of purchases and a large amount of money had been misappropriated due to nexus between some officers of the department and politicians. They also charged the government with selling and leasing the health institution, raised at a hefty cost, at throwaway prices to their blue-eyed boys. As a result of this health services had become costlier and out of reach of the poor. Representatives of pharmacists association demanded a high-level probe into purchase of substandard medicines and equipment. Mr Kant and Mr Luthra said that 180 pharmacists of Ferozepore district will stage a protest rally before office of Civil Surgeon and burn an effigy of Dr. D.P.S. Sandhu, Director, Health Services, Punjab. In the second phase of their agitation all pharmacists of state will stage protest march at Dasuha, the native of Mr Ramesh Dogra, Health Minister, Punjab, on January 11, 2004 in support of their demands. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, December 11 Pronouncing the orders in an open court, Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the High Court ruled that there was no merit in the petition and the same was being dismissed with costs. In his petition, Congress candidate Sukhpal Singh had earlier alleged the adoption of corrupt practices. He had further alleged that Bibi had procured the help of police and other officers for the furtherance of her prospects. In a reply submitted before the High Court, Bibi had, on the other hand, claimed that the allegations against her in the petition were ‘totally vague’. Denying the allegations regarding her taking the assistance of Kapurthala’s former Deputy Commissioner, Bibi had claimed Mr Vivek Aggarwal was transferred from the constituency eight days before she filed her nomination papers. Giving details, she further had claimed that Mr Aggarwal was transferred out on January 10, last year while her nomination papers were filed on January 18, 2002. Her counsel had also denied the allegations regarding money in excess of the prescribed limit being spent by Bibi during the elections. He had added that the allegations were based on presumptions. |
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Bail plea of Sarpanch dismissed Sangrur, December 19 All 17 accused, belonging to the landlords’ group case have filed anticipatory bail applications following the addition of Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC into FIR registered against them. Section 307 of the IPC was added to the FIR a few days ago on receipt of the medical legal report. Sources said Mrs Gurcharn Kaur of the Dalit had suffered serious injuries during the clash, according to the medical report. Sarpanch Kesar Singh had been “held” responsible for injury to Gurcharn Kaur. The 16 accused who were granted anticipatory bail today are Gurmeet Singh, Nirmal Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, alias Maddi, Jaspal Singh, Achhra Singh, Chhota Singh, Jagjit Singh, Mela Singh, Balraj Singh, Avtar Singh, Jagtar Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Jasbir Singh, Pardip Singh, Karamjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh. Earlier, the accused were arrested under Sections 323, 148, 149, 353, 186 and 332 of the IPC and Section 3 of the SC Act, 1989. But now they were on bail. |
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BKU (Lakhowal) rally on Dec
23 Kharar, December 19 Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, president of the Punjab unit, said a charter of demands would be presented to the President, Prime Minister and the Union agricultural Minister after the rally. He said meetings in this regard had been held at Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala and other places and the response of the farmers was very encouraging. He said about 50,000 farmers from the state were likely to take part in the rally. He said the sugar mills had purchased sugarcane
from farmers without making payments for the produce and owed Rs 90 crore to them. He said the government so far had not announced the procurement price of wheat. He said the produce of the farmers was being purchased by private agencies instead of government agencies. |
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Mayor postpones MC meeting Jalandhar, December 19 According to sources, division among the Congress councillors over the issue of non-initiation of development projects in some wards represented by the Congress councillors was the main reason for the postponement. The aggrieved councillors had reportedly planned to disrupt the proceedings of the House and were aiming to target the Mayor for allegedly working against the interest of the Congress councillors. The next date of the meeting was not announced. |
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ADTO's transfer recommended Amritsar, December 19 Mr Jatinder Singh, proprietor of Gill Bus Service, had complained that he was framed by the ADTO without any of his fault. Earlier taking congnisance of the complaint, the PSHRC had directed the Deputy Commissioner to hold an inquiry into the allegations. The inquiry conducted by the SDM, however, had given clean chit to the ADTO. The inquiry officer had concluded that the complaint was made to harass the ADTO with a view to withdraw the case. |
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Factory making spurious tobacco unearthed, 1
held Bathinda, December 19 In a press note here today, Mr Kapil Dev, SSP, said that three brothers namely Ranjiv Kumar, Parshottam Kumar and Sanjiv Kumar were running a tobacco factory under the brand name of Mahesh Tobacco Company and manufacturing and packing tobacco under brand name of Ganesh Tobacco Factory, Maur Mandi. One of the accused Ranjiv Kumar was arrested by the raiding team. The accused had been selling their product to various markets including in the city. He said that on a tip-off police party led by Mr Major Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), city police station, raided the factory, it recovered 400 big pouches of tobacco, 2700 small pouches, 4700 empty packets, 13600 labels and three rolls for making tobacco pouches (all having brand name of Ganesh 701, Maur Mandi). Apart from it 14200 hologram stickers, two seal machines, two bags of raw material, one container of liquid chemical, one plastic can of 20 litre capacity having liquid chemical (15 litres) and one small glass container having 400 grams of liquid chemical were seized. A case in this connection had been registered in the city police station under Sections 420, 481, 482, 483, 486 of the IPC and Sections 51, 51-A, 66 and 68-A of the Copyrights Act. |
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Over 5 lakh in fake currency
seized Jalandhar, December 19 According to a police spokesman, after getting a tip-off, a police party laid a naqa near Football Chowk here and intercepted a Maruti car. The search of the vehicle led to the recovery of Rs 5 lakh fake currency notes. The occupants of the vehicle were immediately arrested and were later identified as Balbir Singh of Sarhala village in Hoshiarpur and Baldev Raj of Kaharalkalan village in Bhogpur. The currency notes were reportedly in the denominations of Rs 50 and Rs 100. During the preliminary interrogation, the arrested persons revealed that they were distributing fake currency in different parts of the state through a chain of agents. Their revelations led to the seizure of printing material and a computer from one of their hideouts. A case has been registered. TARN TARAN:
The Bhikhiwind police recovered fake currency worth Rs 14,000 from Piara Singh, resident of Marri-Kamke village, last night at a naka. Police sources said the accused, a resident of Kot Mit Singh in Amritsar, had brought the fake currency from Darshan Singh of Jalalabad town in Ferozepore district. Mr Gurkirpal Singh, local SSP, said investigation had been initiated in the matter. |
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CM to open NRI-funded school Jalandhar, December 19 The CM would also address a vikas rally at the village on the same day. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, the Punjab Revenue Minister, Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, said, “the CM will also inaugurate Rs 2.13 crore project for strengthening of 22.60 km of Nakodar-Phagwara road”. Patiala, December 19 Twenty-five senior professors and lecturers from different engineering and polytechnic colleges of the city participated in the programme. The objective of the programme was to train lecturers so that they could offer enterpreneurship as one of the career options. Various topics discussed at the programme included the role and function of different institutions in setting up of a small industry, communication skills, marketing, goal setting, problem solving and project identification. Mr P.K. Bansal, AGM, State Bank of Patiala, was also present on the occasion. |
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