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SAD (A) to boycott Ratia conference
Amritsar, July 8 Ram Singh general secretary SAD (A) said here today the party would participate in the conference only if Akal Takh Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti assured them life and property of the Sikhs living in Haryana would be safe besides changing the site of the conference. He said Jathedar Vedanti should also assure the Sikhs that no untoward incident would take place which could harm interests of the community in that state. Ram Singh said a delegation of the pary would soon meet union home minister Shivraj Patil, in New Delhi to apprise him of the atrocities committed by the SAD-BJP government on the party workers and the members of the minority communities in the state. He said if the union government failed to provide any relief they would be forced to meet the President in this regard. Meanwhile, Jathedar Vedanti has clarified the panthic conference would be held in Ratia at all costs. He said the Haryana government would be responsible if any untoward incident happened at the site of the conference. He also appealed to the Sikhs in the country and abroad for launching peaceful campaign against the dera. A meeting of the Sikh high priests was also held at Akal Takht to reconsider the letter issued by the dera chief on June 27 for seeking forgiveness. Rejecting the ‘mafinama’ the resolution said it was simply a press note without any signatures and was not addressed to anyone.
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NDA leaders canvass for Shekhawat
Chandigarh, July 8 Leaders of certain parties, which are part of the UNPA, are close friends of Badal. Among these parties are the INLD and the Telugu Desam Party. NDA leaders, including Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Arun Shourie, Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, were here today to canvass for Shekhawat. A meeting of MLAs and MPs of the SAD and the BJP from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and Panther Party MLAs from Jammu and Kashmir was held here today in a hotel in connection with the presidential election. Badal, being the seniormost leader, presided over the meeting. Four independent MLAs from Punjab today extended their support to Shekhawat. The NDA leaders appealed to all MLAs and MPs for a conscience vote in support of Shekhawat. Speaking at the meeting, Shourie and other speakers projected Shekhawat as a clean politician not involved in any controversy. Shourie counted several controversies in which UPA candidate Pratibha Patil and her family members were said to be involved. He said to elect such a candidate as President would be against the interests of the country as well as of democracy. Shourie said the country should not have a tainted and vulnerable candidate as President. Pratibha would be nothing but a puppet in the hands of the UPA’s top brass, he said. Supporting Shourie, Badal said it was difficult to find a non-controversial politician in the Congress. Bhim Singh of the Panthers Party, while extending support to the NDA-backed candidate, said Communists were facing a difficult time by backing Pratibha. He alleged that the Communists had harmed this country the most. Their political role in the pre and post-Independence period of the country was condemnable, he added. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and other senior leaders praised Shekhawat as an upright politician.
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CM mourns Chandra Shekhar’s death
Chandigarh, July 8 In a statement here, Badal said, “Today, Punjab and the Shiromani Akali Dal have lost a great and ever-dependable friend and the country a champion of freedom, human rights and democratic values. He fought countless principled battles alongside the great Jai Parkash Narayan to safeguard democratic values. Beleaguered farmers of the country have been deprived of the tallest fighter of their cause.” “The role played by Chandra Shekhar in the freedom movement and his commitment to the ideals of social justice will continue to inspire generations to come. He will remain perhaps the most forceful symbol of clean and dignified conduct in public life,” said Badal. Badal recalled his long personal and political association with Chandra Shekhar and the relentless support lent by the great leader to various struggles of the SAD. He said, “The great leader will long be remembered for the outstanding role he played in the country's struggle against the infamous Emergency. ” Badal will attend the funeral of the departed leader in New Delhi tomorrow. Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala described Chandra Shekhar as a great parliamentarian and an able administrator who fought for the cause of the downtrodden. Senior Akali leaders, including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Capt Kanwaljit Singh, have expressed shock over the demise of the former PM.
Dullo expresses grief
Shamsher Singh Dullo, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, has expressed grief over the death of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar. In his death, the country had lost a senior statesman and a great parliamentarian. The void created by his death would be difficult to fill, said Dullo.
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Five held for molesting woman
Our Correspondent
Tarn Taran, July 8 Senior superintendent of police Pawan Kumar Rai visited the village and talked to villagers regarding the incident. Fourteen persons, including a woman, had allegedly molested a middle-aged woman and paraded her naked in a village street. The SSP said Rana and Parsa, sons of Balkar Singh, Beera, son of Raju, Deba, son of Beera Singh, and Rana, son of Jagir Singh, had been arrested while raids were on to nab the other suspects. He had observed that the woman was not paraded naked. However, he said, the suspects beat her up severely, tore her clothes, dragged her out of her house to the village street and molested her. On the other hand, Baljit Singh, son of Sarpanch Bibi Harjit Kaur, convened a meeting of the villagers and assured them that the panchayat would leave no stone unturned to get justice in the incident.
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Rain disrupts life in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, July 8 However, no loss of life was reported. The Chakki river washed away a stone crusher unit located on the Pathankot-Dalhousie road besides damaging pillars of a bridge connecting Punjab with Himachal Pradesh at Haryala village. Roads and streets were inundated, disrupting the vehicular traffic. The water level in other seasonal rivulets also went up.
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Dy CM’s post Our Correspondent
Abohar, July 8 Swarna Ram, who holds the Social Welfare portfolio in the Badal-led Cabinet, conceded that grants under welfare schemes introduced by the previous Congress government for Dalits and widows had not been disbursed after the formation of the present government as the Budget was yet to be given the final nod, but assured the gathering that funds would be released after July 15. On the Dera Sacha Sauda issue, he said the BJP had firmly told Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that he and his party would be responsible if peace was disturbed in Punjab. He hoped that conciliation efforts would be fruitful.
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Cong men terrorised, says MLA
Nabha, July 8 He said the Congress workers in the constituency were in a state of terror. They were not only being beaten by political opponents, but also falsely implicated by the police at the behest of SAD leaders. Kaka Randip was talking to mediapersons in the nearby Bhadson town. He said Harbans Singh, sarpanch of Raisal village, was put behind bars on the "framed"charges of attacking and pulling the beard of Kernail Singh Matorra in the administrative complex.
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Dera Row
Chandigarh/Mohali, July 8 Committee members are protesting against the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the two governments in taking action against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and instead were clamping down on them. “We will be gathering at the historic Amb Sahib Gurdwara tomorrow morning and then move to the residences of the Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers where we will stage a dharna from 12 noon to 2 pm. A memorandum of demands will also be handed over to them,” said Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, member of the advisory committee of the KAC and general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (1920). The Chandigarh police has, however, banned the entry of the gathering into the city. “Section 144 of the CrPC has been promulgated here. We have asked the Mohali police to contain the gathering at Mohali,” said SSP Chandigarh Dinesh Bhatt. “However, arrangements have been made to allow a small contingent of the protesters to meet the two Chief Ministers and submit their charter of demands,” he added. The Mohali police has made elaborate arrangements at the Amb Sahib Gurdwara to contain the crowd. IG Range L.K. Tewari held a meeting of senior police officers outside the gurdwara this evening. “We have made arrangements to contain a gathering of over 2,000 persons,” said SSP Mohali Ranbir Singh Khatra. The committee members have promised the march to Chandigarh would be peaceful. “We have directed our workers not to bring any swords or lathis,” said Gurdeep Singh. The assurance notwithstanding, over a 1,000 policemen will be on duty at the gurdwara tomorrow. The Chandigarh police has also called for four companies from Punjab and two from Haryana to deal with the situation. Security at the residences of the Chief Ministers and Governors of the two states has also been enhanced. The Khalsa Action Committee comprises representatives of the state’s hardliner groups including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), SAD (1920), Dal Khalsa, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Damdami Taksal, Sant Samaj, International Human Rights Organization (IHRO), Sikh Students Federation, Delhi Shiromani Akali Dal and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee among others. Daljit Singh Bittu, Jasbir Singh Rode, Ravi Inder Singh, Mohkam Singh, Paramjit Singh and B.S. Gill are expected to lead the protest. Listing their demands, Gurdeep Singh said the Punjab Government did not have to wait for court warrants to arrest the dera chief.
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No room for corrupt babus: Badal
Chandigarh, July 8 He urged the civil servants to spearhead the government’s determined bid to “transform the face of governance in order to make it clean, transparent and totally responsive to the needs of the people”. Emphasising the need for meeting the deadline in carrying out work, Badal said officers would be held accountable for the tasks assigned to them. He said the government would move with the “reward and punishment policy”, rewarding honest and efficient officers while not hesitating to punish the lazy and corrupt ones. Seeking the cooperation of the bureaucracy in curbing corruption in the administration, Badal said the menace of corruption had to be eradicated from public life to increase the pace of development in the state. The CM asked the chief secretary to speed up land computerisation so that discretion of officers or patwaris could be minimised. Emphasising the need for streamlining the official procedure, he announced the setting up of two single windows for each department. He said decision-makers must visit villages and stay there for two-three nights to understand the problems at the ground level. Badal said he had urged members of the Planning Commission to stay in remote villages for three-four nights to understand the requirements of the village economy. Describing the PCS as the backbone of the administration, the Chief Minister assured that he was taking various steps to check stagnation in the cadre and also to fill vacant posts. Earlier, Capt P.S. Shergill, president of the PCS Officers Association, thanked the Chief Minister for guiding the officers.
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Army on green mission
Pathankot, July 8 After planting a sapling at a function organised by the Black Arrow Brigade in the Mamun cantonment area, Brig J.P. Singh said defence sportspersons belonging to 128 member nations of the International Military Sports Council would participate in the games that were being organised for the first time in the country. Besides, all ranks of officers and their families, chairperson of Black Arrow AWWA Ravi J.P. Singh was also present on the occasion. Over 100 serving members of the armed forces, their family members, students of the Army school and NCC cadets also planted saplings in a tree plantation drive held at Pathankot Military Station Environment Park. Brig S.K. Thapa, who was the chief guest on the occasion, kicked off the drive by planting a sapling. Students of Army schools also planted saplings during the drive carried out under the leadership of Major-Gen P.C.S. Khati at another function organised at Mamun Army Station. Punjab transport minister Master Mohan Lal Sharma and station commander Brig C.V. Raveendran were also present. The Army planted over 3,000 saplings at various places in the city to mark the day. BATHINDA: As many as 5,000 saplings were planted at the local military station to mark the launch of the Greening India Movement by GOC, Chetak Corps, Lt Gen N. S. Brar. Major-Gen D.C. Katoch, DC Rahul Bhandari and SSP Naunihal Singh attended the function. The Army and district civil officials discussed various problems related to the local military station on the occasion. About 700 saplings were planted in the Bhisiana Air Force Station of the district at a function organised on its premises.
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Probe into ‘detention’ of cop sought
Jalandhar, July 8 According to Parminder Singh, general secretary, PPCC, Jaswant Singh had resigned from his post and had subsequently been detained by some officials of the Punjab police. “The families of those Punjab police officials, who had laid their lives and who had made countless sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country, question the wisdom of the ruling SAD-BJP combine and its leaders, particularly, the Chief Minister who had paid tributes to a separatist like Jagjit Singh Chauhan,” said Parminder Singh and Avtaar Singh Brar, vice-president of the PPCC. Referring to the case of Jaswant Singh, they alleged that the incident was a mockery of democracy.
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Another dera follower sets himself afire
Bathinda, July 8 Bansal, who deals in electronic business, attempted self-immolation after a function organised to bring a large section of dera followers back into the fold of Sikhism in Gurdwara Tungwali in Paras Ram Nagar got over. Harwinder Sharma, an eyewitnesses, said four persons were standing near the gurdwara when they saw a ball of fire coming towards them. Bansal, who had used kerosene to set himself afire, suffered 70 to 80 pc burns. He was conscious when taken to hospital.
— TNS
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Gastroenteritis patients showing improvement
Hoshiarpur, July 8 According to Dr Kamaljit Kaur, civil surgeon, 11 patients had been admitted to the civil hospital and one in a private nursing home in Tanda town. The condition of all patients was showing improvement. The civil surgeon said a majority of the inhabitants had installed their pumps on the main pipeline. After securing water, the flexible rubber pipes were removed from the main supply line without plugging it which allowed germs to infiltrate the supply line.
— OC
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Only baptised Sikh should lead SAD: Baba Harnam
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 8 To the utter dismay of party acting chief Sukhbir Badal and his supporters, he suggested that Sukhbir get baptised immediately if he wanted to continue to lead the Sikh community in general and the Panthic party in particular. Visibly stung by the statement, senior leaders could be seen smarting under the comment which was greatly appreciated by the audience. He was addressing a gathering at Gurdwara Ram Sar at Kaind village, near here, on the occasion of the fourth death anniversary of Sant Mohinder Singh. Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, who is also president of the Gurmat Sidhant Parchar Committee, alleged that it was the apathy of Sikh leaders in propagating Sikhism in the northern states, including Punjab, which was responsible for the mushrooming of deras and anti-Sikh forces. Later, during a meeting chaired by Badal, various constituents of the Sant Samaj accused the state police of shielding Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim who, according to them, should have been arrested by now. "The police not only helped him by delaying the process for his arrest, it also did not seize his passport also," alleged Baba Harnam Singh maintaining that the court had directed the police to take the travel document in its possession. After giving a patient hearing to the office-bearers of the Sant Samaj, Sukhbir Badal said, "Within two days, you will find that necessary action on the part of the state government has been taken." The administration was supposed to act according to the orders of the court, he added.
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CM rewards honest officer
Chandigarh, July 8 The Chief Minister also asked chief secretary R.I. Singh to examine the case of Mukesh Kumar for promotion to the PCS (ex-cadre post).
— TNS
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Dimpa’s mother writes to PM
Amritsar, July 8 In her petition, filed today, Satwinder has alleged that the FIR registered against her sons is false as one of her sons, who is at present posted as SP with the Chandigarh Traffic Police was present at a meeting at the time of the incident.
— TNS
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Atamjit to pen play on Makhan Singh
Amritsar, July 8 Atamjit is contemplating to pen a Punjabi play on Makhan, the founder of East African trades union movement, who spent 17 years in prison during struggle for Indian and Kenyan independence. Talking to The Tribune here on Friday, Atamjit said Makhan (1913-1973) was an India-born trade union leader. He was born in Gharjakh village in Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) in 1927. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Nairobi. In 1935, he formed the Labour Trade Union of Kenya and in 1949 he and Fred Kubai formed the East African Trade Union Congress, the first central organisation of trade unions in Kenya. However, a few Indians know that Makhan and many India-born persons had made huge sacrifices in the freedom struggle of Kenya. It was Makhan who brought together African and Asian workers on a common platform and was reckoned among dozen freedom fighters of the African country.
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Free medicines for Amarnath pilgrims
Patiala, July 8 A batch of pilgrims left for Amarnath yesterday. The medicines would be used in treating pilgrims taking the journey at a free medical camp. Also, the association will hold a free medical check-up camp at Nabha on July 22, said association president A. Sharma. Association secretary Gurinder Singh, joint secretaries Jatinder Sharma and Gagandeep Singh along with other office-bearers were present on the occasion.
— TNS
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‘Greening India’ celebrated Patiala, July 8 The planting of over 8,000 saplings of different trees in the military stations of Patiala, Sangrur and Nabha was inaugurated by Maj-Gen G.S. Malhi, VSM and General Officer Commanding of the Black Elephant Division, in the presence of commissioner S.K. Ahluwalia and additional deputy commissioner A.P.S. Virk. Of particular significance was the inauguration of a plantation drive in the family quarters and Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) Centre by Surinder Malhi, president of AWWA, Black Elephant Division. Units of the National Cadet Corps and students of Army School and Kendriya Vidyalayas of Patiala also participated in the drive. A large number of civilian dignitaries, prominent ex-servicemen from the surroundings areas and a large number of families of officers and junior commissioned officers were also present on the occasion.
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Man commits suicide Banur, July 8 Morning walkers were shocked to find Anil’s body hanging from the metal wire of a drainage pipe. They immediately informed the police. Banur SHO Gurbir Singh said the deceased was an alcoholic and seemed to have committed suicide in an inebriated state. Anil Kumar had gotten married just six months ago, added the SHO.
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Standing up against injustice
Patiala, July 8 Speaking on the theme, Dr Deol said intelligentsia generated the power of social criticism within a person. It focused on authoritarian tendencies which worked for the safety of the elite at the cost of the common man. Intelligentsia provoked that streak of freedom which exists in every human heart, said Dr
Deol. Dr Deol added that the intelligentsia inspired people to fight against male chauvinism in family life, hypocrisy in religious life and vulgarity in social life.
— TNS
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Elected
Patiala, July 8
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Training programme concludes Tribune News Service Patiala, July 8 A function organised in this connection was presided over by state tuberculosis officer, Chandigarh, Dr Pawan Bansal. Dr Bansal exhorted the trainees to work with commitment and dedication. TB hospital director Dr Jai Kishan thanked Dr Bansal for his support to the endeavour and appreciated the contributions of other felicitators toward the training programme. Dr Kishan also thanked state bacteriologist Dr Vijay Kumar, district TB officer Dr Bhupinder Singh and Dr Simmi Oberoi from the department of social and preventive medicines, Government Medical College, Patiala. He appreciated WHO consultants Dr K.P. Singh and S.S. Khajuria for their cooperation and technical input during the programme. Dr Kishan appealed to the trainees to put into practice the knowledge and skill acquired during the programme so that poor patients could avail of free diagnosis and treatment facilities available under the RNTCP programme.
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Mealy-bug threatens crop in Malwa region
Abohar, July 8 Despite being directed by the Chief Minister to help the farmers of the Malwa region battle this menace, all that a senior official, accompanied by a scientist from Punjab Agricultural University, did was spend half-an-hour with a couple of people at the Kisan Bhavan of the Market Committee here to ‘educate’ them. Further, the officers asked the farmers to kill the mealy-bug manually as no insecticide had been suggested for the purpose. In the last week of May this year, farmers noticed that the mealy-bug was attacking the cotton crop. Though the farmers say they reported the matter to the department, no one bothered to show up. Soon, it was observed that the mealy-bug was damaging other crops, including vegetables and even roadside trees. Even as official apathy continues, farmers of Bahawalbassi, Kerakhera, Nihalkhera, Choohriwala Dhanna, Azamwala, Patrewala, Kandhwala Amarkot and Ramgarh say the mealy-bug could prove more disastrous than the American bollworm, the leaf curl and the white fly. This might also hit prospects of exporting cotton to Pakistan this year. Presently, no manufacturer claims that he has the perfect insecticide to get rid of the mealy-bug. As the bug attacks the root of the plant, it is not possible to get rid of it manually. So even as the farmers struggle to save their crop, government officials seem to content themselves by making a few ‘unrealistic’ observations about the situation.
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Tantrik, accomplice beat man to death
Hoshiarpur, July 8 The Mukerian police has booked the tantrik, Baba Pala Ram, son of Shankar Dass of Mehtabpur village and his accomplice Chhinda Baba of Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) under Sections 302 and 34, IPC. Both are absconding. Police sources said Raj Kaur, wife of Gorakh Singh, a resident of Jagatpur Kalan, Purana Shala police station, Gurdaspur, said her husband had not been keeping well for the past five-six years. She added that he used to frequent the tantrik to avail treatment for his illness. She said Gorakh Singh had gone to the tantrik’s dera around 5 pm on Friday but did not return. The next morning, she, along with her father-in-law Teja Singh, went to the dera to find out about her husband. On reaching there, they saw that Gorakh Singh, who was tied to a log, was crying out in pain as Chhinda Baba was beating him with a tong. On seeing them, the tantrik and his accomplice fled from the scene. Meanwhile, Gorakh Singh succumbed to his injuries.
— OC
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Nod to 2 ITIs as skill centres
Chandigarh, July 8 In the first phase of this initiative, the Punjab Chief Minister today approved a project for developing the ITI, West Kheowali, and the ITI, Abul Khurana, as skill development centres for the apparel and construction sectors, respectively. Both these centres fall in Badal’s home assembly constituency. At the ITI, Kheowali, 100 students will be admitted to the advance module for six months each comprising fashion, garment technology and design. In the second phase, weaving and spending module will be launched with the guidance of the Trident Group of Industries and 100 students will be admitted to this course also. The ITI, Abul Khurana, will be developed as a skill development centre in the construction sector. The first batch of students will get admission in January, 2008. Meanwhile, Badal nveiled the foundation stone of a Rs 4-crore project of Amar Jain Hostel in Sector 27 here today. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the construction of the hostel.
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Institute celebrates Canada Day Fatehgarh Sahib, July 8 Students and staff members along with senior members of management donated blood, planted tree saplings and participated in sports activities to mark the day. CIIS Society president Lieut-Col B.S. Sandhu (retd), who inaugurated the tree plantation programme, said the organisation intended to send a message of universal brotherhood and selfless commitment towards the cause of humanity. CIIS director Prof M.S. Grewal said Canada Day commemoration had now become an annual affair on their campus. The students and faculty members took part in football and basketball matches along with tug-of-war. Canadian faculty for business studies Guisseppe Liberatore provided an insight into the Canada Day celebrations in socially diverse setup with variety of communities back home in Canada.
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