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Body to take up Sikh issues at world level
Amritsar, October 9 A decision to this effect was taken at a seminar organised by the International Sikh Confederation (ISC) on the premises of the Chief Khalsa Diwan here. This was the first such attempt after the Vishav Sikh Sammelan (World Sikh Conference) organised by the then acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Manjit Singh from September in 1995. Though the body is headed by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, it has been embroiled in controversies. However, yet another attempt has been made to bring the representatives of various Sikh organisations of the world on a single platform. Though, the SGPC, called, “mini parliament of the Sikhs” has already made a request to the centre to allow co-option of 15 Sikh members from various countries in the SGPC, it has failed to solicit any reply from the government so far. The Sikh Gurdwara Act was passed in 1925 by Indian Parliament and hence no change could be made without the nod of the centre. On the other hand, the attempt of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to coopt representation from various countries to make it an international Sikh gurdwara body has also failed to yield any results so far. Even as the Sikh intellectuals felt that the ISC would help in taking up the problems of the community at an international level, the organisers clarified that it was not an attempt to float a parallel SGPC. They said efforts would be made to strengthen the already existing Sikh organisations for making collective attempts to resolve the problems of the community at every level. However, some speakers criticised the SGPC and Akal Takht for having failed to resolve the problems of the Sikhs. So much so, senior SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur said it was a matter of surprise that the district magistrate had to impose a ban to debar private publishers from printing and sale of birs of Guru Granth Sahib though the edict in this regard was already pronounced from Akal Takht in 1998. She asked that it had sent a message across the community that the district magistrate was “superior” to the “Jathedar “who could not get the edict implemented in the past nine years. Akhand Kirtani Jatha chief Bhai Baldev Singh said the Sikh religious leaders, who projected themselves as “Jathedars”, had failed to come up to the expectations of the Sikh masses. Principal of the Khalsa College for Women Sukhbir Kaur Mahal, Chief Khalsa Diwan and other Sikh organisations assured the ISC of all cooperation. Chief of Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa expressed concern over poor shape of Sikh institutions. Principal of Sikh Missionary College Suba Singh urged the council to work out a separate Sikh Marriage Act. Head of the department of Punjabi at Khalsa College Udham Singh Shahi rued that the SGPC or other established Sikh organisations had failed to utilise the services of the Sikh intellectuals in a proper manner. Dr Khark Singh announced the establishment of the Amritsar chapter of the council, headed by Inderjit Singh Gogi.
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MoU signed for Metro
Chandigarh, October 9 The ambitious project was part of election commitments of the
SAD-BJP alliance. Akali MP and working president of the SAD Sukhbir Singh Badal said Punjab would become the first state in the region outside the national capital to introduce such a rapid transit system. The MoU was signed by S.D. Sharma, chief engineer (consultancy), DMRC and S.S.
Sandhu, special principal secretary to the Chief Minister and MD, Punjab infrastructure development board, on behalf of the DMRC and the Punjab Government, respectively. A detailed project report
(DPR) will be preapred by the DMRC within six months. The project will have an estimated cost of Rs 3000
crore. It is propsed to be developed through public-private patnership under the build-operate-own mode. In the first phase, the length of the metro network is proposed to be about 25 km.
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CM urges Aussie envoy to open consulate
Chandigarh, October 9 An assurance to this effect was given by McCarthy during a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal held here. Badal urged the High Commissioner to open a consulate in Punjab to provide visa services and other facilities to the people. McCarthy assured the Chief Minister that he would take up the matter with the Australian Government for opening of consulate.
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BKU opposes govt move on land
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, October 9 General secretary of the union Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan said here today that the closure of an agriculture research centre for setting up a cricket stadium was an “anti-farmer” act on the part of the government. He said the union would not allow the state government to do so. The BKU (Ugrahan) has asked the union government to announce minimum support price (MSP) of the cotton as per the recommendations of the national farmers commission. He said the commission had recommended Rs 4,500 per quintal as cotton MSP. The union has also demanded MSP of paddy to be raised to Rs 1,200 per quintal. Accusing the Badal government of not implementing the farmer-government agreement, regarding 70 per cent enhanced compensation to the farmers of Dhaula, Sangherra and Fatehgarh Chhanna villages whose 376 acres had been acquired by the government for the Trident Group, Kokri Kalan said the government was not serious on the issue. It was evident from the fact that it had not sent papers (relevant material) to the court to transfer the compensation case to the Lok adalat for final settlement i.e.70 per cent enhanced compensation for farmers. He claimed that the lawyer of the Trident Group had given an oral statement in the court at the last hearing that the Trident Group had submitted a bank guarantee to the industries department of the state government regarding 70 per cent enhanced compensation for the farmers.
Dharna on Oct 18
Barnala, October 9
Farmers’ protest
Bathinda, October 9
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Punjab consumer panel chief takes charge
Chandigarh, October 9 Commenting on cases coming to consumer courts from the High Court he opined, “I had to give decisions at both places but the nature of litigation is different at the commission.” He plans to take firm steps to reduce the number of cases pending with the commission. “Since no one had been holding this post for the past few months, the work has accumulated. At present we are concentrating on streamlining the case list and preference will be given to older cases and cases of individuals,” averred Justice Aggarwal.
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Cong asks workers to reach Chandigarh
Bathinda, October 9 Harminder Singh Jassi, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Makhan Singh, all MLAs, general secretary Inder Singh Sahni and PPCC organising secretary Pawan Manni were prominent among those who attended the meeting. Brar accused the ruling party of implicating Congress workers in false cases. He said various schemes of the government like pension, shagun, and atta-dal schemes had hit roadblocks.
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State turning into land of old people
Chandigarh, October 9 In 1991, the percentage of old people had gone up in Punjab to 8.51 per cent in rural areas and 6.25 per cent in urban areas. The state average in the state was 7.84 per cent against the national average of 6.7 per cent. In 2001, it rose to 9.8 per cent in rural areas and 7.4 per cent, in urban areas it was 7.4 per cent. The state average is 9 per cent against the national average of 7.9 per cent. In Kerala, the percentage of old people in 2001 was 10.5 per cent in rural areas and 10.4 per cent in urban. “Greying of Punjab is a serious issue on which policy makers and planners should focus immediately. There are so many problems and issues related to the aged people in the state,” said Aswini Kumar Nanda, research professor of the population research centre of CRRID. There are problems related to healthcare of old people, their living arrangements and looking after them in old age. Obviously, government’s policy makers and planners are required to address these problems, adds Nanda, who has written several papers analysing demography of the country. Why percentage of old people is increasing in Punjab? Because, the number of per female (married) births has gone down tremendously in the state. It was 5.2 per female in 1971-73 and 3.9 in 1981-83. It came down to 2.9 per female in 1993-95 and 2.1 in 2004-05. Facts regarding child bearing are based on sample registration system. It has led to change in age profile of the state. People are focusing on improving living conditions, living styles instead of giving birth to more kids. Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Tamil Nadu are other states where the number of old people is going up. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, highly populated, are states with maximum percentage of young people. In Punjab, average age of woman is 71 years and in Kerala it is 76.68 whereas the national average is 68.01 years at present. The average male age in Punjab is 68.7 years against 72 years in Kerala. The national average is 65.8 years for male. Longevity is a factor in Punjab which adds to the problem of aged people. For instance, those in service retire early at the age of 58 years and then survive till late 70s. Living post-retirement life comfortably for most of them is an issue.
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SAD, BJP patch up
Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 9 Earlier in the afternoon Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had given a clear indication that the alliance has stood the test time and there was no chance of any dispute and all matters will be sorted out. Sources said following the meeting between Sukhbir Badal and Bhandari, the working president of the SAD and the Punjab unit of the BJP, respectively, the BJP has now decided that ministers of the party will attend the cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The controversy had arisen after Punjab BJP in charge Balbir Punj had said that BJP ministers would refrain from joining in the cabinet meeting if the agenda of increasing the power tariff was included. Bhandari told The Tribune that “both the parties have decided that the issue of power tariff will be sorted out amicably.” The issue needs to be dealt with logically and the BJP would want that its feelings are respected in the best interests of the people. The BJP had protested against the hike. Sources in the SAD said the presidents of the two parties sat together and gave a direction to their respective parties.
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Relief, jobs demanded for cop’s daughters
Puneet Pal Singh Gill Tribune News Service
Behman Jassa Singh (Bathinda), October 9 Gurjant succumbed to his injuries on October 5. His wife Jasvir Kaur died on the night of September 29 while his 26-year-old daughter Beant Kaur succumbed to her injuries on October 6. The cremation of Beant Kaur was to be held today at Behman Jassa Singh village in Talwandi Sabo subdivision, 50 km from Bathinda, but the family decided that until the guilty police officials were arrested and a case against them was registered, the cremation would not take place. The protest was attended by people in large numbers. However, the villagers agreed to cremate the body after deciding to form an action committee in this regard. The meeting would be held on Wednesday at Gurudwara Hajiratan Sahib at Bathinda. Bikkar Singh, younger brother of Gurjant, demanded that the state government should give a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for every victim and at least Rs 1 lakh for the medical expenses incurred on their treatment. He also demanded government jobs for Rampal Kaur and Sukhpal Kaur, daughters of Gurjant. He also sought a CBI inquiry into the whole incident. The family had threatened to move the high court if it was not done. The police is claiming that Gurjant was a dismissed cop but his family insisted that he had taken premature retirement. Talwandi Sabo SDM Anil Garg said an inquiry into the incident was on. “We have recorded the statements of the injured girls and police officials.” The family has so far been given Rs 35,000 through the Red Cross, he added.
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Attitude changing towards second child
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 9 Dr Harshinder Kaur of the government hospital here told The Tribune that she carried out a study on 526 randomly selected families from both rural and urban backgrounds having one child of less than 5 years of age. Of these families 89.9 per cent had first male child while 10.1 per cent had first female child. Interestingly, 76 per cent parents, who had first male did not want a second child, 18 per cent wanted a second male child while just 6 per cent wanted a female child as their second issue. Of the 10.1 per cent families who had single girl child, 98 per cent parents wanted a second child. A majority of 95 per cent parents wanted only a son as second child and only 5 per cent were ready to accept daughter as a second child, she said. The trend indicated the changing attitude of parents in Punjab towards having a single child and in that the male child is the obvious choice. The tendency to have a single male child was more prevalent in rural land-owning community. The decreasing land holding among the peasantry is the main reason for parents opting for single male child, Dr Harshinder Kaur said. Another inference that could be drawn from the study was that since the parents were opting for a single child only, they might be manipulating nature to have a male child. Punjab being a patriarchal society, generally the male child was considered heir to the family property and legacy or name. The parents opting for a single child, and that also a male one, might turn out to be a major factor affecting the dwindling sex ratio in the state, she said. Another interesting aspect that came up in the study was that mothers-in-law were a major factor for motivating the families to have a male child. The doctor said after preliminary results she wanted to extend her study to 5,000 families across the state to give more credibility to her study. After that she would be submitting her report to the government. The government would have to come up with a concrete policy for arresting the dwindling sex ratio and changing the attitude of people towards having a girl child, she added.
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Gurpurb celebrated
Amritsar, October 9 A gurmat samagam was organised at the Golden Temple to mark the occasion while a large number of devotees paid obeisance at the holy shrine. Various parbhat pheries led by the Panj Piaras were taken out from Gurdwara Atari Sahib at Sultanwind village, Gurdwara Pipli Sahib and Bhai Veer Singh Hall on the Lawrence Road and passed through different bazars of the city. These were accorded a warm welcome when they reached the Harmandar Sahib. The Golden Temple and its surrounding buildings were illuminated and fireworks were burst in the evening.
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10-day-old girl child found abandoned
Bathinda, October 9 Sources said the baby was rushed to a local children’s hospital where doctors said, after examining her, that she was in good health. The child is now in the custody of a local welfare association. According to the president of the association, if efforts to find the parents of the child fail, the baby will be given for adoption. The police and district administration had been informed in this connection.
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Bathinda MC voter list to be revised
Bathinda, October 9 Additional deputy commissioner Vijay N. Jade said, “The list will be amended on the basis of the list of voters for the legislative Assembly.” For the amendment to the list, the wards have been divided into three categories. The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) will be the registration officer for Ward No. 1 to 17, Ward No. 18 to 34 and 35 to 50 would be looked after by the district transport officer and the district employment officer respectively. “According to the revised schedule, voters can file their claims and objections from October 23 to 31. The related registration officers are supposed to resolve the objections by November 8. The final list of voters will be published on November 14,” Jade said. To add new names on the list, form No. 7 will be used while objections can be filed through form No. 8. For any amendment, form No. 9 will have to be filled up. These forms will be available at the offices concerned.
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Civil hospital-PGI video conferencing launched
Bathinda, October 9 The PHSC has issued a letter informing all civil surgeons in the district about the new scheme. The letter says that every hospital will have an air-condition room and two computers. The PHSC will provide 46 computers at 25 selected hospitals in the area at a cost of Rs 11 lakh. One doctor will be put on special duty for videoconferencing. In Malwa region, Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, and Faridkot are the districts where this policy will be implemented. According to a survey, the groundwater in the region is contaminated, which is the main reason for many of the diseases prevailing in the area. After launching of the scheme, the patients and common people will benefit.
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Timber shop gutted
Abohar, October 9 Subdivisional magistrate N.S. Brar, DSP Parampal Singh, SHOs Jagrup Singh and Sanjiv Setia had a tough time pacifying the citizens protesting over the poor shape of fire fighting equipment. Witnesses said wheel cocks of the fire tenders were leaking, hampering the fire-fighting operation. A portion of the shop roof collapsed even as some persons were trying to remove wood sleepers from it.
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Council acquires land amidst protests Bassi Pathana, October 9 While talking to The Tribune Charnjit Singh, executive officer, said the land was in the illegal possession of five shopkeepers and the council had filed suits for vacation of land in 1999 and the council had won the cases in all the courts. Duty Magistrate Tehsildar Bassi Pathana was present to hand over the possession. He said wiring of the boundary wall has been done and possession taken.
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Badal Case Megha Mann Tribune News Service
Rupnagar, October 9 While deposing before the court, Lakhvir Singh gave information about various accounts (mainly savings) in the name of Parkash Singh Badal, Surinder Kaur Badal, Sukhbir Badal and Paramjit Kaur Badal. He said in 2003 he was posted in the Sector 17-B branch and added that besides accounts' record, his bank had given to the Punjab state Vigilance Bureau records of the properties owned by the Badals. These included Continental Hatcheries Private Limited and Orbit Express. Similarly, Harinder Singh told the court that his bank, too, had given details to the bureau in 2003, a report that was duly signed by his chief manager. He added that the bank had given a loan of Rs 1.50 crore in the name of Sukhbir Badal and Surinder Kaur Badal as against their account to purchase shares of the Orbit Resort. He had produced requisite documents in the court pertaining to the same. Arvind Prakash Garg said in 2003 he was posted in sector 17. He added that the Badal family had taken a loan for the construction of the Orbit Resort. It was a joint loan taken from three banks. He submitted a copy of the same in the court. He stated that the loan amounted to around Rs 50 or Rs 55 crore out of which Punjab National Bank gave two instalments of Rs 20.39 crore and Rs 5.50 crore. The deputy director (horticulture) Tek Chand will depose before the court tomorrow. Except for Parkash Singh Badal and Surinder Kaur, all other accused were present in the court. Meanwhile, the visitors to the Rupnagar judicial complex faced a plethora of problems due to the VIP visit of MP Sukhbir Badal. Cops had sealed all entry points to the complex bringing inconvenience to litigants who had come from Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal, Nurpur Bedi and other villages. A few cops even misbehaved with people visiting courts. Bar Association Rupnagar president Sarabjit Singh too condemned this behavior of the men in khakhi.
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Absence during trial can’t be ground for quashing FIR
Chandigarh, October 9 The ruling by Justice S.S. Saron comes on a petition filed by one Kulwinder Kaur seeking the quashing of an FIR dated October 4, 2005, registered at Nakodar police station in Jalandhar district for offences under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC. Among the arguments put forward for quashing the FIR was the contention that the co-accused in the matter had been acquitted. After hearing the counsel for the petitioner and perusing the records, Justice Saron ruled: “No ground for quashing the FIR is made out”. The petitioner was admittedly declared a proclaimed offender in the case. The explanation given for non-appearance was that the petitioner’s husband had told her about her not being wanted in the case. As such, she did not put in an appearance, which was not acceptable. The Judge held: “The co-accused was acquitted on October 11, 2006, and it had not been shown by the petitioner as to how she came to know of their acquittal and, thereafter, that she was also an accused in the said case. “Under the circumstances, the petitioner cannot derive any advantage of her own wrong by first remaining absent during the trial and then seeking quashing of the FIR by taking the plea that she was unaware of the case pending against her. Consequently, there is no merit in this petition and the same is accordingly dismissed.” The case was registered after complainant Sarabjit Singh’s sister Jaswinder Kaur died on May 3, 2005. Seeking the quashing of the FIR, it was added that vague allegations had been levelled against the petitioner. In another case, the high court has held that an FIR, in appropriate cases, could be quashed on the basis of a compromise, even if some of the offences were non-compoundable. The ruling by Justice L. N. Mittal comes on a petition filed by Charanjit Singh and five others under Section 482 CrPC for quashing an FIR dated February 14, 2007. It was registered at Banga police station in Nawanshahar district under Sections 323, 324, 148 and 149 of the IPC. Subsequently, Section 326 was added to it. During the hearing, the complainant, in a short affidavit, admitted the genuineness of the compromise. It was also mentioned in an application and the short affidavit that the complainant had no objection to the quashing of the FIR, in view of the compromise. It was added by both the sides that complainant Harpal Singh was the only one injured, and the same related to an offence under Section 326, IPC, for an injury in wrist and not in any vital part. After hearing both sides and going through the records, Justice Mittal ruled: “In appropriate cases, an FIR can be quashed under Section 482 CrPC, on the basis of compromise, even if some of the offences are non-compoundable. In the instant case, the injured-complainant has affected a compromise with the petitioners and is left with no grievance against them. He has no objection to the quashing of the impugned FIR. It is, therefore, a fit case in which the FIR should be quashed.”
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Specifications for paddy relaxed
Chandigarh, October 9 Revealing this, Adesh Partap Singh, food and supplies minister, Punjab, today said the relaxation in specifications was given after he pleaded the case of rice millers with the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar. He said he had urged the Union Government to be liberal in giving bonus on paddy to ensure maximum procurement of paddy for national pool. He said no defaulter mill had been given paddy this time. In the past few days, the government had recovered more than Rs 100 crore by making it clear to them that they would not given paddy till they clear the pending dues. Meanwhile, 33,34,934 tonnes of paddy have been procured by various government agencies and private traders in Punjab. Interestingly, the share of private traders in procurement is highest. It is 28.5 per cent. Pungrain’s share is 21.5 per cent, Markfed’s share 22.4 per cent, Punsup’s 27 per cent, PSWC’s 15.8 per cent, and PAIC’s share is 12 per cent. However, FCI’s share is the lowest at the moment.
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Jurisdiction notified
Chandigarh, October 9 An official spokesman said the chief administrator, Greater Mohali Development Authority (GMADA), would have jurisdiction on area falling within the jurisdiction of GMADA. Chief administrator, Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA), would have jurisdiction on the area falling within the jurisdiction of GLADA. Chief administrator, Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), would have jurisdiction on the area falling within the jurisdiction of BDA. Chief administrator, Patiala Development Authority (PDA), would have jurisdiction on the area falling within the jurisdiction of PDA. Chief administrators of the Jalandhar Development Authority and the Amritsar Development Authority would have jurisdiction on areas falling within their respective jurisdiction. The spokesman further said the chief administrator, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), would have jurisdiction on the areas of Punjab, excluding areas of above mentioned urban authorities.
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Teachers stage protest
Patiala, October 9 Speaking on the occasion, Jaipal Singh, president of the association, said the state government had adopted a discriminatory attitude towards the government college teachers in catering to their long-pending demands. “The Punjab government left them in the lurch when it gave the benefit of 5 per cent interim relief to all its employees,” he said adding that the government had adopted a pick and choose policy to implement UGC letters and had given the benefit of ad-hoc service towards senior and selection grade to only one teacher while the others were still waiting for it.
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Bankers to go on strike against merger
Patiala, October 9 Leaders of the association have alleged that associate banks are doing well and their performance is excellent. If the total business of all associate banks were combined, it would become the second largest bank in the country. The association leaders further allege that the SBI wants to merge the associate banks only to hide its weaknesses. Officers of the associate banks will hold demonstrations on October 15 and 26 against the proposed merger of nationalised banks. They will also observe a full-day strike on October 31.
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