Ludhiana, April 11
The fund-starved Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is ready to pledge its property worth Rs 214 crore for a meager loan Rs 50 crore. According to sources, the Municipal Corporation has in a letter written to the State Urban Development Agency this week, an agency under JNNURM, sought Rs 50 crore loan as they were reeling under severe fund shortage. 

“The civic body has also sent a list of its property worth Rs 214 crore to the agency and has stated that they are ready to pledge the property as the funds were badly required to make payments for various ongoing development works in the city. 

These properties include municipal land in Barewal, Sunet, Giaspura and a few other areas in the zone C,” said sources, adding that the letter was written after the civic body failed to sell its land worth crores on the Ferozepur Road.

They revealed, “The civic body was expecting Rs 100 crore from the auction of 1.13 acre adjacent to Vishal Towers on the Ferozepur Road on March 25. However, since no bidder turned out for purchasing the land, the corporation was left with no option other than seeking the loan.”

The sources further added that pledging of land would turn out to be a major loss for the corporation. Notably, the civic body has taken this decision despite the fact that it can generate revenue worth Rs 50 crore in a few days through its building branch which had collected revenue less than its potential during the fiscal 2008-09.

Senior officials in the building branch on the condition of anonymity revealed that the zone D alone had to collect fine worth crores for the buildings, which come under compoundable offence. 

These buildings are in areas like Ghumar Mandi, the road stretch between the Mintgumri Chowk and the Gulati Chowk, etc. Similarly, revenue from the building branch in other zones, especially zone A and C, too, could be collected for giving a relief to the corporation.

It’s not for the first time that the corporation is pledging its property for the loan. During the sangat darshan last year, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, too, gave a cheque for Rs 40 lakh to the corporation as a loan. Even for returning that amount the corporation had to give its land to the Improvement Trust.

Ludhiana, April 11
Tough on their resolve for separate polling booths in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, the physically challenged people affiliated to the NGOs and schools working for the cause of ‘disabled’ today organised a protest meeting. The members of these NGOs are planning not to caste their votes in case their demand is not met with.

More than 40 persons with physical and mental disabilities attended the today’s meeting which was an extension of the ‘solidarity march’ carried out across the nation for non- inclusion of the issues concerning ‘disabled’ by the parties in their election manifestos.

Dr Neelam Sodhi, director, Ashirwad, the North Indian Association of Cerebral Palsy India, referred to the government’s ratification of the United Nations Convention for Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) adding, “The issues of the people with disabilities have completely been ignored by the politicians.”

The members of Ashirwad, School for Deaf and Dumb, Vocational Rehabilitation Training Centre, Bhartiya Vikas Parishad and the Voice of the Handicap attended the meeting wherein they have decided to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for putting up of separate polling booths for those with disabilities.

Irked over the indifferent attitude of the parties and their candidates who have failed to include even a single issue of the ‘disabled’ in their election manifestos, the members of an NGO said it points towards the insensitive approach of people’s representatives.

Sharing their experiences of the last Vidhan Sabha elections, Gurvinder (physically challenged) said: “I had a tough time casting my vote as tricycles are not allowed inside the polling booths and standing in queue for a long time was nothing less than a nightmare for me.”

Non-implementation of the reservation policy in travel schemes and jobs in government offices, constructions of ramps in public offices, haphazard procedure of provision of disability certificates, non-implementation of increased ‘disability pension’, non-implementation of inclusive education programme in CBSE schools are among the major issues that have remained unattended so far. 

Ludhiana, April 11
Court of Judicial Magistrate Yukti Goyal has convicted Naresh Kumar of Chowni Mohalla in a cheque bounce case. He has been sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment. The court also ordered the accused to pay Rs 10,000 as a fine.

The orders came while deciding a complaint filed by Surjan Singh of Shahi Mohalla, Civil Lines, Ludhiana.

The complainant had submitted before the court that the accused had taken a friendly loan of Rs 2 lakh in June 2001. On December 20, 2002, he issued a cheque for Rs 2 lakh in order to repay the loan.

He had assured that the cheque would be encashed on its presentation. Believing the assurance of accused to be true, he presented the cheque. But the banker of the accused dishonoured the cheque with remarks ‘ insufficient funds’, added the complainant.

Then he served a legal notice calling upon the accused to make the payment, but he failed.

While on the other hand, the accused had pleaded that he never took any loan. The complainant used to visit their house. He had stolen one signed cheque from the drawer of his house. He was never under any legal liability to issue the cheque.

He also examined five witnesses to establish that complainant had admitted before them that the accused was under no liability. These witnesses had stated that the complainant had demanded money for returning the cheque.

After appreciating the evidence on record, the court held that the version of the accused was after thought. During the cross examination of complainant the accused had never put any such suggestion. But when it was his turn to lead the evidence, he put forth new story, which could not be believed, observed the court. 

Ludhiana, April 11
A 55- year- old London-based NRI has been booked in a rape case for solemnising his second marriage with a city- based woman, without divorcing his first wife. This is for the first time that the NRI police station has booked an NRI in the rape case. The case has been registered after a yearlong inquiry into the matter.

The case was registered against the accused on the complaint lodged by the victim. According to the complainant, she got married to Gurchan Singh Virdi, the accused NRI, about three years ago.

She said he had stayed with her for three months. But, on August 2006, he flew to London and had not returned since then.

The complainant alleged that Virdi committed fraud with her as the latter had told her that he had divorced her first wife and even promised to take her abroad. After the accused failed to return from London, she came to know from her relatives that the accused is a builder and has three children from his first wife.

The complainant alleged that the accused lied to her. The complainant is a daughter of a BJP leader. It was her second marriage. She, too, has a 14-year-old-son from her first marriage.

Meanwhile, NRI police station in charge Prem Singh said the police would pursue the case through the Home Affairs Department.

Ludhiana, April 11
Trees in the forest area were made to bear the brunt of the SAD rally at a marriage palace in Pandori village near Mullanpur Dakha here today, when most of these were used as poles for supporting the banners of Akali leaders in violation of code of conduct.

A number of trees of different species in the forestland on the Ludhiana-Jagraon highway supported the posters carrying pictures of different Akali leaders, including SAD supremo Sukhbir Badal, Minister for Jails Hira Singh Gabria and Amrik Singh Aliwal, who rejoined the SAD during the rally today.

The posters were put up on the trees on both sides of the road ahead of Mullanpur Dakha till the venue toward Jagraon.

The villagers on the roadsides said earlier the parties used to deface buildings but today, the trees were made to suffer. They added the banners were put up early in the morning and they got to know that a rally was to be organised.

‘‘Our leaders are really strange. They don’t know what they are doing. Where was the need to put up posters on the trees? They should have erected some poles if at all they had to do this, ’’ said Iqbal Singh, a villager.

He added that it was a criminal act as the court had banned putting up of advertisements and banners on the trees. All those indulging in it were to be fined, he added.

‘‘Politicians are such a creed that one day they would get their names written in the sky. I am sure they would invent some way and scribble their names in the sky. Otherwise, which place have they spared?’’ asked Gunraj Singh, another villager.

Later, after the rally was over, a major traffic jam was witnessed on the road. The cops on duty had to work overtime to clear the traffic.

Calendars and posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala on sale outside the venue of a SAD rally at Mullanpur Dalkha in Ludhiana on Saturday. Photo: IV

Workers drawn from various parts of Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib were present at the rally.

Ludhiana, April 11
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) authorities are at loggerheads with two members of the board of management. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, has asked Avtar Singh Dhindsa, a member of the board of management, to publicly apologise for making derogatory statements against him and Dr Harjit Singh.

He claimed that it was because of his remarks that Dr Harjit Singh declined to join as the additional director research (agriculture).

Dr Kang told The Tribune that Dr Harjit had come from Canada to join as an additional director research (agriculture). But he and his family were threatened, so he went back to Canada.

In his letter to Dhindsa, the Vice-Chancellor stated, “Such statements and conduct bring a bad name to the university, which is your Alma Mater. No other member has ever indulged in such unprofessional conduct during my tenure”.

Dr Harjit Singh was selected by a selection committee comprising retired vice-chancellors on the basis of his views on the future of Punjab.

Dhindsa maintained that he had only opposed the selection of Dr Harjit Singh. He only wanted him to appear for the interview personally since the PAU authorities had decided to interview all head of the departments before appointing them.

He denied having conducted himself unprofessionally. Dhindsa was out of town and said he would return on April 13 or 14.

Another member of the board, Hardial Singh Gaznipur, has complained to the Punjab Governor against Dr Kang and Paramjit Singh Bagga, Director, Regional Research station, Gurdaspur, for alleged misbehaviour with the staff.

He said during the kisan mela organised on March 26 at Gurdaspur, he had filed a complaint against Bagga for alleged misbehaviour with the staff. But the vice-chancellor did not take any action in his regard.

Dr Kang, however, denied all the reports. Instead, he said Gaznipur had insulted him and Bagga in full public view.

Gaznipur, who claims to be a senior Akali leader from Gurdaspur, has urged the Governor to call for explanation from the Vice-Chancellor and transfer Bagga.

Dr Kang said, “The complaint is baseless. What happened is quite opposite. Gaznipur insulted the PAU and Bagga”.

Doraha, April 11
A panel discussion on ‘Global economic slowdown and its impact on Indian economy’ was organised for the students of MBA, BBA and BCA at Doraha Institute of Management and Technology today.

Initially, Sukhpal Singh, chairman, Doraha Group of Institutes, and Dr RK Lekhi, director of the institute, welcomed the guests and the panellists. Various issues pertaining to economic slowdown and its impact on Indian economy, practice of churning out employees throughout the world, were taken up in the discussion.

Dr Joginder Singh, former head of the department of economics and sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, set the ball rolling by outlining the prevailing income inequalities followed by wasteful expenditure leading to fall in demand, investment, rate of interest and net exports.

He stressed that at this stressful juncture the government should intervene through its revised fiscal policies for the exploitation of resources had to be checked for the revival of economy.

Dr YP Sachdeva, head of the department of business management, PAU, citing the examples of AIG, Laymen Bros and Bank of America caught up in the mess of capital meltdown, held the economic variables and behavioural traits, including arrogance, greed and speculation, to be at the back of the existing ‘financial tsunami’.

Kamal Mohindra of Goldline Industires said the service sector was contributing heavily as compared to primary and secondary sectors. Dr Vimal Aggarwal, director, Gyan Jyoti Industries, Mohali, expressed that the Indians believed in savings and that Indians were not poor but poorly governed. He suggested that cut in wasteful expenditure could be cited as one of the solutions to this problem.

Dr Gian Singh, department of economics, Punjabi University, suggested that land reforms on Japanese pattern were to be followed.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 11
Accusing leaders of exploiting sentiments of the 1984 riot victims, Gurcharan Singh of Kanpur (UP), a victim of the riots, has regretted that successive governments headed by the BJP and the Congress had failed to balm their wounds.

Instead, politicians have missed no chance to hollow out drying wounds of victims during Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

In the absence of concrete government polices, hundreds of riot victims were compelled to take shelter at religious places and old-age homes, maintained Gurcharan Singh.

Gurcharan, who had been staying at Biradh Ashram at Gurdwara Karamsar, Rara Sahib, for around seven years contended that a majority of leaders, irrespective of their political allegiance, had tried to draw political mileage from the miseries of thousands of riot victims.

Terming the riots motivated by certain senior Congress leaders, Gurcharan lamented that Opposition leaders were reminded of massacres only during elections and none bothered to do something for them after the constitution of government.

The house and taxi of Gurcharan was set afire by rioters in 1984. However, he along with his daughter was saved by Hindu neighbours.

Recollecting the sequence of events, Gurcharan alleged that government functionaries allegedly at the behest of Congress leaders committed atrocities on the Sikhs residing in their areas.

“I was shocked when I heard members of a fire brigade team questioning how a portion of our house was saved from burning. A senior policeman was heard asking rioters why they did not kill us,” said Gurcharan while talking to The Tribune.

Contrary to the claims made by successive governments, Gurcharan lamented that he, like many others, was not issued any card entitling him to avail of financial grants.

Appreciating the role of the gurdwara trust in providing shelter to hapless old men and women, including riot victims, Gurcharan announced that he would not vote for anyone in these elections as governments had failed to fulfil their obligations towards them.

Ludhiana, April 11
The construction industry as well as those carrying out construction activity on their premises heaved a sigh of relief today after brick kiln owners across the state opened the sale of bricks for five days.

The brick traders have opened the sale following assurance by the police that brick kiln owners of Amritsar and Tarn Taran, who were arrested on March 18, would be released before April 15.

The brick kiln owners had halted the sale of bricks on April 3 in protest against the highhandedness of labour leaders in Amritsar and Tarn Taran for attacking some owners while demanding wages higher than those fixed by the Punjab Government.

Following the halting of sale of brick and inclement weather forcing owners to stop production in the state, the prices of bricks had gone up by almost 25-35 per cent.

With the sales resuming in the state, the prices of bricks were expected to climb down to normal, said Kuldeep Singh Makkar, president of the Punjab brick kiln Owners’ Association.

Santosh Sharma, who is getting his office premises on the outskirts of the city renovated, said: “The stir had not only led to a rise in the prices of bricks but also affected the availability of the same in the market. I was worried that if the stir continued for another 10-12 days, the construction work on my office premises would have to be stalled.”

Darshan Singh, a local building contractor, said: “Prices of bricks had shot up in the wake of stalemate prevailing among brick kiln owners and the police and was threatening to snowball into a big controversy, affecting construction activity in the state. However, things are under control now and it seems the matter will soon be sorted out.”

Confirming this, Sarabhjeet Dhillon, general secretary, Punjab brick kiln Owners’ Association, Ludhiana unit, said: “The police has assured us that our fellow brick kiln owners will be released before April 15. Thus, we have resumed the sale of bricks for five days. However, in case the police fails to fulfil its promise, we will be forced to resume our agitation.”

Amloh, April 11
Farmers staged a dharna and blocked traffic for half an hour on the Amloh-Nabha Road adjacent to grain market here today in protest against the non-procurement of wheat in the mandi. SDM Poonamdeep Kaur reached at the site immediately and persuaded the agitators to sort out their grievances.

A meeting presided by the SDM was held in the office of the market committee. District manager of Markfed Harminder Singh, district food controller Atinderpal Kaur, district mandi officer Ramesh Goel, PUNSUP manager Jassal, market committee secretary Satpal Singh and arhtia association chief Jewan Kumar Puri discussed the problems of the farmers and arhtias.

It was stressed upon the agencies to lift the wheat from the mandi and to waive the moisture condition from 12 per cent to 13 per cent, which was not within the power of the district officials as the conditions had been imposed by the Centre, the officials maintained.

However, it was decided to take some lenient view of the crop damaged by the unfavourable weather and the procurement started in the presence of the SDM. As stated by Puri, around 20,000 quintal wheat was procured today.

Ludhiana, April 11
The Bharti Kisan Union has started its series of block meetings in various parts of Punjab to ensure victory of candidates belonging to the SAD-BJP alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In a press release issued here today, the BKU stated that after taking care of wheat in the state, the outfit would go all out to campaign for the SAD-BJP candidates.

The union is organising meetings in villages and collecting data of daily wagers, workers and farmers who were ready to support the SAD-BJP candidates in the state.

They added that they would give their reports regularly to BKU president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal.

Ludhiana, April 11
The Rashtriya Hindu Manch has condemned the Congress and the BJP for extending helping hand only to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and leaving aside Hindus who were killed in ter this regard had been on numerous occasions sent to the bank authorities but a few, among them, had had not employed the security guard till date.

A senior police official alleged that whenever a robbery or theft took place, the bank authorities police accountable for the theft. “In context of today’s work scenario, I fail to understand how a bank could not think of employing the security guard. 

Probably, the administration will have to interfere and issue written instructions to banks for cnce in this regard. I will take up the issue with the deputy commissioner,” he added. Ramesh Dutt, a businessman, said: “W

Khanna, April 11
The Disabled Rights Group of Punjab today alleged discrimination by various successive state governments of Punjab. At a meeting held today, the group said various state governments had failed to provide any facility to the disabled.

Enraged over the attitude of government, the group decided not to cast their votes for anyone as this was the only way to teach a lesson to politicians who had failed to live up to the expectations of the disabled.

President of the group IK Chopra said the physically challenged were upset over the indifferent attitude of leaders and bureaucrats. “All these people are indifferent towards the demands of 4.15 lakh disabled population.

Neither the Akali government nor the Congress has ever listened to their grievances”, he said. He appealed to the disabled not to vote in favour of such leaders who had disappointed them in the past.

Even after 14 years of passing, the implementation of the Disabled Rights Act-1995 (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) is a distant dream, he further said. He also demanded a 3 per cent reservation for the disabled in electoral process.

Ludhiana, April 11
Although parents fighting against the hefty fee hike by the CBSE affiliated schools were not satisfied with the progress of enquiry being conducted by the district administration, they had not lost heart to continue the stir.

The agitation being launched under the aegis of the Hindu Sikh Jagriti Sena had at least brought awareness among the parents about the different methods being adopted by the school managements to fleece them.

It was a fact that the parents who were fighting against the wrath of the school managements belonged to the middle class and the rich class parents had not joined the agitation. The middle class families also wanted their wards to get education from reputed schools that were in common parlance known as ‘English speaking schools’.

However, the problem was that of meeting the unprecedented hike in tuition fee, admission fee and other charges for the supply of accessories which had cut heavily on their family budgets in the wake of recession.

A principal of a leading school remarked during talks with the Additional Deputy Commissioner that the protestors were cheap people as they sometimes “take off their clothes and at other time get their heads shaved”.

Replying to this insinuation, Parveen Dang, president of the Hindu Sikh Jagriti Sena, which had been spearheading the agitation, asserted, “We belong to respectable middle class families. We are basically businessmen and there are always ups and downs in the business. But we cannot allow the unreasonable loot of the parents by the managements of the so called elite schools.”

Dang also expressed his anguish over the attitude of the district administration in tackling the issue. “We strongly feel that the administration is hand in glove with the school managements. We have pointed out number of ‘excesses’ by the school managements which have turned completely commercial.

This is evident from the fact that now the schools supply wrist watches, shoes from their tuck shop, besides supplying books and stationery,” said Dang.

Adding he said that, “However, the schools cannot even supply books and stationery under the rules of the CBSE. We have provided guidelines of the CBSE to the district administration. But the administration has not taken any action so far. Some managements are tampering with the records also.”

The sena chief said they had asked the administration to seek affidavit from the teachers employed in these schools if they were actually getting salaries according to the new pay scales of the Sixth Pay Commission. However, the administration had not acted on this account also. 

Ludhiana, April 11
The ‘Baisakhi Festival-2009’ was jointly organised by Everest Play Way & Nursery School and play way wing of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, here today. Rajinder Sharma, president, Association of the PSEB Affiliated Schools, Punjab (Regd), was the chief guest on this occasion. A fancy dress competition was organised on this occasion.

The children presented a colourful eye catching programme of songs and dance. Students came in the traditional Punjabi dresses and performed giddha and bhangra.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said the school had played a significant role in the development of the area, particularly in spreading education among the tiny tots by using play way methods.

He told the students about the importance of the day and how on this day Guru Gobind Singh selected the Panj Piaras and established Khalsa Panth.

Ludhiana, April 11
The Central Bank of India, Kailash Nagar, was closed today after the bank authorities failed to deploy a security guard. The police party headed by SHO Maninder Bedi reached the spot and didn’t allow the customers to enter the bank. However, those inside the bank were allowed to complete their job.

Despite recent increase in the thefts, the bank had failed to install CCTV cameras, infrared sensor or a guard. Rajinder Bhalla, senior bank manager, said: “Yes, we don’t have any guard, however, it is our discretion to have one or not.” The SHO said this step was taken after due consultation with the seniors.

SP (City-I) Harsh Bansal said notices in this regard had been on numerous occasions sent to the bank authorities but a few, among them, had had not employed the security guard till date.

A senior police official alleged that whenever a robbery or theft took place, the bank authorities held the police accountable for the theft. “In context of today’s work scenario, I fail to understand how a bank could not think of employing the security guard. Probably, the administration will have to interfere and issue written instructions to banks for compliance in this regard.

I will take up the issue with the deputy commissioner,” he added. Ramesh Dutt, a businessman, said: “We face a lot of inconvenience on not being allowed to go inside the bank. At the same time I think every bank is responsible for providing at least minimum security.