Tuesday, August 3, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, August 3, 1999 |
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Punjab’s
grim fiscal scenario |
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Tohra-Badal
feud hits hospital work? Punjab told to notify sarpanches'
election Hospital building: MLA leads
dharna Amol Kalia on Punjab's list of
heroes No salaries for past two months More counselling sessions sought Stress on steps against malaria RSS a 'secular' organisation Dugri appointed YC vice-president Two murdered in Jalandhar Gold worth 17 lakh seized, 2 held |
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Punjab’s grim fiscal scenario CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The wheels of development in Punjab have stopped moving. The money which empowers their movement is not there. So tight is the situation that it will be providential if the government can maintain itself. Come to think of the grim fiscal scenario, there is money just enough for pay, pension and debt servicing. Maybe for ink in the pen to clear payment orders on these. While the inflow of revenue is a major cause for concern, the mandatory outgo remains unstoppable. The solution? Hard decisions at the political level. These, however, shall have to wait till the present election’s to the Lok Sabha are over. This was the main talking point at a meeting of administrative secretaries here today with the Chief Secretary. Nothing new or more revealing was given out when the finance secretary stressed the point that the monthly outgo was at least Rs 750 crore with pay and pension alone accounting for nearly Rs 410 crore. Except ensuring the vast army of employees did not go without salary, there is little the bureaucracy can do under the given circumstances. This makes it obligatory for it to put on the backburner all economy measures pending political clearance. On the other hand, the Finance Department expects every board and corporation to contribute to the exchequer to keep at least the wheels of administration moving, if not development. Informed sources told TNS that unlike in the past meetings, this time old agenda was not taken up on reforms in certain departments at the cutting edge which can give revenue. Therefore, for essays on excise and taxation, local self-government and transport by senior bureaucrats smaller sub-committees will be constituted to vet the recommendation and present the same to the Cabinet for approval. Mr Y.S. Ratra has written on excise and taxation, Mr C.L. Bains on transport and Mr K.R. Lakhanpal on local self-government. Now sub-committees comprising the authors of these papers, the present Administrative Secretary and heads of departments and at least two other bureaucrats, who have had stint in these departments, shall shortlist the recommendations. Though concern has been expressed over the financial health in politico-bureaucratic circles, little or no follow-up action is discernible. Now, it is learnt, departments have been asked to submit to the Finance Department details of the money which accrued to them over the past few years from all sources and how it had been spent or diverted elsewhere. Insiders told TNS that revenue inflow could be improved if the political executive gave a free hand. "My hands are tied", commented one of the secretaries who is considered to be the government's "earning" hand. There was also a feeling that certain things needed to be done which did not involve money; revenue administration for instance and making divisional commissioners either work or abolish their post. The meeting is an open forum where free discussion is encouraged. The secretaries x-ray the government functioning besides airing their problems. At times some do cross swords with colleagues, as in the case of constituting sub-committees on the reforms. There was some talk about cars and fuel limits. The meeting was informed that besides giving a lumpsum of Rs 7,000 for fuel and repair purposes, a committee had also shortlisted fuel efficient cars for future purchase. Some secretaries hoped they would get advance travelling allowance money since they had to go to distant places for election duty as observers. Poor financial
condition, however, was the main issue. It appeared that
at least the salary part was secure, for the time being. |
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SAD leads in campaigning CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The Shiromani Akali Dal led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has taken a definite lead over the rivals not only in announcing its candidates for the nine Lok Sabha seats, but also in starting an early campaign. Mr Badal, realising the difficult situation, started campaigning early last month. He has covered at least his son's constituency of Faridkot twice. He has met each and every sarpanch and grants have been galore for development for this otherwise pampered constituency. The Congress is yet to announce its candidates. Except Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar who would eventually oppose Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal from Faridkot, no one is bothered about campaigning. For Congressmen lobbying with the Central leadership is the primary task. Newspaper offices are flooded with detailed biodatas and the glorious achievements of each prospective candidate. Even Akali Dal's coalition partner, the BJP is yet to announce its candidates from Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar. It is another matter, that the BJP state President, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, has been unofficially declaring that all the three members of the outgoing 12th Lok Sabha, Mr Vinod Khanna, Mr Kamal Chaudhry and he himself would contest from Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, respectively. The BJP is yet to launch its campaign in Punjab. Here too the Congress-style lobbying has been going on. In fact, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, and Master Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, expressed the desire to contest from Gurdaspur in case Mr Khanna, the cine star, wished to shift to some seat in Bombay. Mr Badal wants the BJP to change at least two candidates, Mr Sodhi and Mr Khanna. The ruling Akali Dal feels it will be difficult for it to help these candidates win for a variety of reasons. The other party to go ahead with the announcement is the Sarb Hindi Akali Dal (Shad) led by the former, SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra. It has announced its candidates for Ropar and Patiala. In fact, Mr Tohra has addressed a number of meetings in Ropar constituency from where Mrs Balbir Kaur Khalsa, widow of late Akali leaders Basant Singh Khalsa is contesting. Mr Tohra's partner in the current elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party is also yet to announce its candidates for any of the seats. The Left parties, the CPM and the CPI are searching for candidates. The CPI, which is likely to contest Bathinda (reserve) seat with Congress support, has more or less settled for Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, former MP. The list announced by Mr Badal yesterday at Jalandhar is interesting from two points of view. One, Mr Badal has overcome the difficulty which his own close associates had created for him. From Bathinda, he has announced the candidature of Mr Chaitan Singh Samaon despite hard lobbying from Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, a minister, they wanted to ditch Mr Samaon and opt for Mr Guran Singh, an agriculture inspector. Mr Badal's feedback was that since both Congress and the Left would unite and give a tough fight, the old candidate could do better. For Jalandhar, Mr Badal
hardly has any choice. Akali stalwart Kuldip Singh Wadala
is already against him. The choice is on the widow of
late Rajasthan Governor Darbara Singh. Chosing widows of
some leaders is a practice with many parties. From Ropar,
the two rival Akalis are widows of two late Akali
leaders. Mrs Prabhjot Kaur, the new candidate, would have
a tough time. The Akali Dal is weak in Doaba region and
will have to face strong rival Akali candidate like Mr
Wadala and another from the Congress party.
Interestingly, Mr Badal has left the seats of Doaba and
Hoshiarpur to the BJP and Phillaur to a fellow traveller
and a BSP leader, Mr Satnam Singh Kainth. |
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Another setback to Gujral LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — The prospect of the former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, fighting as a Janata Dal candidate from Jalandhar parliamentary constituency today dimmed further with a majority of Punjab Janata Dal leaders throwing its weight behind the faction led by Mr H.D. Deve Gowda. This is the second setback for the former Prime Minister within 24 hours, the first being the decision of the SAD led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal to field its own nominee for the Jalandhar seat. Mr Gujral was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jalandhar last year with the active support of the SAD. Mr Gujral, who initially cast his lot with the JD faction led by Mr Sharad Yadav, which is seeking admission to the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP, is now faced with the unenviable task of locating a "safe" constituency and a dependable party which will ensure his election to the Lok Sabha. Sources in the Punjab Janata Dal here indicated that Mr Gujral was now reportedly hobnobbing with the Congress to explore the possibility of contesting the Jalandhar seat as a Congress candidate. Political observers here say it was not clear how the Congress high command would be able to ignore the claims of its own partymen, including Mr Umrao Singh and Mr Balbir Singh, for the party ticket for Jalandhar. Meanwhile, eight of the 11 office-bearers of the Punjab Janata Dal and 13 of the 18 district presidents of the party have decided to support the JD faction led by Mr Deve Gowda and criticised attempts by Mr Sharad Yadav and Mr Ram Vilas Paswan to align with the NDA led by the BJP. In a resolution adopted at a party meeting here today, it was emphasised that the state unit of the Janata Dal, Yuva Janata Dal and the Chhattra Janata Dal were not at all averse to the idea of the merger of the Janata Dal, Samata Party and Lok Shakti if it stayed away from the NDA. It was of the view that only under the stewardship of Mr Deve Gowda could the Janata Dal continue to fulfil the party’s ideals and maintain its secular image and credentials. The meeting condemned Mr Jagir Singh Ganesh, President of the Punjab, JD, for siding with the faction led by Mr Yadav and Mr Paswan and recommended to the party high command to expel him from the party for his anti-party activities. It pointed out that both Mr Yadav and Mr Paswan had described the BJP as a "cancer" for the country while the BJP termed them as "AIDS". It was, therefore, strange that the "Cancer" and "AIDS" should now join hands to attain their "selfish" political ends. The meeting also condemned the BJP government for its "unforgivable neglect of security and the vigilance lapses" on the border, resulting in the Kargil conflict. It demanded a white paper on the Kargil conflict. It also criticised the SAD-BJP government in Punjab for its alleged failure on several fronts. It alleged that the government had done nothing to press the long-standing demands of Punjab relating to Punjabi-speaking areas, Chandigarh and river waters. It was decided to hold a
meeting of JD office-bearers and district presidents here
on August 9 to finalise the list of candidates for the
parliamentary poll. |
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Tohra-Badal feud hits hospital
work? PATIALA: Has the construction of a 100-bed hospital at Samana, urgently required to cater to the medical needs of the region, stopped allegedly due to a minor land dispute or because of acrimony between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal President Gurcharan Singh Tohra. The work on the hospital, named after Shaheed Hardyal Singh Rajla, father of Samana MLA Jagtar Singh Rajla, began on August 19,1997. It was inaugurated by none other than the Chief Minister himself on the occasion of the seventh death anniversary of Jathedar Hardyal Singh, who was killed by terrorists. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Badal stated that Jathedar Rajla was a great soldier of Shiromani Akali Dal who made the supreme sacrifice of laying down his life in fighting terrorism. However, today nearly two years after the start of construction work, the project seems to be in jeopardy. According to Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, who owes allegiance to Mr Tohra, work has been stopped at the behest of the Chief Minister and Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh. He alleged that these leaders had ordered stoppage of work fearing that he (Mr Rajla) and Mr Tohra would get votes by highlighting the medical facilities available at the hospital. Mr Rajla pointed out that the government had "cleverly" taken the plea of non-transfer of panchayat land for the construction of the hospital. Producing documents Mr Rajla alleged that on July 13, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) had in a letter to the SDO, Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), called for an immediate halt to the work as construction was taking place on land which had not yet been acquired by the corporation. The official letter also warned it would take up the matter with the police if construction was not stopped. It said the land belonged to the Block Development and Panchayat Department which had no information about transfer of land to the PHSC. Mr Rajla said it was strange that the BDPO had raised the matter of transfer of land two years after construction had started. He said the BDPO's threatening letter was not based on facts as the Health and Family Welfare Department had given approval for the land transfer on August 17,1998. Dr Rameshwar Chander, Civil Surgeon, while acknowledging the stoppage of construction work, said the BDPO's office had raised objection arguing that the Health Secretary had no power to transfer the land. Denying any political vendetta on the part of the government, the Civil Surgeon said the matter has been sent to the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) for a decision. Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, however, maintained that it was a clear-cut- case of political vendetta. It was not for the first time that construction work of the project has been stalled. Earlier payment to construction company undertaking the project was stopped citing fund shortage faced by the state government. He said ever since Mr Badal and Mr Tohra had parted ways, pressure was mounting on him to leave Mr Tohra and join the Badal camp. He did not want to have any truck with "anti-Panthic" forces led by Mr Badal and due to his stand the hospital project along with certain other small development projects had suffered. Incidentally Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh had while addressing an election rally at Samana a few days ago had denied that construction work had been stopped. He said the SAD-BJP government was bound to complete the work by next year. Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla
has decided to stage a dharna in front of the SDM's
office, Samana, to protest against the stoppage of
construction work. |
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Punjab told to notify
sarpanches' election CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Government to notify Mr Gursharan Singh and Mr Surain Chand as elected sarpanches of Chak Kathgarh and Chak Mahantawala villages in Ferozepore district respectively. Mr Justice H.S. Brar and Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran, who handed down this order on July 29 a copy of which became available today, slapped costs quantified at Rs 5,000 each. The Bench, however, held that the state government was at liberty to recover the cost from Mr Sukhdarshan Singh, BDO-cum-Returning Officer, "as he is behind all that mischief." The Bench further held: "We find prima facie that Mr Sukhdarshan Singh is instrumental in preparing the fake result and then sending it to the higher authorities for declaring Mr Kashmir Chand and Mr Sher Chand as sarpanches of Chak Kathgarh and Chak Mahantawala villages." The Bench also ordered that a detailed inquiry be conducted by the CBI into the whole matter in which "we prima facie feel that Mr Sukhdarshan Singh played the whole mischief." The Judges directed that the inquiry "shall be completed within three months from today (the date of the judgement) by the CBI and appropriate action, including criminal proceedings shall be taken by the authorities concerned." In his petition Mr
Gursharan Singh had sought quashing of the notification
declaring Mr Kashmir Chand as elected sarpanch, while Mr
Surain Chand had questioned the notification whereby Mr
Sher Chand had been declared sarpanch. |
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Hospital building: MLA leads
dharna SAMANA (Patiala), Aug 2 — Activists of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal led by local legislator Jagtar Singh Rajla held a dharna here today to protest against alleged stoppage of the construction work of a hospital named after former legislator Hardyal Singh Rajla. The activists sat on a three-hour dharna in front of the upcoming hospital warning that an indefinite struggle would be launched in case the construction work was not started immediately. Mr Jagtar Singh Rajla, who owes allegiance to Mr Tohra, alleged that the work had been stopped at the behest of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh. He alleged that these leaders had ordered stopping of work fearing that he and Mr Tohra would benefit in the coming elections for having initiated the setting up of the hospital. Mr Rajla alleged that the government had "clearly" taken plea of non-transfer of panchayat land for stopping work on the construction of the hospital. Mr Rajla alleged that on July 13 the Block Development and Panchayat Officer had in a letter written to the SDO, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, called for an immediate halt to the work as the construction was taking place on a land yet to be acquired by the corporation. It said the land belonged to the Block Development and Panchayat Department which had no information about the transfer of land to the health corporation. Mr Rajla said it was not for the first time that the construction work on the project had been stalled. Earlier, the payment to the construction company undertaking the project was stopped citing fund shortage faced by the state government. In a separate press note released here today, the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rameshwar Chander, however, maintained that the construction work on the hospital was going on. According to the schedule drawn earlier, adding Rs 1.50 crore had been spent till now. Mr Chander said the construction work was going on the panchayat samiti land which had been transferred to the hospital. He said the Department of Health had given permission for the transfer and the matter was presently under the consideration of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue. The Civil Surgeon said
the work on the first storey of the hospital was almost
over and its boundary wall was completed yesterday. |
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Amol Kalia on Punjab's list
of heroes CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — While Punjab has lost as many as 79 defence personnel, including seven officers and the same number of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), in Operation Vijay and Operation Rakshak so far, for ending the persisting controversy the Punjab Government has enlisted Capt Amol Kalia on its roll of heroes. According to details available here today, as many as three JCOs, 47 other ranks and one officer from Punjab laid down their lives in Operation Vijay which was launched to drive out intruders and Pakistan army regulars in the Kargil sector. The JCOs were Sub Joginder Singh, Sub Nirmal Singh and Naib Sub Karnail Singh and the officer was Capt Amol Kalia. Among other ranks were jawans below the rank of Naib Subedar. In Operation Rakshak, which pertains to the deployment of army in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, mainly civilian areas, and also some part of the North-East, officers killed were Major J.D.S. Dhaliwal, Deputy Commandant Mohinder Raj, Sqd Ldr Ajay Ahuja, Major K.G. Singh, Major Harminder Pal Singh and Major Raman Dada. Among these Major Raman Dada is the only one who was killed in the North-East. All others were martyred in Jammu and Kashmir. Brig K.S. Kahlon (retd), Director, Sainik Welfare, told TNS here today that JCOs killed in Operation Rakshak were Sub Sucha Singh, Sub Daljit Singh, Nau Nihal Singh and Kuldeep Singh. As many as 18 other ranks were killed in this operation. Brigadier Kahlon said he had informed the father of Capt Amol Kalia that the martyr had been enlisted on the roll of heroes by the Punjab Government. Captain Kalia's father, Mr Sat Pal Sharma, had protested against not including his son's name on the roll of heroes of Punjab. Captain Kalia had laid down his life in the Baltik sector exhibiting extraordinary valour and bravery on June 9. His body was retrieved after about 12 days as the area had come under the direct shelling from enemy guns. Capain Kalia's body was brought to Chandigarh on June 19 and handed over to his parents on June 20. He was cremated at Chintpurni (Himachal Pradesh) at his parent's native place on June 21 with full military and public honour. The Himachal Pradesh Government had given an ex-gratia grant to the parents of the martyr. However, the parents of Captain Kalia argued that as the Baltik martyr had been born, brought up and educated at Nangal in Punjab, he should have been declared Punjab's hero as well. In fact, when Captain Kalia got himself enrolled in the Army, he gave his address as that of Nangal in Ropar district. Brigadier Kahlon said he had contacted the Army authorities today and informed them accordingly. He said the Punjab Government held the Baltik hero in high esteem. But as the Himachal Government had given the ex-gratia to Captain Kalia's parents, it was only to avoid technical problems that his name had not been enlisted in Punjab's list. Though Sqd Ldr Ajay Ahuja belonged to Kota in Rajasthan, Punjab had included his name in its list of heroes. In fact, Squadron Leader Ahuja's bullet-ridden body was brought to Killi Bhisiana village (Bathinda) where he was cremated with full military honours. People of the village participated in his cremation in a big way and also held a bhog ceremony. The officer was posted near Bathinda and sent to Kargil for the specific operation on May 17, the day he was promoted and took command of the Squadron. Only after two hours of taking the command he was on his assigned task. Sqd Ldr Ajay Ahuja was shot by Pakistani soldiers from a close range after he had ejected safely from his MiG 27 when a missile had hit it. This was on May 29 when he was searching for another aircraft. The post-mortem report of the officer had concluded that he had been tortured and shot dead at a point-blank range. His ghastly killing had generated a controversy at the international level and the Indian Government had lodged a strong protest at all international forums concerned. During his meeting with
the bereaved family, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr
Parkash Singh Badal, had offered a Class I job to Mrs
Alka Ahuja, wife of the martyr. |
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No salaries for past two
months NANGAL, Aug 2 — Punjab Government employees serving in various departments in the area under the non-planned temporary category have not received salaries for the past two months. According to the sources, the payments to these employees have not been made because the sanction for these posts has not been received from the government. Sanction for these posts is renewed each financial year. This year, however, the sanction has not been received as yet. The salaries can be given to those employees only when the government grants sanctions for these posts. Teaching and the non-teaching staff members of various schools of are upset due to the delay in sanction of posts. About 200 employees in various schools of the area, which amounts to about half of the total serving staff, are under the non-planned temporary category. Most of these employees have been in non-planned temporary category for the past 15 to 20 years. The sources revealed that about 1200 science teachers who were recruited in 1974 continue to work as temporary employees. Similarly, most of staffs of the local Bhabore Sahib High School, which was upgraded in 1972, has not been regularised. Staff members in Government Shivalik College, Naya Nangal, have also not received salaries for the past two months. The college was taken over by the government in May 1997. But none of the staff members has been issued appointment letter. The situation is even
worse for about 25 part-time employees serving in the
area. They have not received salaries since January this
year. Most of the part-time employees serving in various
Punjab government departments in the area are Class IV
employees. |
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More counselling sessions
sought PATIALA, Aug 2 — A number of parents of admission seekers to engineering colleges in the state, while criticising the new system of decentralised counselling, have demanded more counselling sessions. Not wishing to be quoted, parents complained that their wards had worked hard for qualifying in the combined entrance test (CET) for admission to various engineering courses in the state but now they have been left high and dry owing to the cumbersome and faulty system of the allotment of courses through decentralised counselling. The parents said under the new system the candidates have to attend each counselling done by different institutions and had to deposit the fees on the spot in case of selection. Due to this procedure the candidates have to spent a lot travelling to far off places in order to not to miss the coveted seats. The counselling for engineering courses at the local Thapar Engineering Institute, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, has already taken place. The counselling for admission to courses in Panjab University, Chandigarh, is scheduled on August 7. The parents said what was worrying them more than huge expenses or travelling to each institution and buying prospectus worth Rs 400 at each place, was that as there was no provision for second counselling at Jalandhar and Amritsar. The authorities have announced that no further counselling to admit students according to the merit would be made and the seats would go to candidates who had already taken admission in any course at the institution. The parents have urged
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to intervene in the
matter. |
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Stress on steps against malaria LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — The Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMC) has warned that the malarial area in the city is rapidly increasing in thickly populated areas and measures against malaria must be initiated immediately. Dr K L Dhar, Professor and Head of Medicine, CMC said here today that malaria was an infectious disease which could be fatal if ignored at an initial stage. In June, 1999, two patients of falciparum or cerebral malaria were admitted to the CMC of which one died. There were 10 more cases of cerebral malaria but no death occurred. Malaria is so infectious that any patient who had been in a malarial area in the previous two months should be considered carrying the germs until it proved otherwise. Dr Dhar stressed upon
the need to create awareness in people about cleanliness
and also to educate them against quacks. |
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RSS a 'secular' organisation LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — Presiding over the annual guru pooja function of the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh, Principal Suresh Chandra Vatsyayan, an eminent author and educationist, dwelt at length on the Indian heritage from the vedic era to stress that the RSS was a truly "secular" organisation of those who consider India (or Bharat Mata) as a replica of Mother Earth. The very name of the organisation, starting with the word Rashtriya, did not connote any single community. "It was during the invasion and reign of Muslims that the words Hindu and Hindustan came by, as referred to in Nanak Vaani." Referring to the laying
of the foundation of Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar by Sufi
Saint Mian Meer, Principal Vatsyayan said it was a
shining illustration of Hindu secularism." |
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Dugri appointed YC
vice-president LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — Mr Sukhwant Singh Dugri, local youth leader, has been appointed vice-president of the Punjab Youth Congress. This was announced in a
communication received here today from Mr Jagdish
Chander, Secretary of the Indian Youth Congress. Mr Anoop
Nagpal (Fazilka), and Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu (Bathinda)
have been appointed general secretary and secretary,
respectively. |
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Two murdered in Jalandhar JALANDHAR, Aug 2 (UNI) — A migrant worker was stabbed to death in the city last night, while a farmer was found murdered at his farm in a nearby village today, police sources said here. Kirpal (25), a migrant from a Madhya Pradesh village, was allegedly stabbed to death by two migrant brothers, also from the victim’s home state, in his hut adjoining the new administrative complex coming up in the city. Both the accused, Hari Shankar and his brother Nadni, who like the victim worked as construction workers in the complex, were arrested, the sources added. The murder of farmer Harbhajan Singh (56) in the tubewell room at his farm in Authola village came to notice this morning when his son went to deliver tea. The son found the head of his father crushed. The police has
registered murder cases and started investigation. |
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Gold worth 17 lakh seized, 2
held KHANNA, Aug 2 — The Khanna police has seized gold worth Rs 17 lakh and cash amounting to Rs 1 lakh from two persons. According to sources
following a tip-off a police party stopped a Maruti car
(PB-10-Z-4886). After search, the police seized Rs 1.3
lakh in cash and 3.9 kg of gold. Kamalpreet Singh and
Palwinder Singh were arrested and a case under Sections
85 and 411, IPC, was registered against them. |
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CM’s order to help families
of martyrs FARIDKOT, Aug 2 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed district officials of the state to hold a monthly meeting with the families of those persons who had laid down their lives in the Kargil sector in Jammu and Kashmir for solving their problems. Addressing a function at New Model Senior School organised in connection with the Kargil martyrs, Mr Badal said officers should solve the problems of family members of Kargil martyrs on priority. He said nobody could measure the sacrifices made by Army personnel in the Kargil sector in terms of money or other thing. He said the Punjab Government would leave no stone unturned to rehabilitate family members of Kargil martyrs. Regarding the present system of education, he said it should be modelled in such a way that students of state could compete at international level. He said computer education in schools was the need of hour. Later, the management of
the school presented a bank draft of Rs 51,000 to the
Chief Minister for the War Heroes Fund which was
collected by students and teachers of the school for the
welfare of families of Kargil martyrs. |
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2 killed, 1 hurt in road
mishaps KHANNA, Aug 2 — Two persons were killed and one hurt in three separate road road accidents here today. According to information, in the first incident, a truck crushed a woman Karamjit Kaur near Mohanpur village seven km from here. In the second accident a child Vicky (10) son of Darshan Singh of Daudpur village was seriously injured when a scooter hit him. In yet another accident
a roadways bus hit a moped and injured both husband and
wife Surjit and Dayawanti. They were rushed to the Civil
Hospital here where Surjit Singh was declared dead. |
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Two held for assault HOSHIARPUR, Aug 2 —The Sadar Police has arrested Budhpal, alias Ladi of Panjaura village under Mahilpur police station and Jeet Singh of Phuglana under Section 394, IPC, in connection with looting and assaulting Sunil Kumar, Ram Pal and Stivan, all residents of local Clock Tower locality. Mr R. P. Mittal, SSP, in a press statement here today said Sunil Kumar, Ram Pal and Stivan were going on a scooter on July 22. Near Chack Sadhu the accused stopped them and assaulted Ram Pal and Stivan received injuries. The police also arrested
Shashi Kumar, alias Pappu, while the accomplice Jaspal
Singh, alias Billu, was still at large. They had
allegedly murdered Kamaljit Singh, alias Thatha, by first
throwing acid on him and later beating him with bricks on
the Una road here on July 28. Shashi Kumar admitted that
deceased Kamaljit Singh quarrelled with them at Thathlan
village in June. They murdered him to take revenge.
Kamaljit was a bad character and was a history-sheeter.
The police also arrested proclaimed offenders Jagiro,
alias Surjito, wife of Lal and Tejo wife of Chand Singh,
residents of Bagarian of Sangrur district. |
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Christian front to contest 2 seats
HOSHIARPUR, Aug 2 — The Punjab Christian Youth Front President, Mr Lawrance Choudhary, today declared that the front would contest the Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seats. Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Choudhary said that he himself would contest from Hoshiarpur while the candidature for Gurdaspur would be announced by August 10. He alleged that Christians were being ignored by all ruling parties in Punjab. The Christians were still economically, socially and educationally backward even after the 50 years of Independence of the country. The front had prepared a programme to uplift the community in all fields, he said, adding that the front would launch an ‘apani pehchan bano’ campaign throughout the state. Rallies would be
organised to make the Christians aware about their
constitutional rights and to maintain their separate
identity, Mr Choudhary added. |
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Plea to reorganise Waqf Board ROPAR, Aug 2 — The National Muslim Welfare Movement (NMWM) has urged the Central Government to dissolve the Punjab Waqf Board and reorganise the same on the pattern of the SGPC. It has also demanded reservation for the Muslims on the basis of population. These demands were included in a resolution adopted at a function organised by the district unit of the NMWM in Nuri Colony at Shyampura village near here yesterday to observe the martyrdom day of Peer Baba Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani and pay tributes to the martyrs of Kargil. The function was presided by Mr Abdul Rasheed Nuri, district president of the NMWM. It was also attended by Dr Anwar Ali, national general secretary of the NMWM, Mr Gohar Ali Sabri, vice-chairman and others. Speakers urged the
gathering to follow path shown by the peers, gurus and
saints for the welfare of humanity. They also paid rich
tributes to the martyrs of Kargil and appreciated the
Indian armed forces’ role in the "Operation
Vijay". They also demanded adequate financial
assistance for the families of martyrs. |
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Antim ardas for martyr LUDHIANA, Aug 2 — People from all walks of life gathered in a large number to pay their tributes to Sepoy Sukhchaindeep Singh. Antim ardas of the martyr of the Batalik sector in Jammu and Kashmir was organised at Ghaudani Kalan village (Rara Sahib), 30 km from here yesterday. Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan,
Information and Public Relations Minister, Punjab, paid
tributes to the martyr. |
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