Friday, August 20, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, August 20, 1999 |
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Badal,
Amarinder have secret pact: Tohra |
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BJP ready
to meet Sonia’s challenge: Modi
Two-hour strike by insurance staff 2 doctors to be chargesheeted Rai's name cleared as Faridkot SSP DPRO ‘helping’ SAD, BJP
nominee IHRO to back third front PAUTA flays DC for
‘interference’ |
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Badal, Amarinder have secret
pact: Tohra FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 19 — Mr G.S. Tohra, President of the SHSAD has alleged that Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, former Chief Minister, has organised a secret meeting between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh to work out an understanding about Patiala and Faridkot seats. Mr Tohra was talking to mediapersons before attending an election rally of Mrs Balbir Kaur, SHSAD candidate for Ropar (R) seat, at Sirhind. He said the forthcoming elections were like Mahabharat war where on one side were those who had deserted Akal Takht and on the other side were those who believed in the supremacy of Akal Takht and considered Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht. He reiterated his resolve to retire from politics the day Mr Badal apologised to Akal Takht. In answer to a question he said there was a strong wave in favour of the SHSAD candidates and Bhai Ranjit Singh had further benefited the campaign. Later, while addressing a rally for two hours continuously. Mr Tohra highlighted the failures of the Badal government. He said the government had not kept any of its pre-poll promises and alleged that the present government was more corrupt than all previous Congress governments. He said Vajpayee government had not given aid of even a single rupee to the state and none of its demands had been accepted. Jathedar Jaswant Singh
Tann, district president, Surinder Kaur president BSP,
Narinder Singh Tiwana, advocate, Karnail Singh Panjoli,
president Youth Akali Dal, Bibi Balbir Kaur, candidate
and SAD (A) activists also addressed the rally. |
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Plea to probe VIP care for
Talwandi rejected CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today declined a writ petition preferred by the Lawyers for Social Reforms, Chandigarh, seeking directions for judicial inquiry into the extraordinary facilities given to Ranjit Singh Talwandi and for initiating disciplinary action against the authorities found guilty. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice J.S. Narang constituted the Bench. The petitioner stated that as compared to medical facilities being provided to poor prisoners lodged in the Central Jail, Ludhiana, extraordinary facilities had been given to Talwandi as he was an influential person. It was violative of fundamental right of prisoners lodged in different jails in Punjab. The Punjab police had booked Talwandi under Sections 302, 325, 324, 323, 148 and 149, I.P.C, and Section 25 of the Arms Act on December 24, 1996, after one Chamkaur Singh died of bullet injuries. According to the prosecution, one accused, Jit Singh, alias Pummy, had forcibly snatched a rifle from a gunman and had fired shots after Talwandi exhorted him to kill "as many persons as he wanted" during a quarrel. The Additional Sessions
Judge of Ludhiana had convicted him under Section 302
I.P.C, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. |
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BJP ready to meet
Sonia’s challenge: Modi AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The BJP General Secretary, Mr Narendera Modi, has asserted that his party will meet the challenge posed by the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and will field candidates wherever she decides to contest besides Bellary in Karnataka. Addressing mediapersons today pooh poohed Mrs Gandhi's reported statement to electronic media, some time ago, that "no one knows what stuff she is made off." Mr Modi said fielding former Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, against Ms Gandhi in Bellary was a tactical move to upset the Congress applecart. He was confident that Mrs Swaraj would defeat Ms Gandhi and said according to information the Congress high command was considering a second safe constituency most probably in UP for Ms Gandhi but declined to say whom the BJP would field against her. The elections should not be treated as a fight between Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mrs Sonia Gandhi but the fight between two civilisations. The BJP spokesman felt that the Janata Dal (United), which had reached an understanding with the NDA in Bihar and Karnataka, had moved a step closer to joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. But he parried questions about reasons for the delay in the JD (United) joining the NDA. Answering questions about the release of the nuclear doctrine by the three-member panel, Mr Modi said the panel was formed immediately after the Pokhran tests last year to suggest plans to induct nuclear arsenal in the armed forces as only a deterrent. The release of the doctrine was to encourage a public debate on the issue and said it was not the policy framed by the government but only a document which could be adopted later, after a national consensus and proper discussion. The BJP spokesman regretted that the Congress had decided to criticise the document adding all national politicial parties should send in their positive suggestions so that final national nuclear policy could be formulated. Commenting on the entry of a high-profile former Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan into the election arena from Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat against Mr L.K. Advani, Mr Modi said the induction of Mr Seshan would have a negative impact on the Congress campaign in Gujarat. He felt that Mr Seshan during his tenure as Secretary, Environment, in the Union Government had opposed the Narmada Dam project and this singular most sensitive issue would hamper the poll prospect of the Congress. Mr Modi has been brought
here to motivate the party cadre with barely a fortnight
to go for the Lok Sabha poll in the state. Addressing
party leaders and workers Mr Modi exhorted them to sink
their differences and ensure the victory of BJP-SAD
alliance candidates. |
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No military benefit to
pre-'62 recruits CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has held that under the Punjab Government National Emergency (concession) Rules, 1965, the benefits thereof could be given to only those persons who had joined the armed forces on the call of the nation after proclamation of the Emergency by the President on October 26, 1962, and not those who were already working in the armed forces before the proclamation. The Bench comprising Mr J.S. Dhaliwal and Mr V.K. Majotra, while interpreting the 1965 Rules quashed the order of the Inspector-General of Police, Chandigarh, promoting Mr Daya Nand (now retired) as Superintendent (Grade II) and reverting the applicant, Mr Satish Kumar, from the post. Mr Satish Kumar had challenged his reversion and promotion of the respondent, Mr Daya Nand, by granting military service benefit to him. In an earlier O.A. the applicant had challenged the promotion of Mr Daya Nand on the ground of non-applicability of the 1965 rules to the union territory of Chandigarh. However the apex court held that the rules were applicable to UT employees. In the present O.A. the applicant questioned the promotion of the respondent on the ground that Mr Daya Nand had already joined the armed forces in 1960 i.e. much before the proclamation of the Emergency in 1962. The applicant had been promoted to the post of Superintendent (Grade II) from which he was reverted to make place for the respondent. The Bench quashed the
reversion of the applicant and declared him entitled to
seniority and promotion to the post of Superintendent
(Grade-II) with effect from the due date and to extend to
him all consequential benefits. The Bench, however,
directed that no recovery of pay and allowance be made
from Mr Daya Nand, who had retired. |
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A tale of broken promises AMRITSAR: The broken foundation stone reflects broken promises. It was on October 24, 1977, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister, laid the foundation stone of the "Gateway of India" in the middle of the Amritsar-Lahore road to commemorate the 400th year of Amritsar's foundation. Many trees were cut to build an "ajooba" (wonder) to greet people from across the border who come to India by road or rail. However, for the past 22 years, successive governments have failed to complete the ambitious project. So much so Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who had laid the foundation stone about 22 years ago, did not bother to complete the project even though the Prime Minister had inaugurated the Delhi-Lahore bus service on March 20 this year. Mr Badal, who became Chief Minister for the third time, has not bothered to direct the officials concerned to build the Gateway to India so far. The activists of Citizens' Forum, led by its convenor, Mr Brij Bedi, went to the "Gateway" site and found that the foundation stone was missing. With a lot of effort, the activists excavated the foundation stone which was found broken. Some pieces of the foundation stone are still missing. Instead of a Gateway of India, slums have come up on the site. The site is in a deplorable condition. Deep potholes had made the area accident-prone. Cattle can be seen grazing at the site. Investigations made interesting revelations. A room constructed by the department for a caretaker of the project has been occupied by a migrant labourer who has been living there with his family. The caretaker, who was allegedly not paid his dues by the department, had vacated the room about four years ago. Mr Gurmej Singh and Mr
Puran Singh, who live near the site, said the foundation
stone was laid amid fanfare by Mr Badal. They said people
from nearby areas would come to the site for an evening
walk. However, with the passage of time, the project
became an "abandoned child" of the
administration. |
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EC clears Rai's name as
Faridkot SSP CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The Election Commission of India has cleared the name of Mr Amardeep Singh Rai for posting as Senior Superintendent of Police at Faridkot where Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's son, Mr Sukhbir Badal, is contesting the Lok Sabha poll. Official sources said the EC cleared the name of Mr Rai for appointment late this evening and an intimation was sent to the Punjab authorities concerned through proper channel. Mr Rai is posted as SP,
City at Ludhiana at present. |
Racket in pirated books busted JALANDHAR, Aug 19 — The Economic Offences Wing of the Jalandhar Police has succeeded in unearthing a racket involving publishing and sale of books in violation of copyright. It arrested three persons involved in the process for Infringement of Copyright Act, cheating and forgery from Delhi on August 12. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, stated here today that Mr Pradeep Jain, a leading publisher of the city and proprietor of M/s Pradeep Publications, Mai Hiran Gate, Jalandhar had lodged a complaint with the police that many of the books published by his publication were being duplicated and sold in the local market as well as in markets outside the state. He named one Surinder Mohan Gupta of Delhi as being behind this illegal trade. A special police party was deputed to conduct raids at Delhi and following these three persons were arrested. Mr Yadav said that Surinder Mohan Gupta the owner of Student Book Depot of Delhi, in league with the other accused, Sanjiv Kumar and Sandip Kumar, had printed the duplicate books on their offset press. Text books for higher classes on the subjects of Physics and Chemistry were duplicated verbatim saving on labour and expenses involved in drafting, proof reading composition etc. The books were marketed
by Surinder Mohan Gupta. |
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Two-hour strike by insurance
staff AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — On the call of the All-India Insurance Employees Association, employees of the General Insurance Company and the Life Insurance Company today observed a two-hour strike in support of their demands which include talks on wage revision. The employees held a demonstration in front of United India Insurance Co Ltd divisional office. A similar demonstration was also held in front of the LIC building at the City Centre. Mr Narinder Singh and Mr Ashok Sharma from the GIC and Mr J.S. Randhawa and Ved Kumar from the LIC addressed the employees. PATIALA: Employees of the LIC here staged a walkout for two hours on Thursday for the early settlement of their charter of demands. Later the protesting employees held a rally in front of the office of the LIC. KANGRA: The Life Insurance Corporation of India employees body affiliated with Northern Zone Insurance Employees Association (NZIEA) resorted to two-hour strike on Thursday. Members held dharna and demonstration outside the local LIC office. Employees were addressed by Mr Hem Raj Sathi, secretary of the Northern Zone body. HISAR: Employees of Life Insurance Corporation here observed a two-hour token strike on Thursday in protest against the indifferent attitude of the Central Government towards their demands. The work in both the LIC
offices remained suspended due to strike. Employees
staged a dharna in front of the office and held a
demonstration. |
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2 doctors to be
chargesheeted BATHINDA, Aug 19 — The Punjab Government has decided to chargesheet Dr Ramesh Rani Thukral and Dr Sushil Gupta of local civil hospital for allegedly showing negligence in conducting the medical examination of a Dalit rape victim. Official sources said the state government had taken the decision to chargesheet the two doctors on the report of Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) here, who had conducted a probe into the incident. The Assistant Commissioner, in her report had held both Dr Thukral and Dr Gupta responsible of neglecting their duties by not conducting the medical examination of the rape victim. According to official sources, Mrs Manjit Kaur, mother of the victim, a resident of Kilii Nihalsinghwala village, approached the doctors at the hospital on June 23, 1999, for conducting the medical examination of her daughter. She had an order from the Judicial Magistrate in this regard. She alleged that the doctors had refused to conduct medical examination of her daughter, who was allegedly raped by village Nambardar Malkit Singh, on June 20, 1999, at his house. After the doctors' refused the mother of the victim again filed an application in the court and another Judicial Magistrate ordered the medical examination of her daughter which was conducted by the medical board of the civil hospital on June 25. Afterwards, on receiving a complaint from Mrs Manjeet Kaur, the Chief Medical Officer, Mr Bawa Ram, entrusted the inquiry to the SMO, Dr Jugraj Singh Sandhu. After Dr Sandhu's report, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar ordered a probe to be conducted by the Assistant Commissioner (Grievances). Dr Thukral, however, said the inquiry conducted by the SMO as well as the Assistant Commissioner was not proper and added that she had requested the Principal Secretary, Health, to hold a departmental probe into the incident. She alleged that she was being blamed without any fault of her. Dr Sushil Gupta also
said he had not done anything wrong and had performed his
duty well. He was being falsely implicated in the case. |
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Rai's name cleared as Faridkot
SSP CHANDIGARH, Aug 19 — The Election Commission of India has cleared the name of Mr Amardeep Singh Rai for posting as Senior Superintendent of Police at Faridkot where Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's son, Mr Sukhbir Badal, is contesting the Lok Sabha poll. Official sources said the EC cleared the name of Mr Rai for appointment late this evening and an intimation was sent to the Punjab authorities concerned through proper channel. Mr Rai is posted as SP, City at Ludhiana at present. Mr Harchand Singh who was posted as Senior Superintendent of Police at Faridkot, was transferred as he was posted in his home district. In fact, Mr Harchand Singh hails from Moga which was part of Faridkot district till recently. Even otherwise Moga falls in the Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency. Sources said as a replacement of Mr Harchand Singh, the authorities concerned had proposed the name of a single officer. However, the EC of India insisted that a panel of three names at least should be submitted for selecting one of them for appointment at Faridkot. The sources added that a three-name panel was submitted. Only Mr Rai of the three-member panel belonged to the IPS cadre while the other two names included in the panel were of officers promoted from the PPS cadre. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar is contesting as the Congress nominee against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Capt Amarinder Singh and
Mr Jagmeet Brar have made several complaints as regards
appointment of officers in the Faridkot Lok Sabha
constituency. They had alleged that Mr Badal had
appointed most of those officers who could help him in
the elections. |
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DPRO ‘helping’ SAD,
BJP nominee LUDHIANA, Aug 19 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded the immediate transfer of Mr Ujjager Singh, District Public Relation Officer, Patiala, for allegedly misusing official machinery for the electioneering of Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, SAD-BJP candidate for the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. In a complaint to the Election Commissioner, Punjab, Dr Barjinder Singh, which was released to the Press here today, the secretary general Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur alleged that Mr Ujjager Singh had virtually converted his office into the election office of Mr Rakhra, and has been releasing and distributing press notes to the mediapersons. He is also conducting parties for mediapersons for the coverage of the SAD-BJP candidate's rallies. Mr Prem Singh
Chandumajra has also lodged a similar complaint to the
Election Commission against Mr Ujjager Singh and has
demanded his immediate transfer. |
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IHRO to back third front LUDHIANA, Aug 19 — The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), while announcing its support to all candidates of the third front, comprising Akali groups and the BSP, except in Ludhiana, today resolved here to lend its support to Mr Simranjit Singh Mann in order to defeat Punjab's big "traitor", Surjit Singh Barnala, so that this election may serve to differentiate between "puppets" of the Centre and genuine representatives of Punjab and the Sikhs. The IHRO chairperson, Mr D.S. Gill, and general secretary Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal said that the Rajiv-Longowal accord mainly aimed at robbing the state of its natural wealth — river waters — and to reduce Punjab to a barren land. The IHRO activists held
Mr Barnala solely responsible for agreeing to complete
the controversial SYL canal and alleged that he was
anti-farmers and anti-Sikh since he had signed
Rajiv-Longowal accord and had allowed the storming of
Golden Temple in April 1986. |
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PAUTA flays DC for
‘interference’ LUDHIANA, Aug 19 — The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) has strongly condemned the Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur for allegedly taking away the furniture of the Regional Research Station of the university there on August 17. In a joint press note, Mr H.S. Brar, president and Mr M.L. Gupta, secretary of the PAUTA, said it was a clear cut case of interference in the working of the research station. The two office-bearers
stated that the association had already taken up the
matter with the Vice-Chancellor and Director of Research,
PAU. They also urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, to intervene and stop this kind of high-handedness
on part of the administration. |
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Jawan commits suicide AMRITSAR, Aug 19 (UNI) — Kamaljit Singh, a jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in the area of Gharinda police station in the district today. A police report here said the deceased was on duty near the Attari border. The reason for the suicide was not yet known, the police added. The body has
been sent for a post-mortem. |
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Youth run over by bus, killed JALANDHAR, Aug 19 — An unidentified youth was killed when a school bus ran over him near DAV College here today. Police sources said that
the school bus has been impounded and the youth's body
sent to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem. No arrest
has been made so far. |
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Efforts of PPCC chief fail AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The efforts of Capt Amarinder Singh to bring about a rapprochement between Mr R.L. Bhatia, a former union minister, who is the official candidate of the Congress from Amritsar, and Mr Om Parkash Soni, an Independent MLA, did not bear fruit as Mr Bhatia yesterday announced that Mr Soni was not even a primary member of the party. The PPCC chief had come here two days ago to persuade Mr Soni not to contest as a rebel candidate against Mr Bhatia. Capt Amarinder Singh had also promised Mr Soni and his supporters that the former would get the Congress ticket from Amritsar during the next assembly poll. He also announced that he had made efforts to get Mr Soni the party ticket from Amritsar, but in vain. After
"persuading" Mr Soni to drop the idea of
contesting the election as a rebel, the PPCC chief had
claimed that the party would give a united fight to its
opponents in the forthcoming elections. |
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Admn influencing minorities:
Bhaur LUDHIANA, Aug 19 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has alleged that the Ludhiana district administration has been trying to influence minority voters of this constituency, in favour of the ruling party. In a statement to the
Press here yesterday, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur,
secretary-general of the SHSAD, said that if the Deputy
Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel, and the Senior Superintendent
of Police, Mr Kuldip Singh, were not transferred out of
Ludhiana, the Muslims and the Christians would not be
able to exercise their franchise freely. |
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NCP decision welcomed AMRITSAR, Aug 19 — The state unit of the Hindu Dharam Rakshak Dal today welcomed the decision of the Nationalist Congress party to make the foreign origin issue a plank in the forthcoming elections. The general secretary of the dal, Mr Sudhir Mahajan claimed that the people were totally against the Congress game plan to project Ms Sonia Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate. He said Ms Gandhi's
recent statements showed a lack of the national spirit.
He said her assertions would hurt the sentiments of
jawans and patriotic Indians. |
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BKU to contest 2 seats MOGA, Aug 19 — The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union has decided to support the BJP SAD alliance in the state on 11 seats out of the total 13 seats during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections while for the other two seats — Bathinda and Sangrur — the BKU has put up its own candidates. The decision was taken at a meeting held here yesterday which was chaired by its state president, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal. Mr Naurang Singh Gawria
will contest from Sangrur and Mr Bhan Singh Namberdar
from Bathinda. Both of whom have filed their nomination
papers them from both these constituencies. The party was
contesting the Lok Sabha election from Bathinda and
Sangrur to highlight the negative approach of the main
national alliance which had failed to meet the demands of
farmers. |
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