Tuesday, December 7, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, December 7, 1999 |
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Ravi
Inder replies to Badal |
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Travel
agent refused pre-arrest bail Kartarpur land scam: main suspect
held 5 held in multi-crore ticket scam Battle of Jassore recalled
Cop jailed for taking bribe from
cop Youth Cong dharna against Badal
govt Chautala rules out snap poll Mann’s mother cremated Feasibility studies for 5 road
projects Rally by Punjab federation Fast by PSIEC employees Government to protect
urbanities’ interests
Cong decries Badal’s remark
on traders DIG begins probe into graft case |
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Ravi Inder replies to Badal CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — Although the Akali MLA and former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Ravi Inder Singh, has withdrawn his case filed in the court of the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Mr Nawal Kumkar, he has replied to the November 16 show-cause notice served on him by the Akali Dal President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, which among other things, had charged him with "anti-party activities". The three-page reply speaks of the "anguish" in which it has been written and also mocks at the party President, Mr Badal, whom he claims to be an "old associate, having personal relations". Mr Ravi Inder Singh accuses Mr Badal of having played to the galleries while commenting on his alleged role. The show-cause notice served on him was as if a "government press release" had been issued. The show-cause notice sans the customary greeting: therefore, Mr Ravi Inder Singh has said in his reply that unlike him he was not making the reply "public". But he expected Mr Badal to let the reply be known to the party leaders, workers and the masses, the same way he (Mr Badal) had publicised the show-cause notice which had lowered his (Mr Ravi Inder Singh) image in the eyes of the people and which had also cast a shadow on the Shiromani Akali Dal itself, tarnishing its image as well. The reply dubs the show-cause notice, received on November 17, as totally "unconstitutional and illegal", which smacks of "narrow partisan and selfish interests" of a "great" leader, meaning, Mr Badal. The show-cause notice itself, the undue publicity and Mr Badal’s statement of November 6 had left no room for reasoning or debate because that statement was "accusative". Quoting from the Gurbani, Mr Ravi Inder Singh said if the show-cause notice was a "threat" he refused to be cowed down as he believed in the philosophy of "neither threatening anyone nor feeling threatened by anyone." In a nutshell Mr Ravi Inder Singh has rebutted and denied all charges of having conducted himself in any manner prejudicial or harmful to the unity and discipline of the party. He regrets that his and his family’s contribution to the Panth and Panthic cause had been simply brushed aside and ignored. Mr Ravi Inder Singh denies having hobnobbed with either the Congress or anti-Panthic forces to weaken the Akali Dal. The reply talks of making a great effort to identify people who tried to destroy the Panthic traditions and misused Panthic powers to weaken the party and to defeat its candidates in the Parliament elections. Describing all allegations as "baseless and untrue", Mr Ravi Inder Singh calls them "vague" as well. He admits that except SAD MLAs he did not meet anyone else. No meeting to form a political forum, as had been alleged all along, was ever held "secretly". He denies knowledge of any "signature campaign" or of having breached party discipline. Mr Ravi Inder Singh has referred to the party’s Disciplinary Committee, headed by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, and offers to face it. He has asked Mr Badal to present proof, if any, and give him (Mr Ravi Inder Singh) also an opportunity to examine and reply to the same. He hopes there was some
sort of channel to impart justice. "While protesting
against the manner in which the show-cause notice was
served on me to make it look like a government press
release, I still assure you I will not follow that
strategy, being a disciplined and faithful soldier of the
SAD. However, I do, expect that as leader of the party
you will bring the contents of this reply to the notice
of party leaders, workers and the masses to be fair to
me." |
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Information centres replace tax
barriers SHAMBU (PATIALA), Dec 6 — Sales tax barriers today returned to Punjab after a gap of four years but under a new name — information collection centres — and a techno-savvy attitude which aims to achieve results without harassment. The most important information collection centre here, which accounts for 65 per cent of the tax collection of the state, started here this morning under the supervision of the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Sudhir Mittal. As the centre has been established on both sides of the road for incoming and outgoing traffic, information regarding goods was being collected at a brisk pace through numerous counters fitted with computers when the TNS team visited the site. Twentysix other centres started working in the state from this morning. Mr Mittal said stress was being laid on collecting information which would automatically force dealers to reflect the transactions in their account books. Information collected would be sent every week through floppy to the headquarters at Patiala and to the district officers concerned. He said PUNCOM had also been entrusted with the job of making all information online at Patiala in a short period. Besides, PUNCOM was setting up infra-red cameras at the centre which would take three-dimensional images of all vehicles entering and leaving the state. The purpose behind this was to ensure that no malpractice was done as images could be used to ascertain whether a particular truck was loaded or not. Besides posting dedicated staff at the centres, four flying squads had also been established which would recheck trucks coming into the state. He said the entire scheme had cost Rs 2.20 crore only as all computers and software had been given on contract. In comparison, the income expected from the scheme would be around Rs 500 crore per year. Taxation officers said the centres established now were different from the barriers which were abolished in 1995. The barriers established on the main highway led to traffic jams, corruption and resulted in godowns being filled with documents which were never verified. Now the centres would have a list of all dealers in the state and thwart bogus transactions besides ensuring that goods passing out of the state passed through constant checking. Any transporters who escaped a check once would have his truck stopped at the next point, besides having to pay higher penalty. The Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Sarabjit Singh, said while sales tax revenue had been increasing at the rate of 16 to 26 per cent every year before 1995. It had registered a negative growth of 0.2 per cent immediately after the barrier system was abolished. At present, tax collection was increasing at the rate of six to seven per cent every year but was likely to be around 26 per cent this year due to the introduction of the information centres. The Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr H.S. Rosha, said a sample survey done in Mandi Gobindgarh had revealed that tax collection for the month during which the survey was done had gone up by Rs 1 crore. Meanwhile, even though
it will be some time before the traders react to the
information centres, truckers seem to be happy with the
scheme. "It is a welcome change", said trucker
Manjit Singh adding. While clearing barriers earlier was
a herculean task, now it looked like child’s play,
he added. |
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Simla pact gave Pak advantage:
Jacob AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), one of the main architects of Bangladesh liberation in December, 1971, remarked that the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan had not been very satisfactory. Talking to this correspondent here today, the Governor pointed out that some of the most strategic heights in Jammu and Kashmir had to be vacated under the agreement which gave greater military advantage to Pakistan forces. He said India held all cards after gaining some important hill positions in Chhamb sector but the agreement nullified these advantages gained through supreme sacrifices by the Indian armed forces. He felt that after holding 90,000 Pakistani prisoners during the Bangladesh victory and holding strategic heights, India should have retained the superior position. He also played an active role in the delineation talks with Pakistan headed by late Lieut-Gen P.S. Bhagat, the then General-Officer Commanding(Northern command) to demarcate the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir till the Siachen glacier. The Governor paid rich tributes to the valiant Indian Infantrymen who had led the charges in all major wars and during the insurgency operations after the Independence. He said during the Bangladesh liberation, the Indian Army casualties were more than 4,000 killed and seriously injured. He felt that though the country "could not gain much" from this, still we should not forget the sacrifices made by the soldiers. General Jacob pointed out that the country needed to do more for widows of martyrs and for those who had been incapacitated during war and peace in the past 50 years. He refused to be drawn
into any controversial issues like financial crunch being
faced by the Punjab Government. |
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Travel agent refused pre-arrest
bail BATHINDA, Dec 6 — Mr Inderjit Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge, Bathinda, has dismissed application for the anticipatory bail of Paramjit Kaur and Manjeet Kaur booked under Sections 420 and 468 for committing a fraud with a resident, Mr Rajinder Sharma for sending him to Italy. The Judge held on December 3,1999 that Paramjit Kaur and Manjeet Kaur had not joined the investigation. Under these circumstances, the applicant did not deserve any concession of bail under Section 438 of the Cr. P.C. The bail application merited dismissal and was dismissed accordingly. Mr Rajinder Sharma, earlier, made a complaint to the police for registering a case against Paramjit Singh Pamma, his mother Kulwant Kaur and sisters Paramjit Kaur and Manjeet Kaur allegedly for committing a fraud with him on the pretext of sending him to Italy by air. After a deal was struck at Mr Rajinder’s house here, he was taken to Moscow by Paramjit Singh Pamma. Before taking him to Moscow, Pamma, his mother and sisters took Rs 3 lakh from Mr Rajinder Sharma at his house here and got a promissory note of worth one lakh filled in their favour. From Moscow, Mr Rajinder Sharma along with other Punjabis were taken to Ukraine. Mr Rajinder Sharma and other were left to their fate by Pamma in the thick jungle of Ukraine. Mr Rajinder Sharma and other Punjabis were tortured brutally and kept hungry for days together. Mr Rajinder Sharma who landed himself into Kiev jails following the arrest by the border police of Ukraine from jungle came back to India by paying Rs 50,000 to another agent. He contacted Pamma’s family member to get his money back but he received no positive response. Then Mr Rajinder Sharma made an application to SSP, Mr Hernek Singh Sran, to register a case against all those who were acting as illegal travel agents and taking Punjabi youths to foreign countries through illegal means in lieu of huge money. Mr Sran after taking the
legal opinion ordered the registration of case by the
city police station. |
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Kartarpur land scam: main suspect
held JALANDHAR, Dec 6 — The police has claimed to have arrested Gurwinder Singh Samra, the main suspect in the Rs 2.5 crore Kartarpur land scam. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here today that the suspected was arrested yesterday evening on the charge of allegedly forging an affidavit and using it to attempt to mislead various courts, including the high court. An inquiry was conducted by the SP (Operations) following a complaint to Mr Varinder Dhiman, the original owner of the 14-kanal and 19-marla of prime land in Kartarpur, in which he said an amount of Rs 6.66 lakh which was shown in an affidavit was allegedly received by him as consideration for the sale of land. However, Mr Dhiman claimed that he had never signed such an affidavit. The inquiry also revealed that the affidavit alleged to have been signed by Mr Dhiman was in fact not signed by him and that it was forged by Gurwinder Singh Samra and others. During the preliminary inquiry, Mr Sohan Singh, reader of Naib Tehsildar, Kartarpur, revealed that the register where such affidavits were sent was taken away by the then Naib Tehsildar and returned to him after a night. He also said Mr Dhiman did not appear before the Naib Tehsildar. A report of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh, had also been obtained regarding the veracity of the signatures of Mr Dhiman. It was proved that the signatures of Mr Dhiman were forged by way of tracing. Coupled with the fact that Mr Dhiman never appeared before the Naib Tehsildar to execute this affidavit was sufficient evidence indicating that the affidavit had been forged. The purpose of forging the affidavit was to prove that he had received money for executing the two sale deeds. The power of attorney
from Mr Dhiman was allegedly forged in favour of Mr Avtar
Singh, who executed the sale deeds in favour of Gurdeep
Singh, father of Gurwinder Samra. |
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5 held in multi-crore ticket scam GURDASPUR, Dec 6 (UNI) — An Assistant Depot Manager of a Punjab Roadways depot and four flying inspectors posted at Chandigarh, Amritsar, Nangal and Ferozepore have been arrested by the vigilance staff in the multi-crore ticket scam in which 28 officials of the roadways were allegedly involved. Official sources said here today that the income of the Punjab Roadways Pathankot depot, where the scam was detected on November 19 with the seizure of tickets of Rs 1 denomination but stamped with Rs 30 for Pathankot-Jammu journey, had increased by Rs 80,000 a day after the racket was busted. The depot earned Rs 4 per km before the scam but income had risen to Rs 16 per km after two buses, which started their journey from Pathankot, were impounded by the vigilance staff during raids at Madhopur and outside Pathankot bus stand on November 19, the sources said. It said that arrests of two general managers of two different depots of the roadways, an assistant director of the Punjab Transport Department and a general assistant to a Deputy Commissioner had been stayed by an Additional Sessions Judge till December 10, while applications for interim bail filed moved by another 10 officials had been listed for hearing on December 10. The sources said that a general manager and two conductors of the roadways, also wanted in the corruption case registered under Section 7-13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, were still absconding as their applications for interim bail had already been rejected. The vigilance was conducting regular inquiry against six other officials of the roadways,the sources added. However various
organisations of roadways employees were sceptical about
the outcome of the inquiry, saying most of the officials
against whom the case had been registered had not been
suspended so far. |
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Battle of Jassore recalled JALANDHAR, Dec 6 — The Pine Division celebrated the anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in Jessore in 1971 somewhere in the western sector today. Addressing soldiers of the Pine Division at a special sainik sammelan, the GOC, Maj-Gen A.J.B. Jaini, AVSM, urged then to draw inspiration from the rich history of the Pine Division. He paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the division and recalled the battle of Jessore. The operation was conducted by the division during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Maj-Gen Dalbir Singh, PVSM, the then GOC, Infantry Division, lead the glorious Pine soldiers battle. The Bangladeshis in Jessore and Khulna, who were being mercilessly tortured by the Pakistani military regime, welcomed the Pine Division’s advance across the Kambadak river. After a fierce battle, the division unfurled the Tricolour at Jessore on December 6, 1971. The GOC presenting his
banner to 11 Guards for being the best all-round
battalion of the division. He also awarded commendation
cards for exemplary service during the past year to
selected JCOs and other ranks. |
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Relief for cyclone-hit ABOHAR: Students of DAV College knocked at every door to collect clothes and other material for thousands of super cyclone affected persons in Orissa. Some of them toured their villages to collect aid for the marooned families. Students told this correspondent that the poor and the middle class families were more sympathetic to the victims than those living in posh bungalows. "Sir, we had to wait for half an hour at the large gate of a bungalow only to be surprised with a five rupee currency note being handed down to us by a servant", said a post- graduate student. The students were sorting clothes, packing them in polythene bags and marking those ‘children’, ‘women’ and ‘men’,when this correspondent met them. The girl post-graduate students spent hours arranging the clothes though their university qualifying tests were round the corner. An NSS programme officer of the college said students who depended upon servants even for a glass of water did all sorts of activities. They collected two truck loads of the material, including new blankets, for the cyclone-hit. The students were concerned over the reports appearing in the newspapers that hundreds of packages were lying at Bhubaneshwar railway station. Mr Banwari Singh
Chaudhry, Convener of the organising committee of a dozen
organisations here, said Rs 1.25 lakh cash, two truck
loads of grains and other material was collected in two
days. Though the cotton crop has been failed in the area
for the past three years, people were liberal with
contributions. |
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Cop jailed for taking bribe
from cop MANSA, Dec 6 — In an interesting case, Mr S.S. Gupta, Special Judge, Mansa, has sentenced constable Nachhatar Singh to three years’ jail and imposed a fine of Rs 2000 on him for taking a bribe of Rs 5000 from Sub-Inspector Rupinder Singh in lieu of a favour. Nachhatar Singh was booked under the prevention of Corruption Act on November 9, 1995, here and was awarded the punishment on November 30, 1999. Mr Sat Pal Singh Sidhu, SP (Vigilance), said that there were complaints pending against Rupinder Singh in the Internal Vigilance Office of the Punjab Police at Chandigarh, where Nachhatar Singh was posted as reader of the DSP. Nachhatar Singh came to the house of Rupinder Singh at Mansa and demanded Rs 5000 from him for filing his complaints. But he was caught by a team of the vigilance bureau and a case was registered against them. In another case, Mr Gupta has awarded four years’ imprisonment and imposed Rs 1000 as fine on Niranjan Dass, District Social Security Officer, Mansa, for accepting a bribe of Rs 500 from Mr Sukhdev Singh for granting widow pension to his sister-in-law, Mrs Jaspal Kaur. Niranjan Dass was caught by a team of the Vigilance Bureau on March 14, 1997, and a case was registered against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Mr Gupta has also awarded imprisonment of four years and imposed Rs 1000 as fine on Gurdip Singh, Patwari, Chanduke area in this district, for accepting a bribe of Rs 200 from Gurmail Singh. The punishment was
awarded on December 1, 1999. |
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Youth Cong dharna against
Badal govt FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 6 — Instead of fulfilling the promises made to people during the elections Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is imposing new taxes in the state. This was stated by Mr Devinder Singh Babbu, President, Punjab Youth congress (PYC), while addressing dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today. He said the state had become bankrupt due to the wrong policies of the government. Employees were not being paid salaries. It is for the first time in the history of the state that courts are sealing the operation of Treasuries. He said revenue was not earned only by imposing taxes, but collected by planning. He demanded that economic emergency should be imposed in the state. Mr Babbu said the PYC had decided to organise dharna in every district headquarter against the failure of government in controlling price rise. He urged the youth to participate in these dharna. Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa, former minister, alleged that he Badal government had crossed all records of corruption. It had failed on every front and all services were being "auctioned". He demanded the immediate withdrawal of new taxes imposed recently. Dr Sikander Singh president of the district Congress Committee demanded a CBI inquiry into the Burning of the Dera of Sant Baba at Dhakki Sahib. Later, they submitted a
memorandum to the Deputy commissioner. |
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Mann’s mother cremated FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 6 — The mortal remains of Mata Gurbachan Kaur, mother of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP and wife of former Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker, were consigned to the flames at her native village Talania 2 km from here today. Mr Mann lit the pyre. A large number of people attended the funeral. Earlier, Mr Surjan Singh Thekedar, on behalf of the SHSAD, Dr Harbans Lal, Mr Sadhu Singh, former ministers, Dr Sikandar Singh, Mr Hari Krishan as Congress representative, Justice Ajit Singh Bains, Human Rights Activist, Mr Kirpal Singh Chauhan, PA to SGPC President on behalf of the SGPC Prof Sukhjinder Singh, Mr Kanwar Pal Singh Dhami, Mr Iqbal Singh Tiwana on behalf of SAD (A), Mr Tejinder Singh Salana, President District Bar Association, Mr Pishora Singh, President, BKU, and Mr Charnjit Singh Walia, SSP and representative of District. Administration laid wreaths on the body. Meanwhile, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister and Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan Public Relations Minister, have expressed grief over her death. AMRITSAR: The President
of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, on Monday expressed grief
over the passing away of Gurbachan Kaur, mother of Mr
Simranjit Singh Mann. She offered prayer for the peace of
the departed soul and offered condolences to the
aggrieved family. |
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Chautala rules out snap poll PANJKOSI (Abohar), Dec, 6 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has ruled out the possibility of midterm Assembly election in Haryana. He described the talks floated by leaders like Mr Satnarain Lathar as totally baseless and unfounded. Mr Chautala was here to mourn the death of Mrs Rameshweri Devi wife of Mr Bal Ram Jakhar former Lok Sabha Speaker. As Mr Jakhar, so far returned home from his foreign tour, Mr Chautala expressed sympathies with his sons Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar former Minister, Mr Surender Kumar Jakhar Chairman IFFCO and Mr Sunil Jakhar, delegate AICC and other relatives, Mr Rameshwer Doodi MP from Bikaner was also present. The Chief Minister spent some time at his in-laws’ residence. He was reportedly briefed about the developments in the area on which Haryana had reiterated claim if the Longowal-Rajiv pact was implemented. Mr Chautala was received by senior Jat leader and his relative Mr Aad Lal Jakhar, Mr Bhim Sain Jat, Mr S.P. Khariwal, Chairman Consumer Movement and Mr Vijay Golchha President Abohar Vikas Party on his arrival. He was reportedly given detailed report about the alleged abduction of the only daughter of an influential Jat farmer of village Ramgarh by the son of an SGPC member. The farmer had died of cardiac arrest leaving behind more than 200 acres prime land. The inquiry in this case was expected to be resumed after the rasam kirya of the deceased tomorrow by the DIG Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon. The farmer’s daughter had reportedly expressed her desire to live with the SGPC member’s son as his wife but the Jat community was sore over the incident terming it a conspiracy to grab the land. It was argued that the girl while submitting her admission form at the Chandigarh-collage had stated she was unmarried. Sources said Mr Chautala was likely to take up the matter with the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal soon. Mr Chautala in his brief interaction with some reporters at the helipad at Lalgarh said this was completely a social visit. His father Mr Devi Lal accompanied him on return flight. The former Deputy Prime Minister visited his relatives at Lalgarh. They were told that Punjab had reduced canal water supply in SDS distributary of the Bhakra canal. This affected irrigation in Rajasthan areas. Mr Gurjant Singh sarpanch submitted a memorandum to Mr Chautala urging him to use his good office to persuade Mr Badal to increase the canal water supply. The farmers had not been able to irrigate fields from 24 water outlets for the past two months. The authorities in Sriganganagar and Hunmangarh districts had not paid any attention to their problems, farmers said. Mr Chautala was requested by the people to order restoration of Srigangangar-Kaithal roadways bus service which had been suspended early this year. The Chief Minister assured that interests of the farmers who had settled in Rajasthan areas bordering Haryana would be looked after well. Meanwhile Mr Bal Ram
Jakhar arrived at village Panjkosi this evening. |
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Feasibility studies for 5 road
projects CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The Punjab PWD and the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), the nodal agency for facilitating private investments in infrastructure, today jointly signed agreements with technical consultants for carrying out feasibility studies for five road projects. These are to be taken up for development through private participation and include four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana, the Ludhiana-Moga and the Ropar-Nawanshahr-Phagwara highways, widening and strengthening of the Southern Ludhiana Bypass and construction of a high-level bridge over the River Sutlej between Machhiwara and Rahon. The technical consultants are to submit their final reports for these projects within a period of five months. The private sector would be invited to participate in the project on built-operate-transfer basis, according to a press note. The PIDB is involved in
the development of infrastructure through private sector.
It has created a corpus of Rs 20 crore, namely, the
Punjab Infrastructure Initiative Fund (PIIF), for the
purpose of carrying out feasibility studies of
infrastructure projects for roads and bridges, urban
infrastructure, transportation and tourism sectors. PIDB
is also assisting the Punjab State Industrial Development
Corporation to carry out a feasibility study on setting
up a new international airport in Punjab. |
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Rally by Punjab federation CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — A protest rally was held today at the Punjab Mini Secretariat, where Mr Shyam Lal Sharma, President, Punjab State General Categories Welfare Federation, condemned the statement of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, at the inaugural session of Parliament. He criticised the Prime
Minister for playing "casteist politics". The
federation warned that any attempt to undo the decisions
of the Supreme Court in the Ajit Singh Janjua’s case
and admission to medical and engineering institutions on
the basis of the merit only will be fraught with serious
consequences. Mr Sharma requested the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court to intervene immediately, according to
a press note of the federation. |
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Fast by PSIEC employees CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — On the call of the Punjab State Cooperative Board Corporation Employees Mahasangh, five leaders of the PSIEC Staff Association sat on hunger strike today under the leadership of Mr K. Sivadasan. The main demands of the employees include reopening of the auto workshop of PESCO, withdrawal of the false police cases registered against the trade union leaders, re-instatement of 40 workers and inquiry into the irregularities in Pesco as reported in the press from time to time. The retrenched workers
of Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation are agitating for the
past five months. The Punjab government instead of
accepting the genuine demands is protecting the
Chairman-cum-MD of the corporation, says a press note. A
meeting of unions/associations of UT and Punjab
affiliated to the Mulazam Action Committee has been
called here on December 9. |
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Government to protect
urbanities’ interests BATHINDA, Dec 6 — The Punjab Food Minister, Mr Chiranjilal Garg said today the Punjab Government will continue to safeguard the interests of urban people. Talking to TNS here, he said that the decision of Punjab government not to privatise the octroi posts and abolish house tax and certain stringent provisions of the sales tax act showed that the SAD-BJP combine Government was committed to its promises made to the public on the eve of general assembly elections. He pointed out that the massive turnout at the function organised here in connection with the unveiling ceremony of Maharaja Aggarsain’s statue by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, yesterday was a conclusive proof of the fact that Mr Badal was a undisputed leader of urban masses. He claimed though the Congress party had won more Lok Sabha seats in Punjab than the Akali Dal, the people were fed up with the anti-national policies of the Congress and believed in the philosophy of the Akali Dal. The minister said that anti-corruption campaign launched by Mr Badal was producing desirable results. The Punjab Government would deal strictly with any corrupt official. He added that the people should come forward to make formal complaints against corrupt officials. He pointed out that in the past two and half years, this district had made a considerable progress under Mr Badal’s rule. An oil refinery at the cost of Rs 16,000 crore, one cement plant at the cost of Rs 300 crore and one insecticide unit at the cost of Rs 100 crore were being set up here besides a B.Ed college. He appealed to the
people to keep a vigil on the civil works being carried
out in the state so that contractors in connivance with
the officials concerned could not swindle. |
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Govt College, Mohali, wins
overall trophy ANANDPUR SAHIB, Dec 6 — Government College, SAS Nagar, clinched the overall trophy at the three-day Punjabi University Zonal Youth Festival, Ropar zone, which concluded at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College here last evening. Government College for Girls, Mandi Gobindgarh, was runners up, while Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, finished third. The overall dance trophy was won by Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib. Gidha trophy went to Baba Zoravar Singh Fateh Singh Girls College, Morinda, while bhangra trophy was won by Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib. Trophies in vaar singing, shabad recitation and group song were clinched by Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib; PMN College, Rajpura, and Gobindgarh Public College, Mandi Gobindgarh, respectively. One-act play trophy went to Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Juhjhar Singh Memorial College, Bela (Ropar). Mr Gurinder Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, gave away the prizes at the concluding function. He announced a grant of Rs 1.25 lakh for the construction of a hall at the local Khalsa College. He also favoured reservation in government jobs for the winners of youth festivals on the pattern of reservation for sportspersons. The following were the detailed results of the three-day competitions held at the festival: Gidha: Baba Zoravar Singh Fateh Singh Girls College, Morinda, first; Sri Guru Teg Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, Mata Gujri College (MGC), Fatehgarh Sahib, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College for Women, Patiala, all second. Bhangra: MGC, Fatehgarh Sahib, first; Government College (GC), SAS Nagar, and SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, both second. One-act play: Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial College, Bela (Ropar) first; GC, SAS Nagar and SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, both second. Classical dance: Government College (GC) for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh first. Classical instrumental percussion: Government College (GC), Ropar, first. Classical instrumental non-percussion: GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Folk instrument: GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Orchestra: GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Group shabad: PMN College, Rajpura, first. Geet gazal: GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Folk song: GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Vaar singing: SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, first. Group song: Gobindgarh Public College (GPC), Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Debate: Amandeep, SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, and Kulwant Kaur, Government College (GC), Dera Bassi, first. Poetical recitation: MGC, Fatehgarh Sahib, and GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, first. Elocution: MGC, Fatehgarh Sahib, and GC, SAS Nagar, first. Histrionics: Ramanjit Kaur, PMN College, Rajpura, first. Costume parade: Ajay Kumar, SGTB Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib, and Jaswinder Singh, GC, SAS Nagar, first. Group mime: Baba Joravar Singh Fateh Singh Girls College, Morinda, first. Group skit: GC, SAS Nagar, first. On the spot painting: Gagandeep, GC for Women, Mandi Gobindgarh, and Meenakshi, GC, SAS Nagar, first. Collage making: Uma Rani and Harvarinder Singh, GC, SAS Nagar, first. Poster making: Kanwalpreet Singh, MGC, Fatehgarh Sahib, first. Clay modelling: Gurbakhsh Singh and Parvinder Singh, GC, Dera Bassi, first. Cartooning: Gurbakhsh Singh, GC, Dera Bassi, and Sukhwinder Singh, GC, SAS Nagar, first. Rangoli: Navneet Saini, GC, Ropar, and Jaspreet Kaur, GC, SAS Nagar, first. Classical vocal: MGC,
Fatehgarh Sahib, first. |
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Cong decries Badal’s
remark on traders BATHINDA, Dec 6 — Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, General Secretary of the DCC, today condemned the statement of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in which he dubbed traders as "looters" of farmers. In a press note issued here today, he said that Mr Badal was making such "baseless" allegations against traders as he was frustrated over the defeat of his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. He said that Mr Badal while addressing a function organised by the Aggarwal Sabha here yesterday alleged that commission agents looted the farmers in connivance with the inspectors of procurement agencies and were not paying sales tax. The statement of Mr Badal was not true as all traders were not dishonest in their dealings, he claimed. Mr Aggarwal said that if Mr Badal was trying to make Punjab a corruption-free state then why was he not pressing his associates in the government to declare their assets. Mr Badal should also
disclose to the people the names of transporters who were
plying their buses illegally without valid route permits,
causing a loss of lakhs to the exchequer daily. |
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DIG begins probe into graft
case KAPURTHALA, Dec 6 — Mr N.K. Sharma, DIG (Vigilance), Punjab and Chandigarh, today began the inquiry into the registration of corruption case and arrest of Mr S.D. Sharma, Chairman, Kapurthala-Ferozepore Kshetriya Gramin Bank, Kapurthala. Mr Sharma visited the place in the bank premises where a vigilance team headed by DSP Gurmit Singh had arrested Mr Sharma allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from Lakhbir Singh of Tongawala village for clearing his case for the purchase of a truck. The DIG met the bank staff and recorded their statements. The Chairman’s statement was also recorded. Mr Madan Lal Sharma, General Secretary, Kapurthala Bank Employees Association Mr R.K. Kaushal, Zonal Secretary, Punjab National Bank Officers Association, and Mr Rakesh Sharma, Chairman, Kapurthala Bank Employees Union, also met the DIG at the rest house. They apprise him of the implication of Mr Sharma in the case. Talking to newsman the
DIG said he would submit his report within three days. |
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BBK DAV College gets overall
trophy AMRITSAR, Dec 6 — Institutions of higher learning, besides imparting basic education, should also help students to build their moral character. This was stated by Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), Governor of Punjab, while presiding over the valedictory function of the Guru Nanak Dev University final youth festival (men and women) which concluded here today at Dasmesh Auditorium of the university. The Governor said India had a bright future and its future was safe in the hands of the youth. He advised them that while building their own career, they should also contribute their bit to make the country more strong. Meanwhile, the local BBK DAV College won the overall championship and three trophies for excelling in fine arts, literary and dance events. Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar, and DAV College, Jalandhar, were declared joint runners-up while DAV College, Amritsar, bagged the third position. Lieut-General Jacob,
also Chancellor of the university, gave away the trophies
to the winners. |
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Murder over a scuffle LUDHIANA, Dec 6 — A murder took place over a minor scuffle during a marriage ceremony here past midnight. According to an FIR registered with the police under Section 302 of the IPC, Mr Harbhajan Singh has alleged that his relative. Pritpal Singh was shot by a son -in-law of a manager with one of the most well reputed hosieries in the city at around 12:30 am at Usha Marriage Palace. The suspect shot at Pritpal Singh after a minor scuffle. Pritpal had gone to the marriage palace to deliver some goods. Pritpal, a driver was then rushed to the Christian Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries this morning. However, the police has not made any arrest in this case so far. Relatives of the
deceased today staged a dharna at the Jagraon bridge and
blocked traffic for almost half an hour. The SP city, Mr
S S Sandhu, and the SP (D), Mr Utpal Joshi, reached the
spot and promised the protesters that necessary action
would be taken to bring the culprits to book. |
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Acute shortage of coins MOGA, Dec 6 — Acute shortage of coins of the denominations of five paise to one rupee in this town has caused great difficulty to the shopkeepers and customers. None of these coins was available in the market. Even almost all the nationalised and private banks have no stock of these coins. On the other hand there was also an acute shortage of currency notes of small denominations. Currency notes which were available in the markets and also with the local banks were soiled. People generally refused to accept them. Situation here is such that currency notes of small denominations available with the banks were being issued on the black market. According to reports one
wad of currency notes carrying 100 one-rupee notes sells
in the market for Rs 125 while that of two rupee notes
sells for Rs 130. There was no check on it in view of
heavy demands by the shopkeepers and also marriage
parties. People here have urged the Union Government to
make proper arrangement of the supply of these currency
notes to avoid difficulty to people. |
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Pro V-C to look into ashram
attack PATIALA, Dec 6 — Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia today deputed Pro Vice-Chancellor R.M. Goyal to look into the facts behind a violent incident which took place at Rishi Ashram, in which some students of the university were reported to be involved. A press note said the
Vice-Chancellor had asked Dr Goyal to submit his report
at the earliest so that disciplinary action could be
taken against the erring students. |
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Dry spell hits sowing of
wheat HOSHIARPUR, Dec 6 — On account of the continuous dry spell since September, the sowing of wheat in 13 per cent of the proposed area of this district has still not taken place. Out of the total 2.2 lakh hectares cultivated area here, the sowing of wheat in 1.4 lakh hectares had been proposed by the Agriculture Department for this season. Irrigation in 15,000 hectares is being done through canals and in 97,000 hectares through tubewells. As many as 5,000 hectares in the Bet area of Garhshankar sub-division, 5,000 hectares in Hoshiarpur, 6,000 hectares in Dasuya and 12,000 hectares in Mukerian sub-divisions are totally dependent on rains. Mr Gurdial Singh Chief Agriculture Officer, Hoshiarpur, said here today that though sowing in about 10,000 hectares in the Bet and Kandi areas had been done but if the dry spell continued, the total crop would be damaged. Besides affecting the total yield of the crop in the district, the dry spell would also hit the socio-economic conditions of the people. He said the dry spell had also decreased the use of fertilisers to about 1,000 tonnes in the district. Similarly out of 2,600 quintals of 343 variety of wheat seeds received by the department, only 2,000 quintals had been utilised so far. He said rain before
January 13 could make the possibility of sowing wheat
late which would save small farmers. |
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Former MP’s plea to DGP on
crime BARNALA, Dec 6 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Dadhahoor, member of the All-India Congress Committee and former MP has urged DGP Sarbjit Singh to take steps to curb the increasing crime graph of this region and improve the deteriorating law and order situation. Expressing concern,
while talking to newspersons yesterday; over the
increasing crime rate, he condemned an attempt on the
life of Mukhtiar Singh, owner of a restaurant on December
3 and that of Suresh Dadu, a trader on November 23. |
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