Thursday, February 4, 1999
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Thursday, February 4, 1999 |
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NHRC probe
'not as per SC order' PSEB
launches survey of tubewells Punjab
Cabinet takes up issue today |
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 Bhai Ranjit to oppose ouster bid AMRITSAR, Feb 3 — Even as the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission has advanced the executive meeting of the SGPC from February 15 to 10 (one day before the meeting of Sikh clergy when Prof Manjit Singh and Mr Barjindar Singh Hamdard have been summoned on February 11), setting in motion action to be taken against Akal Takht chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh has categorically said that he would strongly oppose any bid for his removal. |
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Going
strong at 104 Gurdwara
closed to Capt Kanwaljit? School
staff strike on Feb 5 ‘Non-military
sectors in security policy needed’ New
transfer policy for PCS officers soon 18
staff members found absent Computers
for school Congress
seeks action against Jathedar State
government to oppose tax on agriculture SDM
to probe beating up of two women |
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NHRC
probe 'not as per SC order' CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Committee for Coordination of Disappearances in Punjab (CCDP) has raised serious objections the way the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has dealt with the case of large-scale disappearances and cremations during the worst period of violence in Punjab. The CCDP convener, Mr R.N. Kumar, in a lengthy statement said today that the NHRC had limited the scope of its enquiry and had thus gone against the spirit of the Supreme Court judgement in this connection. The case of several thousands of young people having been cremated by the police as unidentified was first researched by human rights activist Kuldip Singh Khalra and later taken up by the CCDP to the Supreme Court. Mr Kumar said in December, 1996, the Supreme Court appointed the NHRC to determine and adjudicate all issues arising from the disclosure of enforced disappearances and illegal disposal of human bodies carried out by the state agencies in Punjab. The order followed the report of an inquiry by the CBI, decreed by the court in November, 1995, which substantiated the allegations made in two writ petitions. "The court disclosed the number of 2097 illegal cremations — 585 fully identified, 274 partially identified, and 1238 unidentified — presumably obtained from investigations into cremation records of the three crematoria in the district of Amritsar", Mr Kumar said. The Supreme Court observed that "the report discloses flagrant violation of human rights on a mass scale." Instructing the CBI to investigate criminal culpability and to submit a quarterly status report on its progress, the court's December 11, 1996, order said: "We request the commission through its Chairman to have the matter examined in accordance with the law and determine all the issues which are raised before the commission by the learned counsel for the parties. Since the matter is going to be examined by the commission at the request of this court, any compensation awarded shall be binding and payable". The NHRC passed an order on January 13 to deconstruct our perceptions on the scope of the inquiry, which had resulted from the commission's earlier decision on the preliminary issues and the Supreme Court's September 10, 98 clarification. The latest order of the commission says that its jurisdiction is "confined to matters relating to the alleged unlawful cremation of the 2097 bodies in the district of Amritsar". The order predicates three categories that would restrict the proposed inquiry: "Cremations", "the given number of 2097 bodies" and the "location of Amritsar" district." "We shall never know when the "interpretation" of a legal remit expresses the meaning of the original judgement and when it becomes a variation on the theme within the interstices of its scores. Be that as it may, this order of the NHRC is an abomination to our understanding of truth and restorative justice," Mr Kumar added. He wanted total cases to be investigated and threatened to go to the Supreme Court. The CCDP's understanding of the mandate is: "It has to investigate and give its findings on every complaint of illegal abduction, enforced disappearance, arbitrary executive and disposal of dead bodies carried out throughout Punjab. It has to examine the antecedents, circumstances, factors and context of such violations to determine the variety of overlapping rights inherent in the rights to life, liberty, and equality before the law which have been destroyed." "The process of
identification has also to include, apart from the family
and dependants of those disappeared and killed, such
other persons who suffered harm in the process of
attempting to prevent these offences and in helping their
victims. The commission has then to quantify compensation
and develop other measures of restitution and
rehabilitation on criteria to be evolved through
determination of the aforementioned issues." Mr
Kumar said. |
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PSEB
launches survey of tubewells PATIALA, Feb 3 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) yesterday launched a survey of tubewell connections in the state to check the misuse of agricultural pumping sets. The survey is being carried out after the enforcement directorate of the PSEB detected two cases of misuse of pumping sets meant for agriculture use by private colonisers. Mr Suresh Gupta, Chief Engineer, Enforcement, said the defaulters would be fined Rs 1 lakh each by the PSEB. Explaining the modus operandi, Mr Gupta said in these two cases the subscribers had installed tubewells for agricultural purposes but were supplying water and sewerage facility to a cluster of houses near the tubewells and had charged money from the house owners. As these were the first cases of misuse of free electricity provided by the board for agricultural purposes, the enforcement directorate has decided to check at least 1000 tubewell connections in the state to verify their use according to the norms. The survey would be completed by February 7 and report submitted to the PSEB management. Meanwhile, a press note of the PSEB stated here yesterday that out of 31,330 connections checked during the first nine months of the current financial year, irregularities had been detected in 11,029 cases. Of there 2,853 cases relate to theft of energy by direct tapping of distribution network or tampering with power meters, 3,253 cases are of slow or defective meters, 2,237 cases of using excess load than sanctioned and the balance 2686 cases are of miscellaneous infringements such as violation of peak load hours, incorrect application of tariff, etc. The revenue leakage detected on account of 11,029 detections exceeded Rs 29 crore. According to the press note, the PSEB had started installation of "theft proof" solid state electronic meters in medium and small supply industrial connections as well as the general household connections. The process would be completed in two months. According to the
statement, the maximum cases of theft and wrong metering
have been detected in Ludhiana zone of the board. |
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Punjab
Cabinet takes up issue today CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Punjab Cabinet will take up tomorrow the issue of introduction of a pension-cum-gratuity scheme for the teaching and non-teaching staff in non-government aided colleges, which are entitled to 95 per cent grant-in-aid. The scheme, informed sources told TNS today, would be effective from January 1, 1996, and applicable after the age of 58 years though the retirement age in private colleges is 60. The benefits likely to accrue will include pension, death-cum-retirement gratuity, family pension, invalid pension, compensation, compassion allowance etc. It will be applicable for posts in existence and filled till January 1, 1996. The scheme was accepted way back in January, 1991, when the private managements had moved the government for a pension scheme. This was, however, rejected by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union on the plea that the managements which could not give proper pay scales and salaries could not be expected to pay pension from its funds. The union insisted the government should pay the pension from the treasury. In February, 1996, the non-teaching staff was also included in the scheme. Once the Cabinet clears the scheme, it will replace the existing contributory provident fund scheme. Though the Congress had adopted this pension scheme in its election manifesto, it was only in January, 1995, that the then Finance Minister formally acknowledged "acceptance" of the scheme in a communication to the then PCCTU president, Mr Charanjit Chawla. The DPI (Colleges) later sent a detailed scheme to the colleges in March, 1995. The Cabinet formally approved it in January, 1996, and the DPI once again informed the colleges. There are 139-odd colleges which will benefit from the scheme which is optional. The present SAD-BJP Government was given "due time" to settle in 1997. Having waited for one year, the teachers went on strike in February-March, 1998, and courted arrest. Thereafter, in March the government accepted the demand. But no notification was issued. In the intervening period since the move was first mooted, nearly 800 persons have retired and several of them have even died without getting the benefit which should have accrued to them. The SAD-BJP Government, however, continues to drag its feet on implementation of the December 24 notification of the Human Resource Development Ministry in respect of grant of "revised" pay scales to university and college teachers. Though the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh (retd), had announced on January 27 that the same would be implemented facts spoke otherwise. The Finance Department concurs with the Administrative Department on implementation of the UGC pay scales notified by the HRD but has included four "stipulations". One, revised pay scales, along with DA to be paid in cash w.e.f. January 1, 1999, pay while the arrears are to be paid in instalments in the next financial year. Two, pay in the revised scales will be fixed, w.e.f. January 1, 1996, by giving one increment for every three increments earned in the previous unrevised scale. Three, norms for grant of advance increment in the revised scale, corresponding to the unrevised pay scale of Rs 3700-5700, will be "settled" by an "implementation committee" comprising the Chief Secretary, the Finance Secretary and the Education Secretary. It will also "examine" issues like HRA, travelling allowance, medical reimbursement etc. Four the issue of pay scales to teachers in the private colleges in the state getting 95 per cent grant-in-aid will be dealt with separately. Since the January pay has been released as per unrevised scales, it calls for no comments. With regard to the other stipulations, since 80 per cent of the money for meeting financial requirements is to come from the Department of Education, HRD Ministry, the state has decided to prepare a case for seeking assistance and pursue it vigorously. Besides, the proposed pay scales item will go to the Council of Ministers for approval. This will cause further delay. Another committee has been
reportedly set up to examine other demands of the
teachers under the Chief Minister which is yet to meet. |
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Bhai
Ranjit to oppose ouster bid AMRITSAR, Feb 3 — Even as the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission has advanced the executive meeting of the SGPC from February 15 to 10 (one day before the meeting of Sikh clergy when Prof Manjit Singh and Mr Barjindar Singh Hamdard have been summoned on February 11), setting in motion action to be taken against Akal Takht chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh has categorically said that he would strongly oppose any bid for his removal. Talking to TNS here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that the SGPC members could remove him after taking all Sikh institutions, Sikh bodies and Sant Samaj into confidence. The heads of all Sikh institutions were invariably taken into confidence before the installation of the Akal Takht Jathedar. "Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, himself would be held responsible for the consequences if any attempt is made to remove me as Jathedar without adopting the set procedure or Sikh conventions", he said. It is pertinent to mention here that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra had convened a meeting of executive on February 15 while the Sikh clergy had summoned Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Kesgarh Sahib, and Mr Barjindar Singh, Managing Editor of Ajit on February 11. To pre-empt any move of Bhai Ranjit Singh, the Badal camp had been making attempts to get the February 15 meeting advanced to before February 11. Thus, the judicial panel order had come as a booster for the Badal camp. Bhai Ranjit Singh said the Jathedar of Akal Takht could be removed on three points: one, if he becomes handicapped. Two, if he commits some blunder which could endanger the Panth and three, if he takes anti-Panthic decisions. He said for removal of Takht chief, heads of all Sikh institutions have to be taken into confidence. Bhai Ranjit Singh said the call for "Sikh agenda" given from Akal Takht yesterday should not be misconstrued as a demand for a separate Sikh state or "Khalistan". He said that the resolution, passed by Sikh institutions at Akal Takht had directed the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal to make "qaumi agenda" (Sikh agenda) as part of the tercentenary celebrations of the foundation of Khalsa Panth. Elaborating on the agenda, Bhai Ranjit Singh said it was the policy programme of SAD on which 'morcha' (agitation) was launched from Akal Takht in 1982. He said the "Sikh agenda" included demand for transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas into Punjab, fair adjudication of inter-state river waters, scrapping of Article 25 of the Constitution and demand for a Sikh personal law. He, however, said that Sikhs could not be equated with Hindus as mentioned in Article 25. Mr Badal, Chief Minister, himself had burnt copies of Clause 25 of the Constitution during the "dharm yudh morcha". Why had he forgotten all these demands after coming into power, he questioned. Bhai Ranjit Singh said
that he would not attend the birth anniversary of Sant
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, proposed to be organised on
March 12 at Fatehgarh Sahib by SAD (Mann). He said the
"gurpurbs" (birth anniversaries) of Gurus
celebrated by the Sikhs and the "shahadats"
(death anniversary) of warriors could be observed. |
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Cop
suspended for marrying twice AMRITSAR, Feb 3 — The IGP, Mr J.P. Virdi, today suspended Head Constable Raj Mohinder Singh for fraudulently divorcing his wife and marrying another woman. The BJP MLA, Mrs Luxmi Kanta Chawla and members of her Shakti organisation while addressing newsmen here today said that the wife of the Head Constable, Mrs Narinderjit Kaur, who was also present, feigned ignorance that her husband had got an exparte divorce on November 21 from the District and Sessions Court. Mrs Narinderjit Kaur said that they had got married about nine years ago and had three children. During the period of marriage, Raj Mohinder Singh had been pressing for more dowry and used to occasionally beat her up. She alleged that about a year-and-a-half ago, he got her sign some blank papers, including an affidavit, under the ruse that he was trying to get some loan. At that time she did not suspect that he would use the papers to file a divorce petition in 1997. With tears in her eyes, Mrs Narinderjit Kaur added that on the night of January 25, 1999, her husband, at present living at police quarters in Sadar police station received a call for his girlfriend, Priya, who asked him to throwout his wife so that they could live together. Thereafter, Raj Mohinder brutally beat her up and threw her out late in the night, telling her that he planned to marry Priya. She was aghast to learnt about the divorce. Later, when she approached Shakti, headed by Mrs Chawla, she managed to get copies of the divorce orders from the court. Mrs Chawla along with
residents of the mohalla approached the District and
Sessions Judge who assured them he would recall the file
and look into the complaint of the ex-parte judgement. |
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Going
strong at 104 JAKHAR MAJRA (Kharar), Feb 3 — Lance Naik Thakar Singh retired from the Army in April 1939, and at 104 years is still going strong. A man of cheerful disposition, he is hard of hearing, simple tastes and clean living. He, however, has an immense liking for "Panjiri", which he has to have everyday. The only occasion that he complains about not being looked after is when he does not have his quota of the rural delicacy, reveals Mrs Gurdev Kaur, his daughter-in-law while getting him checked at the medical camp organised by the Rotary Shivalik at the village today. He was declared "remarkably fit for a person of his age" by doctors. He is reportedly one of the oldest soldiers alive in the area and is a much respected figure in his village. He was sent home from Lahore cantonment in 1939 after seeing action in many theatres during World War I, says Colonel Harsharan Singh (retd), who went through the pension records of Mr Singh which were brought to him by Mr Karamjit Singh, the latter's son, for knowing about the enhanced pension that the old man would get. Thakar Singh was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment, although no date of joining has been given in the pension book. As he was very fit and young at the time of retirement, he joined the police and saw action in the North-West Frontier Province and other areas. He retired as Honorary Havildar. During this period he got married and raised three sons and three daughters, all of whom are well settled in life. He lives with Mr Karamjit Singh, his eldest son. Mrs Gurdev Kaur, who spares no effort in looking after her father-in-law says that the only time she saw the old man weeping was when one of his grandsons was killed in an accident in Mumbai. Otherwise he has taken life as it comes and makes the minimum demands on the family, but for a routine visit to a doctor every three months. The camp was a huge success with villagers. All necessary arrangements for the doctors and the people who attended the camp had been made in the spacious gurdwara. The villagers pitched in whole heartedly and served tea to all besides helping the doctors in their chores. The elderly were helped across to various check-up counters by members of the village youth club. A unique feature of today's camp was that it was the outcome of the efforts of ex- servicemen and besides ex-servicemen of the villagers of nearby villages were medically examined and given medicines free of cost. The medical team was led by Brig (Dr) M.L. Kataria. A mobile laboratory to take blood samples for determining blood sugar, ECG, besides carrying out other tests had also been set up. Col P.S. Vohra, president of the club, said as many as 300 persons were examined till 3 p.m. Those present on the occasion included Major-Gen M.P.S. Mann and Lieut-Col B.S. Sekhon. The organisers said this
camp had been organised in honour of Thakar Singh and
more such camps would be held to pay their regards to
other centenarian soldiers in Punjab. |
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Gurdwara
closed to Capt Kanwaljit? FATEHGARH SAHIB, Feb 3 — Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister who had come to address a rural gathering of 50 village panchayats at Naulakha village yesterday found the village gurdwara and langar bhavan locked reportedly by SGPC employees to prevent him holding a meeting here. Capt Kanwaljit Singh criticised the act saying it was shameful to indulge in such acts during the tercentenary year of the Khalsa. He said those planning to create hurdles in the celebrations would not be allowed to succeed. The entire Sikh quam had launched the Nankana Sahib and Jaitu Morchas for the improvment in management of gurdwaras, but now the SGPC was adopting similar tactics. Thus while Mr Badal was making all-out efforts to celebrate the tercentenary of the Khalsa the Tohra group was placing hurdles in its way. He distributed cheques worth Rs 65 lakh to 50 village panchayats and appealed to the sangat to participate in the Akali conference to be held in Patiala on February 12th. The District has become a hub of political activity with the Badal camp leaving no store unturned in weakening Mr Tohra in his home district. Interestingly village
panchayats are cashing in on the feud between the Akali
groups. At Charnarthal where Mr Tohra announced a grant
of Rs one Lakh few days back, the Badal group invited
Capt Kanwaljit Singh on the birth anniversary of Saint
Ravidas and he announced at grant of Rs 3 lakh for the
village. Other panchayats are also Contemplating inviting
different faction leaders. |
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School
staff strike on Feb 5 CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The bonhomie between the Punjab Government and the Punjab State Aided School Teachers and other Employees Union, which represents 484 aided middle and secondary school and over 10,000 employees, is over. The union had openly supported the SAD-BJP alliance first in the last Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in January 1997 and later on in the last Lok Sabha elections and strongly opposed the Congress by organising rallies against Congress candidates. Feeling let down by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, as far as accepting of their demands was concerned members of the union have finally given a call for observing strike in all 484 schools on February 5 and to hold a state-level rally here to press the government for conceding its demands and to expose the alleged indifferent attitude of the government towards the schools. Mr M.L. Chopra, general secretary of the union, told TNS here today that the patience of the teachers and other staff of aided schools had been exhausted and they were prepared for a confrontation with the government. He said the Punjab Government had not implemented the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission in case of aided private schools staff whereas the recommendations had been implemented by the state government in case of other government and public sector undertakings and other employees since January last. Even pensionary benefits had not been extended to the pensioners of these schools as per the recommendations of the Pay Commission. Mr Chopra said he along with the President of the union, Mr Teja Singh, had served an ultimatum to the government to implement the recommendations by January 31, but nothing had been done in this connection. Other demands of the union included increasing the medical allowance from Rs 100 to Rs 250 and house rent as per the new grades. He said that these demands had been accepted by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, when a delegation of the union had met him on August 27, after having a meeting with the Chief Minister. Mr Chopra said on October 24, 1996, they were lathi-charged by the police while holding a rally in support of their demands at Mukerian in the constituency of the then Finance Minister, Dr Kewal Krishan. After that rally, the union had openly supported the SAD-BJP combine in the elections. The SAD had assured in its manifesto that it would treat teachers and staff of the aided schools on a par with the government schools' staff. He said Mr Badal had
assured the union in May last to implement the pay
commission recommendations within one month. But no steps
had been taken and they were left with no alternative
except to proceed on casual leave en masse on February 5
as a part of the strike call. |
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‘Non-military sectors in
security policy needed’ PATIALA, Feb 3 — The Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), today called for evolving a co-ordinated national programme of involving non-military sectors like Trade and Intellectual Property Rights in its new security policy. Delivering the inaugural address on "Globalisation and national security" at a seminar organised by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies in Punjabi University here, Lt-Gen Chhibber called for involving non-military sectors like environment, technology, human rights and nuclear and missile control regimes in the nation's security policy. Lt-Gen Chhibber said by doing so, the country would be able to fight any negative fallout of globalisation on the national security of developing countries. He said South Asian countries, which are currently reeling under economic sanctions besides being compelled to sign international regulatory stipulations by overlooking their national security constraints, would have to ward off all extraneous pressures from the developed world. The Governor said India and other nations of South Asia were not immune to the forces of globalisation and that they were under unprecedented pressure to play a more effective and instrumental role in procuring better prospects for their peoples. He said this would have to include the economic development of the countries and assured security to their sovereignty. He emphasised that in
areas of security, the introduction of new equipment had
totally altered the complexion of warfare, nuclear
biological and chemical weapons. Military use of high
speed aircraft, laser and guided missiles, smart bombs,
advancement in electronics and cyber warfare had
substantially tilted the balance in favour of the
technologically superior, he added. |
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New
transfer policy for PCS officers soon CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Punjab Government is drawing up a new transfer policy for its civil services officers Mr R.S. Mann, Chief Secretary, at a recent meeting of the PCS Officers Association said. The Chief Secretary suggested that meetings of association members should be held every quarter. He advised them to maintain a high standard of administration. Mr Jaswant Singh,
president of the PCS Officers Association, apprised the
Chief Secretary of the activities of the association. |
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18
staff members found absent CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Mrs Shyama Mann, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Punjab, paid a surprise visit to the office of the Additional Director, Consolidation, at Mohali and found 18 of the 24 employees absent. One of the two attendance registers was not available. The staff member in whose custody it was had been absent for several day. Irregularities were noticed in the register meant to record the cases that are forwarded. Mrs Mann issued
on-the-spot orders for strict disciplinary action against
the erring employees since the office had been
functioning without an Additional Director for some time,
she appointed a senior officer to supervise the office
work. She also decided to shift the office to a
government building in Mohali. |
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Computers
for school CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — A cultural programme by students of Century Public School, Naya Gaon, was organised to mark the annual and prize distribution function on the school campus, here today. Mr Amba Prasad, president of the Working Women's Rural Welfare Society, Kansal, gave Rs 21,000 to the school for the development of the library while the Forest Minister of Punjab, Mr Mohan Lal, promised to give whatever was demanded by the school. The programme began with the inauguration of the computer room of the school by the minister. Three computers and a printer have been installed to familiarise students with computers, which will be used by students of Class I to VIII. The function began with a welcome song after which students of pre-nursery presented nursery rhymes and participated in a fancy dress competition. Besides a 'ghazal', students gave a lively 'bhangra' performance. Girl students, dressed in yellow saris, welcomed Basant with traditional gaiety through dance. Over 150 students were given awards for excellence in academics, sports and co-curricular activities. Karate students who had won the seventh karate state championship were honoured. In the fancy dress show which saw 15 participants, Anita as a mad woman won the first prize and Kamaljit, dressed as half-man half-woman, was the second. The ex-Joint Secretary of
Punjab Assembly, Dr L.R. Parwana, presided. |
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Congress
seeks action against Jathedar PATIALA, Feb 3 — Punjab Pradesh Congress general secretary Birdevinder Singh and former national Youth Congress president Maninderjit Singh Bitta today demanded that the Prime Minister should make clear how the Centre viewed the situation in Punjab following the "inflammatory" remarks of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh yesterday. Addressing a press conference to give the party reaction to the remarks by Bhai Ranjit Singh that bloodshed should be averted on baisakhi as had happened in 1978, Mr Birdevinder Singh said this was a sinister design to disturb the hard won peace in the state. He said the Centre owed an explanation to why a handful of people were being allowed to hold the entire state to ransom. He said the Akal Takht Jathedar had no moral right to issue such a statement or give ultimatums to the Shiromani Akali Dal. He said the situation of 1983 when the Akal Takht was used to spread militancy was being repeated. He said the Congress had warned the country that the current factionalism in the Akali Dal would lead to terrorism and another Bhindranwale. Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta
demanded that the Punjab Government take action against
the Jathedar for making "inflammatory"
speeches. |
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Congress
plan protest at CM's visit JALANDHAR, Feb 3 — Congress workers will give a 'black flag' reception to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on his scheduled visit to Bholath on February 7. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khera, said the state government was busy planning to dislodge the SGPC president ignoring their responsibility to devote time and commitment to developmental work. Such a scenario had been created, that not a single road was pliable and the local minister Ms Jagir Kaur had failed to do any constructive work in Bholath segment. He accused the SAD-BJP
ministry of indulging in the "farce" of
"ribbon cutting" while failing to provide any
concrete infrastructure. He also warned the Chief
Minister to stop the 'vilification campaign' launched
against Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
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State government to oppose tax
on agriculture FATEHGARH SAHIB, Feb 3 — The Punjab Government will oppose tooth and nail any move to tax agriculture. The state government has also demanded that the increase in urea price be withdrawn. This was stated by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Minister for Finance while addressing a workers meeting at the Market Committee Bassi Pathana here today in preparation for the Akali conference to be held at Patiala on February 12. When the reporters asked him about the ultimatum of the Akal Takht Jathedar he said we will sort it out. You just watch and see. Addressing workers he said Punjab is the only state in the country providing free electricity to farmers and in the coming budget more concessions will be given to farmers, traders, employees and petty shopkeepers. Mr Balwant Singh Sahpur,
MLA, Mr Swarn Singh Chanartnal President District Akali
Jatha, Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, former Minister and Mr
Rajesh Pal Singh Lalli, a senior Akali leader, also
addressed the meeting. |
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SDM
to probe beating up of two women BATHINDA, Feb 3 — Mr S.R. Ladhar, District Magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the beating up of two women by police officials of the Civil Lines police station on January 24 at Kamla Nehru Nagar on the premises of the police station. Mr Ladhar has asked the SDM, Mr Gurtej Singh, to probe the incident and submit the report. According to a report of the Lok Morcha, Punjab, the two women, Meena and Santra, were beaten up by police officials on complaining about an incident of outraging of modesty of a girl belonging to the Gujrati community allegedly by Hukam Chand. Major Basant Kumar, Convener, Jabar Virodhi Action Committee, in a written complaint made to the District Magistrate yesterday alleged that the police had also implicated three relatives of the victims in a false criminal case. The Committee demanded
that both police officials involved in the incident
should be prosecuted.
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