Crime rate down in Kapurthala
KAPURTHALA, Jan 1 – Mr Iqbal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police yesterday claimed that because of an organised campaign against anti-goods elements and persons involved in the supply of narcotics, in the district has shown a noticeable decrease during 1998 in the district.

Withdraw support to Centre, BSP tells Akalis
PHAGWARA, Jan 1 — The Punjab unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party today asked the Akali Dal to withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition at the Centre since the BJP had introduced a Bill on Uttaranchal in Parliament, despite the SAD opposition to the same.

AIFUCTO threatens agitation
JALANDHAR, Jan 1 — The 3.5 lakh strong apex body of university and college teachers, AIFUCTO, has decried the "unwarranted delay" in the clearance of its accepted demands by the HRD Ministry.

Expert to help remove traffic bottlenecks
PATIALA, Jan 1 — The district administration has decided to engage the services of Dr Vishwanath, an expert in traffic regulation at Mumbai, in order to remove traffic bottlenecks in the city.

Civic staff strike ends

States gear up for celebrations

School lecturers' union

Buses to Hemkunt Sahib

2 killed in road accidents

Badal declines comment on edict
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, Jan 1 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, today appealed to NRIs to play a role in the development of rural areas specially in the sphere of education.

He was addressing a gathering of NRIs at Slaimpur Musalmana village, 5 km from here. He said the state government was making every effort to provide maximum facilities to the NRIs wherever they had a share in developmental projects. The government was keen to remove the problems of the NRIs on a priority basis, he said.

The Chief Minister urged the NRIs to establish big projects in the state to improve the economic condition of the rural youth and to remove unemployment.

The Chief Minister refused comment on the edict issued by Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh, directing warring Akali leaders to cease intra-party fights till April 15, says PTI reports.

Mr Badal, when asked whether SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra had replied to the show-cause notice sent by the Akali Dal’s disciplinary action committee (DAC) for his reported criticism of the functioning of the party president, said the query should be posed to DAC chairman Jagdev Singh Talwandi.

Referring to the tercentenary celebrations, Mr Badal said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has already released Rs 50 crore out of the Rs 100 crore earmarked for the purpose.

Sukhbir denies ruling Punjab by proxy
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 1 — Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries today denied that he was being groomed by his father, Mr Parkash Singh Badal as future Chief Minister of the state. He also denied that he was ruling the state by proxy.

Talking to news persons at Guruwali village, about 10 km from here, Mr Sukhbir Badal said such rumours were being spread by his detractors.

He refused to comment on the 'hukamnama' issued by Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh yesterday to stall any action against Mr Tohra. He said "no comments".

To another question, Mr Badal denied that the Congress was gaining ground after its victory in the Adampur byelection. He said the hike in the prices of onion had led to the defeat of the BJP-SAD combine in the recently held assembly elections.

Mr Badal said the Central Government had formed a high-powered consultant committee to decide the fate of sick public sector units like HMT which had incurred losses to the tune of crores of rupees in the past. On the recommendations of the committee action would be taken.

As the year 1999 had been announced as 'development year' by the state government, industrial revolution would be brought by bringing heavy industries. He said the state was exploring the possibility of bringing revolution in the food and technology industry.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a solar photovoltaic project for providing solar street lights in Guruwalia village.

The project will be set up by the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) with the financial help of the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Government of India. The project will cost Rs 9.20 lakh and will provide 35 solar street lights in the village. He said PEDA had taken up power generation by executing eight mini-micro hydel projects on Bathinda and Abohar branch canal in the state. Apart from this, PEDA will install solar energy lighting project at Anandpur Sahib before the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.

Options before Badal camp
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — The Badal faction is not surprised by the hukamnama issued by Akal Takht yesterday, asking the Akalis for a ceasefire between the Badal and Tohra factions till the celebrations for the tercentenary of the Khalsa starts on Baisakhi this year.

The Badal faction, which dominates the Akali Dal's Legislature Party, the SGPC general house and the SGPC executive, has spurned all offers to sort out the issue. It feels that the "hukamnama" was the last weapon in the hands of the SGPC President Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. This fact is , however, denied by the Tohra camp which strongly maintained that Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht and four other priests have acted on their own. They have done so for the sake of Panthic unity. Bhai Ranjit Singh who said earlier that he would not interfere in the affairs of the Akali Dal unless he was specifically urged by both, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Tohra, came up suddenly with the edict on New Year eve.

Mr Tohra, who is yet to reply to the show cause notice sent by the Akali Dal's Disciplinary Committee headed by the former Dal President, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, now awaits for the next move of Mr Badal. The Chief Minister's supporters today debated in detail how to respond to the new situation.

There are various options under consideration: One, Mr Badal and his supporters can say that the Akal Takht chief should not interfere in the internal affairs of the Akali Dal, a democratic party, now ruling the state. The earlier case cited is when Bhai Manjit Singh , as Jathedar of Akal Takht, tried to intervene in 1994 and Mr Badal did not sccumb to the pressure and refused to be part of the Amritsar Akali Dal, now nearly defunct. Later, Mr Tohra had to join Mr Badal and work to create an unprecedented electoral triumphs for the Akali Dal.

This would mean that the Disciplinary Committee should go ahead with the action after studying Mr Tohra's reply and the general house of the SGPC also takes its own line regarding Mr Tohra.

It is also being argued that if the Sikh clergy is allowed to intervene in this partisan manner to save one individual leader, it would make the Akali Dal and its leaders subservient to the wishes, and at times whims, of Akal Takht. There will be an open fight between the clergy on one side and political leaders, democratically elected by the people, on the other. This would spell bad times, it is pointed out by these leaders.

Secondly, it is stated that the SGPC's executive should take a stand and the general house should be summoned to take a position on the issue and the clergy should be told that there should be no interference in political affairs.

Mr Badal is likely to use the meeting of the SGPC general house members, MLAs, MPs and district heads slated for January 7 at Anandpur Sahib to build up a case against this kind of interference by the high priests. A formal resolution could also come up.

The third option being discussed extensively is that the SGPC's general house should be summoned and it should declare that such interference was not needed. It should tell the Jathedar that he should concentrate on religious affairs and stop creating problems for the ruling coalition in Punjab. Since the appointing authority of the Jathedars of all Takhts is the SGPC, the house has unenviable powers. Also, the Akal Takht chief has not associated high priests of other Takhts at Anandpur Sahib and Damdama Sahib what to say the high priests from Patna Sahib or from Sach Khand Nanded. This way any set of well-known priests can sit back and issue edicts. It is also being argued that the tenth Guru Gobind Singh created two institutions, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa Panth. Nowhere the priests were bestowed upon any such power. The collective will of the Khalsa is to be taken as the will of the Guru.

Another option of course is that the celebration should be allowed to start and then steps like disciplinary action against Mr Tohra should be taken after studying his reply which can remain sealed till then. After all, it is a matter of just three to four months.

Takht chief must quit: SAD wing
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 1 — An emergency meeting of the Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon) held here today under the presidentship of Mr Kuldip Singh Kahlon asked Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht to sign for issuing a "hukamnama" (edict) directing the Akali leadership to stall action against SGPC chief, Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

The meeting alleged that it was for the second time that Bhai Ranjit Singh had "safeguarded" the interests of the SGPC chief for "obvious" reasons. Mr Tohra had been earlier saved by the Takht chief in the Nirankari controversy during the parliamentary elections, it alleged.

An SGPC press note claimed that "hukamnamas" had been issued by Akal Takht from time to time for resolving differences among Akali stalwarts in the larger interests of the Sikh Panth.

JALANDHAR (PTI): Akali Dal (Panthic) president Jasbir Singh Rode on Friday welcomed the Akal Takht "hukamnama".

"To consider himself the sole leader of the Panth and even above the SGPC betrays Mr Badal's ignorance," Mr Rode told media persons here.

He said Mr Badal's "mis-conception" of being the sole representative of the Panth should stand removed after the recent Adampur assembly byelection results while the ruling Akali Dal had lost despite extensive campaigning by the Chief Minister and his family members.

Referring to the January 7 meeting of party legislators, MPs and district leaders called by Mr Badal to discuss plans for the tercentenary celebrations, he said leaders of other Panthic organisations like the Akali Dal (Panthic), Akali Dal (Amritsar), Akali Dal (Democratic) and Sant Samaj, besides other Sikh intellectuals, should be associated with these celebrations.

"These organisations should be invited for a meeting at Anandpur Sahib," he opined adding he would also write to Mr Badal on the contemporary political scene. Mr Rode slammed the Akali Dal president for describing the SGPC as a wing of the Akali Dal. "Mr Badal should remember that even if his party won a majority of seats in the SGPC elections, 44 per cent electorate voted against his candidates," he added.

PATIALA (UNI): Reacting to the "hukamnama" (directive) issued by Akal Takht, SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra said at Patran on Friday that "we must abide by the 'hukamnama' of the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs."

He said the party had been "activated" following the edict and the police and civil officers must redress the grievances of the people now otherwise "they will have to face the music."

There was jubilation among supporters of Mr Tohra. A senior leader remarked: "It is a victory day for the views expressed by Mr Tohra and now the SAD and the government will move in the right direction."

Helipad atop Mamdot Fort
From Manoj Dhiman

MAMDOT (Ferozepore): The 300-year-old historic 'Mamdot Fort' in this border village has been turned into a helipad-cum-picnic resort by engineers and jawans of the Sehjara Brigade of the Golden Arrow Division. This has been done to protect the fort from further erosion.

A promise for the same was made to the locals by the General Officer Commanding of the Golden Arrow Division, Maj-Gen K.C. Padha. Over the years, the fort had deteriorated into a state of ruins. A lot of encroachments had also taken place.

Talking to The Tribune, Brig O.P.S. Chauhan, Commander, Sehjara Brigade, said the persons who were in illegal occupation of kutcha houses on top of the fort were persuaded to vacate the house, which they did. The illegal occupants had been rehabilitated with the help of the village panchayat.

'Pucca' steps, a helipad-cum-picnic resort and a room have been constructed on top of the fort, which could have soon lost its historic value, if not adopted by the Army.

A board containing the history of the Mamdot Fort has been displayed in the newly constructed room on top of the fort, which was built by Qutub-ud-Din. He was a Hasanji Pathan who established his supremacy over Kasur.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh compelled Qutub-ud-Din to vacate Kasur and in lieu gave him the Jagir of Mamdot where in the 17th century he built Mamdot Fort. Subsequently, his dynasty was deposed and the fort was made a part of Ferozepore.

In order to give a nice look and stop further erosion of the fort, over 400 saplings, including neem and tulsi, have been planted. A water pump has also been installed as there was no water available on top of the fort. The entire work has been completed in a record time of less than a month.

The helipad-cum-picnic resort was inaugurated by Lt-Gen Kamal Davar, GOC, Vajra Corps, on December 10.

Crime rate down in Kapurthala
From Our Correspondent

KAPURTHALA, Jan 1 – Mr Iqbal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police yesterday claimed that because of an organised campaign against anti-goods elements and persons involved in the supply of narcotics, in the district has shown a noticeable decrease during 1998 in the district.

Talking to mediapersons, the SSP said that 32 cases of burglary were reported in '98 against 40 during 97. No case of dacoity was registered in 98 against one the previous year. Under the narcotics Act, 53 cases were registered in 98 against 35 cases in 97, under the Arms Act, 54 were registered in 98 against 24 in 97 and under the excise act 478 cases were registered in 98 against 265 cases in 97.

Mr Iqbal Singh said that in 98,296 cases were registered in district involving crimes against persons while 237 cases were registered in 97.

He said that because of vigorous campaign by police the district remained free from heinous crimes in 98.

The SSP said that four blind murders were reported in 98 which had been solved following the arrest of all accused.

Eight militants were arrested in 98 while four militants themselves surrendered before police and were helped to restart their lives as law abiding citizens.

As many as 125 public meetings were organised in the district under Sangat Darshan to bring the police closes to the police, he said.

In the parvarik panchayat set up by the police, 300 cases of matrimonial dispute were settled in 98.

The SSP said that 51 proclaimed offenders were arrested during 98 by the district police.

Withdraw support to Centre, BSP tells Akalis
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Jan 1 — The Punjab unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party today asked the Akali Dal to withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition at the Centre since the BJP had introduced a Bill on Uttaranchal in Parliament, despite the SAD opposition to the same.

Mr Avtar Singh Karimpuri, general secretary, and Mr Harbhajan Lakha, former MP, criticised the Akalis for their "silence" on the UP Government's decision to dissolve Udham Singh Nagar district.

The leaders said a three-phased six-point "apni shakti banao" movement had been launched to activate the party rank and file.

AIFUCTO threatens agitation
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Jan 1 — The 3.5 lakh strong apex body of university and college teachers, AIFUCTO, has decried the "unwarranted delay" in the clearance of its accepted demands by the HRD Ministry.

The ministry had reassured an AIFUCTO deputation on December 15 that all agreed schemes would be approved by the end of December and notified by the UGC. However, a notification released by the UGC on December 29 said that the clearance of schemes for the benefit of teachers as per the September 5 agreement of the Union Minister for HRD with the AIFUCTO was awaited.

Dr V.K. Tewari, national secretary, AIFUCTO, said here today that a dharna-cum-rally would be organised in front of Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi on January 27 in violat on of the prohibitory orders. The teachers would court arrest in protest against the "breach of promise" by the Central Government at the end of 26-day nationwide strike.

Dr Tewari said the move to court arrest on December 14 had been postponed in view of the letter of Mr P.R. Dasgupta, Education Secretary on December 5, promising quick release of benefits.

Mr Tewari urged the HRD Ministry to expeditiously clear the schemes for the welfare of the academic community as already agreed and not compel the teachers to start a "prolonged agitation" again.

Expert to help remove traffic bottlenecks
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 1 — The district administration has decided to engage the services of Dr Vishwanath, an expert in traffic regulation at Mumbai, in order to remove traffic bottlenecks in the city.

This was stated by Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner, here at a meeting of district officials convened for drafting a scheme for beautification of the city.

Mr Bir later said in a statement that vehicular traffic had increased manifold in the city in past years. Traffic jams were occurring at spots like railway crossings, bus stand and walled city. In order to ease traffic flow the district administration proposed to construct a railway bridge at gate number 22 and two pedestrian overbridges near Kali Devi temple and the bus stand.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that another proposal for beautification of Model Town was also being prepared.

CM visits hospital, suspends doctor
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Jan 1 — The Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today paid a surprise visit to Civil Hospital, Kurali at about 9.30 a.m and ordered the suspension of a doctor and another employee who were found absent.

The suspended persons are Dr Parmiti Kaur (dental surgeon) and Mr Balbir Singh (radiographer).

Later Mr Badal visited the hospital wards and announced Rs 25,000 for the purchase of 25 mattresses. Mr Badal also announced Rs 1 lakh for the purchase of an E.C.G machine. He said Rs 75,000 would be sent for filling vacant land near the hospital for constructing houses for the doctors. Badal on the demand made by some residents assured them that he would send specialist doctor soon.

Protest against varsity move
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 1 — The Karamchari Ekta Manch held a rally at Punjabi University campus here today in protest against the termination of services of ad hoc employees of the university.

Addressing a rally the Chairman of the manch, Mr Ram Singh Joshi, and former President of the non teaching staff association Mr Malkeet Singh, strongly condemned the attitude of the state Government to terminate the services of 250 ad hoc employees and teachers working in the university for the past 5 to 10 years. The speakers condemned the state government for interfering in the affairs of the university which is an autonomous body.

The speakers also appealed to the State Government and university authorities to reinstate the ad hoc employees immediately so that the work of the university was not affected.

Civic staff strike ends
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Jan 1 — Indefinite strike by the Municipal Corporation staff here was called off today after the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Usha Sharma and the SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh.

Mr Ashok Mattu, Chairman of the 19 member action committee said both officers had assured the staff that action would be taken against those persons, who had allegedly manipulated a raid against Municipal Council clerk, Mr Vijay Kumar.

The raid which was conducted on December, 22, by a vigilance team had led to a two-day siege by council staff and a pen-down strike.

Buses to Hemkunt Sahib flagged off

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 (PTI) — Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Jagir Kaur here today flagged off a fleet of five passenger buses and 30 cars to Hemkunt Sahib in Uttar Pradesh.

Led by Sant Pritpal Singh Ji of Gurdwara Gursagar Sahib here, the buses are carrying devotees who will participate in the foundation-stone laying ceremony on January 5 of a 15-km motorable road linking Gobindghat with Hemkunt Sahib.

When completed the road will enable bus passengers including old, sick, women and children to travel right upto Hemkunt Sahib.

The shrine is situated in high Himalayas at 14000 feet elevation and is inaccessible in inclement weather.

More states gear up for celebrations

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 (PTI) — The governments of Gujarat, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh have constituted their state-level committees under the chairmanship of respective Chief Ministers to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa commencing from April, this year and culminating in April 2000.

The Chief Ministers of Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh are also in the process of constituting such committees in their respective states, an official spokesman said here today.

These committees would organise various programmes and events relating to tercentenary celebrations by associating the local Sikh organisations, he added.

2 killed in road accidents
From Our Correspondent

KAPURTHALA, Jan 1 — Two persons were killed in two different road accidents in the past 24 hours.

A cyclist was killed by a speeding bus near village Adhi Khui village on the Kapurthala-Jalandhar road on Friday.

In another accident, Mohinder Singh alias Tochi a resident of Lidra village near Beas was killed by a truck near Ramidi village on the GT Road yesterday. The police has registered a case against the driver of the truck.

School lecturers' union
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Jan 1 — Election for the State Executive of the Government School Lecturers Union was held yesterday at Government Senior Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar Ludhiana.

The following were elected as office-bearers : President — Mr Harpreet Inder Singh; Senior Vice-President — Mr Jiwan Parkash Sharma; General Secretary — Mr Charan Singh; Vice-Presidents — Mr Kashmir Singh Gill and Mr Sukhdev Singh Rana; Secretaries — Mr Gurjinder Singh Garewal and Mr Gurpal Singh Brar; Finance Secretary — Mr R K Sharma; Press Secretary — Mr Harbhajan Singh Sohal; Zonal Presidents — Mr Balwant Singh, Mr Bahadur Singh Sandhu, Mr Bhupinder Singh Bath and Mr Gurdev Singh, and Zonal Secretaries — Mr Gurdial Singh Gill, Mr Vahiguru Pal Singh, and Mr Nand Lal.

Mr Jiwan Parkash Sharma, Senior Vice-President of the union, said in a press note that the Punjab Education Department and the State Government should implement the demands already agreed upon with the union leaders of the union in April last.