Monday, January 4, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Monday, January 4, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Akali feud
turns into media battle Rs
425 crore for Punjab link roads University
teachers plea to Takht chief |
 |
PPCC
cancels Brar's plan on yatra |
||||||||
|
Rape
case against 2 teachers More
anti-narcotics squads planned Face-lift
plan for Bhindi Sayadan Minister
assures PNFC workers A
cultural extravaganza at Bathinda Chhibber
for more special schools Cinema
house showing 'Fire' ransacked |
||||||||||
 |
||||
Akali
feud turns into media battle CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The current feud among leaders of the ruling Akali Dal is now turning into a media battle of sorts. The two long-time adversaries, the leading Punjabi daily Ajit and the powerful Hind Samachar group of newspapers, who have a long history of fighting battles in their columns, are now again at it. Ajit's editor, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, now an Akali-supported Rajya Sabha member, today came out with an accusation that the rivals were not only maligning his newspaper that had always stood for the welfare of Punjab and peace but actively conspiring with the rivals of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to destabilise the government. A major news report on an anti-Punjabi lobby being active "to take advantage of the current misunderstanding among Panthic leaders", did not mince words. It said: "Reliable sources assert that this newspaper group and its editor have succeeded in influencing the Akali leaders opposed to Mr Badal and some senior religious Panthic leaders. It is in constant touch with these leaders. Like in the past, the Editor-in-Chief of this group of newspapers is seriously busy in taking this conspiracy to its logical conclusion. He had met the seniormost anti-Badal leader and presented to him a dream to replace Mr Badal as Chief Minister". Ajit has not named the group or the Akali leaders and Panthic high personalities, but it is all too obvious. The group is Hind Samachar that publishes Punjab Kesri, Hind Samachar and Jagbani. The Akali leader is SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Panthic personalities include Bhai Ranjit Singh, head priest of Akal Takht. They are all critical of Mr Hamdard. Hind Samachar's group editor, Vijay Chopra denied that he had anything to do with the Akali Dal's quarrels and the current feud. "We have been advocating for peace, writing with restraint and urging the Akali leaders to stop their feuds and work for the peace, and the prosperity of Punjab that has passed through a long night of suffering and violence. How can we conspire?", he asked TNS from Jalandhar. Mr Chopra said, "all this is a figment of the imagination and we have no intention to join this unseemly debate. We are not making anyone Chief Minister or unmaking anyone who is a Chief Minister. It is perhaps the job of others ". He was apparently referring to Mr Hamdard. It is clear that the Hind Samachar group would ignore one such news story, but not if the allegations are carried further. And that this is what the Ajit story in its last paragraph has asserted. It said, "Those intellectuals and well-wishers of the Panth who are keeping a close watch over the developments, particularly the activities of this group, are preparing a counter strategy and the people will soon be informed about it". Ajit also said," Anti-Panthic forces in Punjab are very active to take full advantage of the current differences among the Akali and Panthic leaders who stand for Punjab, Punjabiat, Punjabi and Panthic forces. This lobby has been constantly working against the Punjabi Suba, the Punjabi language and Sikh Panth, both directly and indirectly. It worked hard to support the blind police terror in Punjab and did not like at all the ascendency of the Panth and the Akalis. It is working hard to throw up the Panthic government by providing fire to the differences among the Akali and Panthic leaders......" Ajit went on to allege that this group conspired to bring Babu Kanshi Ram, BSP leader closer to the Congress through secret meetings. "Ajit and its editor are a special target of this editor as they have stood to defend peace in Punjab, lay foundations for amity among Sikhs and Hindus and defeat the earlier barbarious police rule in Punjab," Ajit said. The Ajit story also alleged that this editor was in league with those who wanted to defame Ajit by getting it declared from some high Sikh institution that it was anti-Panthic and thereby end its goodwill among Panthic circles. This institution was none else than the Akal Takht. In a nutshell, whatever has been happening in the Akali Dal ever since Mr Tohra demanded Mr Badal to step down from the Dal's presidentship is because of the efforts of this group of newspapers and its editor. It may be mentioned that
the two rival newspapers have a long history of daily
battles and did contribute to communalise the situation
in Punjab. But for the last many years, they had stopped
this and concentrated on their own respective strengths. |
||
Rs
425 crore for Punjab link roads CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — A consortium of six banks has decided to advance Rs 425 crore for the upgradation and construction of village link roads in Punjab. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 567 crore. The remaining sum of money, Rs 142 crore, approximately, will be made available as "seed money" by the Rural Development Board. The work on the village link roads is expected to start during the present month. It is to be completed by June 2000. The Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board, Mr P.S. Aujla, told TNS that the banks had agreed to give the money on behalf of the Rural Development Board. Both, the Mandi Board and the state PWD (R and D), would jointly share the responsibility of taking up the link roads project. There were two aspects: one, the construction of new links and the second, the strengthening of the existing network of roads. Out of the 117 Punjab Assembly constituencies at least 100 are believed to be "rural". About 20-km-link-road length in each constituency is to be built anew, which means in the total project of 34,000 km, nearly 2,000 km will be "new" link roads. A major policy decision taken by the government includes that "earth work" will be the responsibility of the villagers just as will be "raising and strengthening" of the roads identified. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who has taken interest in this project, is credited with the view that the existing road network of village link roads was not enough and upto the mark to cope up with the increase in the volume of farm produce, particularly, wheat and paddy, and, therefore, road infrastructure needed to be strengthened for the "social welfare" of the people and also to boost the agro-industrial economy. Mr Aujla said besides the link roads, the Board had also planned a Rs 100-crore project for 50 identified mandis, where certain works were required to be undertaken to improve the marketing processes. Against the project-cost of Rs 100 crore, the banks had advanced a loan of Rs 74 crore. The envisaged works would include the upkeep or construction of new yards in terms of auction platforms, cover sheds, electricity, lavatory blocks etc, besides taking up similar works in sub-yards, focal points and purchase centres. In fact, nearly 10 new mandis will be coming up on the completion of the project. Punjab has 144 market committees. The Mandi Board has set up at least 1,400 purchase centres in the paddy procurement season; some of which have absolutely kutcha auction platforms and inadequate farmer-friendly utility services. The Board realises Rs 180 crore annually by way of "market fee" and an equal amount from 2 per cent ad valorum tax on sale and purchase. "The positive step", said Mr Aujla, "will transform the rural scene. It will generate employment besides opening new avenues for economic development." The banks involved in the
Rs 567-crore project are the Oriental Bank of Commerce,
which meets 25 per cent of the loan amount, Allahabad
Bank, the Bank of Patiala, Andhra Bank, Punjab and Sind
Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank. |
||
Government's
gesture to NRIs KAPURTHALA, Jan 3 — The Punjab Government has decided to appoint a lambardar from among the families of non-resident Indians in villages in which 20 families of NRIs reside. This was disclosed by Mrs Usha R Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a convention of NRIs at local Yojna Bhawan today. The Deputy Commissioner said that the government would contribute 20 per cent of the amount to a project for any development scheme in the villages launched by NRIs. This scheme had been started by the Punjab Government providing non-resident Indians an opportunity to contribute in the development. She said keeping in view the problems faced by NRIs the district administration had opened an office in the Red Cross Market on the Mall which would help the NRI families to get their problems redressed. Mr Surinder Kumar Wadhwa, an advocate who is also president of the non-resident Indians Kapurthala Sabha, will look after the office and help in solving their problems. Mrs Sharma said the NRI Sabha had been planning to set up a hospital or school in the district. The district administration in cooperation with NRI Sabha organised a fair and sports competition in local Guru Nanak Stadium which was inaugurated by Mrs Sunita Srivastava, wife of Mr B K Srivastava, Commissioner, Jalandhar Division. The Indian Army, Rail Coach Factory and various government departments organised exhibitions of their items and equipments. Our Correspondent adds from Nawanshahr that the second annual convention of the district unit of the NRI Sabha was organised at Baradari Club Nawanshahr on Sunday Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur. Welfare Minister, while presiding over the convention lauded the role of NRIs for helping the government in infrastructural development and for making capital investments for industrial growth. He said the Badal government had passed an act for safeguarding the properties of the NRIs and it would soon remove other hindrances. The government also planning to bring in a legislation to safeguarding the urban properties of the NRIs. The minister said the NRIs would be provided plots in the proposed NRIs colonies. Dr Roshan Sunkaria, DC-cum-Chairman of the district unit of the NRI Sabha said that NRI Bhavan would be constructed in the district. Mr Prem Singh, president,
central NRI Sabha, Jalandhar, Mr Budh Singh Dhahan, Mr
Baldev Singh Soond, president, NRI Sabha, Nawanshahr also
spoke. NRIs were also honoured on the occasion. |
||
Play
catalytic role, Gujral urges NRIs CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Terming the recent attacks on Christian institutions in Gujarat as "shameful", Mr I.K. Gujral, a former Prime Minister, today, urged the Central Government to come out with an explanation with regard to the steps taken in preventing such incidents. Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the 28th anniversary celebrations of the International Punjabi Society (IPS) here, Mr Gujral, while expressing concern at the "dangerous and ominous " trends of attacks on minorities said in a secular country the religious practices of all sections of society should be respected. Laying stress on the need for eradicating illiteracy with a view to controlling the rising population, the former Prime Minister was of the view that Punjab which had lagged behind in this regard should give top priority to the issue. Urging the NRIs to play a "catalytic" role in the development of Punjab, Mr Gujral urged them to help create an infrastructure in the state as Punjab was now peaceful and had a lot of potential. Mr Gujral, however, refused to comment on the removal of the naval chief, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, and the issuance of a "Hukamnama" by Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, restraining action against the SGPC chief, Mr GS Tohra. Addressing the delegates Bhai Mohan Singh, president of the IPS (International), said the objective of holding the conference was to create a bond of friendship between Punjabis and pledge our dedication for the cause of Punjabiat. The general secretary of the IPS (International), Mr P.S. Bedi, while highlighting the activities of the society, said that the next conference would be held in New York. Meanwhile, Mr Gujral, who
is also the chairman of the Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir
Trust, visited the Musafir auditorium in Sector 24 here.
The trust was planning a year-long 100th birth
anniversary celebrations of Musafir which will get
underway with a 'kavi darbar' on January 16, the
secretary of the trust, Mrs Joginder Sant, said. |
||
PPCC
cancels Brar's plan on yatra PATIALA, Jan 3 — Senior Punjab Pradesh Congress leaders today took party Vice-President Jagmeet Singh Brar to task for overstepping his brief as convener of the programme committee of the proposed "Degh Tegh Fateh Sarbans di Yatra" march by unilaterally deciding its date and route at a PPCC meeting held at Moti Bagh Palace here. Sources in the PPCC said the attack on the party Vice-President was led by General Secretary Birdevinder Singh, former MP Surinder Singla, former PPCC chief Santokh Singh Randhawa and Congress Legislature Party leader Choudhary Jagjit Singh. Party Vice-President Lal Singh gave some "suggestions" on the issue. The sources said the leaders questioned Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar for reportedly urging Akal Takht Jathedar to mediate between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra which they said was unwarranted. They also said he could not announce the date of the proposed march which was the duty of the implementation committee of the Pradesh Congress. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar was also taken to task for making announcements about Pradesh Congress appointments and meeting party President Sonia Gandhi to submit to her the programme of the march. Replying to the charges Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar said he had invited Akal Takht Jathedar on behalf of the Pradesh Congress. He also said he had informed Capt Amarinder Singh on the telephone about his proposed meeting with party President Sonia Gandhi. The sources said the meeting subsequently decided to announce a fresh date for holding of the proposed march and also make changes in its route to cover some portion of Haryana following a request from the Haryana Pradesh Congress. Though fog was also cited as a reason for postponing the march, the leaders said the change in the date was a rebuke to Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar as he could have derived political capital if the march was started on the occasion of Maghi Mela which is held in his constituency in Muktsar. The sources said PPCC
chief, Capt Amarinder Singh commended Mr Brar for doing
spadework for the march. |
||
University
teachers plea to Takht chief CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — At a meeting chaired by Mr Kehar Singh, chairman, the United Teachers Front, Punjabi University Patiala, of Intellectuals representing the Sikh Intelligentsia Forum, the Liberal Teachers Centre, the Progressive Teachers Front, the National Teachers Council expressed concern over the tendency of Akal Takht to interfere in petty political issues of Akalis. The meeting felt that the Jathedar was spokesman for the entire Panth. The Press note of the front was delivered here today. Professor Surinder Singh Khera, chief, Punjabi University Teachers Association said that Akal Takht chief before taking any decision, should have consulted the parties concerned. Professor Kulwant Singh and Dr Gurtaran Singh said that any decision should have been taken by all five Jathedars of five Takhts. Mr Sham Lal Singla, convener, National Teachers Council said that the reply of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, to the show-cause notice be kept in a sealed cover till April 15, 1999 and the Akali government did not represent only one sect but as such a popular government of all Punjabis and an interference into its working by a religious head could land it into a legal crisis creating doubts in the minds of non-Sikh Punjabis. The vice-president of the PUTA, Dr Hari Singh and PUTA member, Dr Harpal Singh Pannu appealed to the Takht chief that the Hukamnama should not be given effect till heads of all five Takhts did not take into confidence parties concerned. Professor Kulwant Singh Grewal and Professor Kehar Singh, calling attacks on Ajit daily, politically motivated due to the book "Vanity Incarnate" said that Ajit had done commendable job by informing the 'Panth' of such "nasty" writing. Ajit daily rather had done a service to the people by informing people of about such a book. Dr R K Sehgal and Dr
Gurdip Singh agreeing with the above observations said
anything which weakened the Punjab Government was harmful
to the interests of Punjabis and Indians as well. |
||
Rape
case against 2 teachers TARN TARAN, Jan 3 — A case under Section 376 of the IPC has been registered against two teachers of Government Senior Secondary School, Sirhala Mundian, who reportedly raped a plus two student of the school while on tour to Anandpur Sahib. The principal of the school too will be booked for his negligence in the case. This was disclosed by Mr Sawarna Ram, State Minister for Education, Punjab, here today, who was here to preside over the annual prize distribution function of the local Sri Guru Hargobind National Public School. The minister said that as teachers and the Principal had given a bad name to the Education Department and no leniency would be shown towards them. He said the accused who had absconded would be arrested soon. Appreciating the role of private unaided public schools, the minister said that the Punjab Government has done a lot to improve the educational system by recruiting teachers in a large number and by accepting genuine demands of the teachers. The minister released a
grant of Rs 50,000 for the school. Mr Jasminder Singh,
SSP, presided over the function. |
||
More
anti-narcotics squads planned AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — The Director-General Police, Mr P.C. Dogra, has said that the drug abuse in the country especially in this border state, had assumed alarming proportions. Speaking at an interaction session between the police and non-government organisations organised here today. Mr Dogra in his address said that earlier India was only a transit point for smuggling of narcotic drugs. But now it was a consumption centre too. There was an urgent need to combat this menace as narcotics were now being used by students of colleges, universities and office-goers. He called upon parents, teachers and voluntary organisations to check the menace. The cohesion within the family was very important factor and many social problems had arisen due to weak family bonds, he said. While appreciating the working of "Nasha Virodhi Squad", the first of its kind in the state, Mr Dogra said that such squads would be opened in other districts on the pattern of Amritsar. Mr Dogra expressed concern over the rising number of accident cases in the state. He directed district police chiefs to visit schools and colleges to inculcate of traffic sense and discipline among students. Mr Gurdev Singh Sahota, district police chief, said 84 cases against drug peddlers were registered last year. Due to lack of traffic sense more persons were killed in road accidents than murders. He further said drug addicts were more prone to crime. In recent years matrimonial discords had emerged as main reason for crime against women, he said. Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor of GND varsity said that teachers and parents had failed in their responsibilities and hence this problem existed today. Dr Mrs Sanna, clinical
psychiatrist, said drug addicts were patients and should
be treated as such. She highlighted the insufficient
number of drug de-addiction centres and resources
constraints. She pointed out that there was high rate of
relapse among de-addicted patients and highlighted the
role of spiritual teaching in post de-addiction cases.
|
||
Face-lift
plan for Bhindi Sayadan BHINDI SAYADAN (Amritsar), Jan 3 — Bhindi Sayadan one of the poorest and backward villages of Punjab has been taken up for development under the model village scheme mooted by the Government of India with HUDCO providing up to Rs 75 lakh for infrastructural development. The village located 42 km away from Amritsar is only 6 km from the Pakistan border. Total cost of the project is Rs 2.70 crore out of which Rs 75 lakh is given by HUDCO and rest Rs 1.60 crore is to be given by the Punjab government and the Indira Vikas Yojna of the Central Government. The village with a population of 6785, there are nearly 1354 families and Rai Sikhs dominate. Literacy is only 3 per cent of the population, despite the village having a school. People live below poverty line. They are landless and depend mainly on labour. Most of the families came from Pakistan during Partition but have not been able to settle here properly. Large families due to lack of awareness and education is another cause of their pathetic conditions. Usually a couple has six to 12 children. There are 1563 workers and work force participation rate is 23.1 per cent. Main occupation of the villagers is agriculture and for labour, mostly they go to Jalandhar and work in potato farms where they get Rs 45 to Rs 50 per day and children earn Rs 10. Average family income is Rs 1000 to Rs 800 per month which is insufficient to feed the entire family and pay school fee of children. For an indepth study, a visit to the village, revealed deplorable conditions there. Mud houses and people living in insanitary conditions. They said that since Partition they had been living in such conditions and nobody did anything to better their lot. Ujagar Singh (80) said that he settled here after Partition. Recalling old days, he said it was much better there. We had much land and pucca houses but Partition completely ruined us and just reached here with empty hands. Though we were given some land here to cultivate but it did not improve our living standard. We are hopeful that our days will change since government had to build pucca houses for us and create employment opportunities, he added. We cannot send our children to school, when it is difficult for us to make both ends meet. Our only source of income is labour since we do not have land and maximum land is across the fence which is lying uncultivated due to security reasons. What should we do under present circumstances? Instead of sending our children to school we take them along to work as they at least get Rs 10, which is not much but does make a lot of difference, said Gopal Singh. Dalip Singh, sarpanch of the village, said that their eyes were set on the project initiated by the government under which pucca houses would be built and new sources of employment created as only these things could help in making the life better otherwise life is little less than hell in present conditions. He said due to insanitary conditions many children were suffering from polio and other diseases. There is no proper dispensary and it is not roomy enough to accommodate more patients. He said the school exists only in name with no sufficient teachers to teach students. Government must start the work here as soon as possible so that we feel relieved, he added. He also said that the government should open some units here or provide employment as villagers go to far off places for work. When asked how will this project would affect their life, he said that when secure from one side one can think other. When we are living in mud houses with fear that the rain would damage these how can we think of other things in life, like sending our children to school. Women in the village are not aware about the world outside and remain confined to the four walls. They still cover their faces on seeing outsiders and avoid talking to them. When contacted the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, said that this village was taken up for development under the model village scheme after Mr Parkash Singh Badal, went there and felt it was the poorest and backward. Thus there was need to develop it. He said that planning of the project had been completed and work would start by the end of this month. Work will be completed within one year. He said that an integrated development approach would be required for socio-economic change. Mr Narinderjit Singh added that low-cost houses would be built and loans provided under the Indira Vikas Yojna so that they could start some work. Apart from this building of a health centre would be taken up to meet health needs of the villagers. He said that stress would be laid on improving literacy through better educational facilities and adult literacy programme, with focus on women and disadvantaged group. Skill training will be provided to the youth to make them independent and increase their source of income, improvement would be made in village's communication links. Apart from, this roads paving and transportation will be improved. He added that special
medical camps will be organised here to impart knowledge
to the women regarding family planning as the family size
in the village was very big as compared to that of other
villages in Punjab. |
||
Minister
assures PNFC workers NANGAL, Jan 3 — The Union Government should reconsider the subsidy on ammonium chloride fertiliser to prevent the closure of Punjab National Fertiliser Corporation (PNFC) unit at Nangal, said Mr Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab, after meeting a delegation of workers union of PNFC here today. PNFC has stopped production for the past 20 days. The union was apprehensive that the decision to finally close this sick unit might be taken this month. Mr Mittal said the PNFC required a subsidy of Rs 45 crore annually. Out of this Rs 13 crore will go back to the Centre as excise duty. So, the net subsidy amounts to just Rs 32 crore. By investing this amount the Centre can save precious foreign exchange needed to import the fertiliser, he added. Mr Mittal assured workers that he would take up the issue with Mr Badal and Mr Kamal Chaudhry, the local MP and asked them to request the Prime Minister to restore the subsidy on the fertiliser. He said it would be unfortunate if this unit in Anandpur tehsil was closed on the eve of tercentenary celebrations. The PNFC unit which was commissioned in 1985 started running into loss when the Narasimha Rao government withdrew the subsidy in 1991. According to the General Manager of the company the unit was conceived keeping under consideration the subsidy. However when the subsidy was withdrawn it became unviable. Since the subsidy on other fertiliser like DAP and urea etc was continuing the withdrawal of subsidy on ammonium chloride had made it unviable in the market. He, however, dismissed the apprehensions of the union that the unit will shut down on January 7 as rumours. The PNFC Karamchari Sangh Union in a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, Punjab, has demanded that either the subsidy should be restored on or their unit be merged with the NFL unit at Nangal. Another such unit producing ammonium chloride fertiliser at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu has already been merged with SPIC by the Centre Government, they added. Earlier, Mr Mittal met
Chief Engineer of BBMB, Mr K K Khosla, to sort out the
differences between the local council and the BBMB
management. He also addressed a public meeting at Sukhsal
Malva, Passiwal and Swamipur Bagh villages.
|
||
A
delayed power project PATHANKOT: The Ranjit Sagar Dam, a prestigious hydro-electric project in the Gurdaspur district will be dedicated to the nation on February 12, 1999 by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. This multifarious Hydro Electric Project is set to generate 600 megawatts of electricity which will also make Punjab self-sufficient in electricity. According to the Punjab Forest Minister, Master Mohan Lal, the project was started in 1977 but due to lack of continuous flow of funds it was delayed. About 3765 hectares of land of Gurdaspur district was acquired for the reservoir area of this project. Of this 852 hectares fall in forest area. The Ranjit Sagar Dam has already provided 852 hectares of non-forest area to the Forest Department, Punjab, for compensatory afforestation besides providing Rs 202.41 lakh for afforestation in this area. In the reservoir area there were about 2.5 lakh trees. The felling of these trees was considered essential as this was likely to generate Rs 4 crore of revenue to the government besides providing employment to thousands of people of the area. The government took a decision to dispose of these trees by appointing a committee in February, 1997. The committee held an open auction of trees in April-May, 1998, and trees worth Rs 1.71 crore were sold to the public. However, a departmental dispute came to the fore and the cut material could not be exported. The Forest Minister said a meeting was held on December 24 with the RSD authorities, Secretary, Irrigation and Power, and Secretary, Forest it was decided that all the revenue accrued from the sale of trees should go to the Shahpurkandi Forest Fund. This fund was constituted in 1945 and is administrated by the Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur. The fund is utilised for the development works of Dhar sub division. It was also decided that the RSD authorities should hold the auction of the remaining trees. According to the minister no illicit felling of trees had taken place in the RSD reservoir area as alleged by some political persons. The Minister clarified that as the area of RSD reservoir had to be cleared there was no chance of illicit felling. The auction of trees was done only after the Forest Corporation failed to take the responsibility of felling trees. The Minister also claims that 852 hectares will be brought under plantation on a warfooting. He also stated that a van Chetana Kendra would be established at Dhar Kalan. The beautification of the surrounding area of RSD would be done next year to attract touring. Officers of the Forest
Department have been told not to leave even a single
space without green cover. |
||
A
cultural extravaganza at Bathinda BATHINDA: This district, once the least literate in Punjab, has been making a mark in art and culture by organising regular painting exhibitions, sangeet sammelans and fashion shows. To develop a taste for classical music among the people, "Sanskriti", a society for the promotion of art and cultural heritage, organised two-day Shiva Sangeet Sammelan at the local Teachers' Home early this month. The sammelan started with a bhajan recitation by Pt Harikrishan Sharma, followed by a kathak dance by Amar Raj Basneth, a film choreographer from Calcutta. His perfect body movements coupled with flawless tall from the tabla of Tarak Nath Dhar drew a thunderous applause from the audience. Hukam Chand Mehta captivated the audience with his rendering of raag Rageshwari, and Chandra Kauns and a thumri. Vijay Sachdeva, a local artiste, played raag Kalyan on the sitar for the gathering. On the second day, tabla recital by Nihal Ahmed Khan of the Delhi gharana along with sarangi player Ghulam Ali Khan of the Agra gharana, lighted up the mood of the audience. The other main attraction of the day was recitation of raag Bageshri displaying all the nuances of the Patiala gharana by Pinaki Priyo. Guha Roy of the Patiala gharana, a disciple of Pt Ajay Chakraborti. His rendering of raag Bageshri ended with a tarana and thumri composed by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Pallab Bennerji, a violin soloist of Ustad Bhole Nath Mukherji and Pandit V.G. Jog, recited raag Shyam Kalyan with alaap. He also performed a unique composition named "seven seas" based on the seven ragas started with raag Basanti and ended with Bhairavi. The performance of bharatanatyam by K. Santosh Kumar and on the sarangi by Ghulam Ali Khan also enthralled the audience. Sanskriti introduced a young vocalist, Maghar Ali Khan of the Shyam Chaurasi gharana, at the sangeet sammelan. Maghar Ali Khan's jugalbandi of raag Darbari with his guru, Ustad Bakir Hussain, kept the audience spell-bound. The sammelan honoured Ustad Bakir Hussain of the Patiala gharana with a shawl and maan patra. Ustad Bakir Hussain is the last living traditional "ustad" of the Patiala gharana. A spokesman of the
Sanskriti told TNS that the organisation would hold
regular photography, painting and sculpture exhibitions
and hold a workshop of painting for schoolchildren for
the promotion of art and culture in the district. |
||
Chhibber
for more special schools NABHA (Patiala), Jan 3 — Punjab Governor Lt-Gen (retd) B.K.N. Chhibber today underlined the need for opening more special schools to meet the needs of disabled children. Delivering his inaugural address at the 59th session of the Indian public school conference at Punjab Public Schools here, Lt-Gen Chhibber hoped the conference would take decisions which would add new dimensions to special education. The Governor said more than 10 million children in the country needed special education. They included physically and mentally handicapped children as well as sick children who were confined to hospitals for long periods. He said though the government and voluntary organisations had taken some steps in this direction the number of disabled children was so large that they had not shown any substantial progress. He also urged starting special courses in schools and universities for disabled children and for teachers to provide them adequate skill to deal with such children. The Governor said the key to future education was interactive multi media. But the country was yet to make full use of interactive media multi media technology even though it combined computer hardware, software and peripheral equipment to provide a rich mixture of text graphics, sound, animation, full motion video data and other information. Urging for more exploration of this technique, he said it could guide an individual and tailored to suit his special needs. Indian Public Schools conference chairperson Dr (Mrs) G.D. Bakshi said public schools in the country should emphasise the importance of Indian history, literature and patterns of social life in India. She said western culture was affecting the education system in the country and the student community was forgetting its roots. She said dedicated effort could tackle the situation. She also called for introducing systems in educational institutions whereby every child would be involved in learning as well as teaching. Dr Bakshi also urged for a
better system of higher education by setting up centres
of excellence. She said these centres could emphasise on
inter-disciplinary approaches in teaching and research
and could also devote themselves to improving the
teaching standards in schools and colleges. |
||
Cinema
house showing 'Fire' ransacked PATIALA, Jan 3 — A cinema house Rakhra Palace, that was screening controversial film "Fire" was attacked by some miscreants here today afternoon. The miscreants, who reportedly came in a white Maruti van, threw stones at windowpanes of the cinema house and broke some of them. Shouting slogans to halt screening of the film, they also broke windowpanes of three cars of some viewers. No one was, however, injured and the film screening was not interrupted. Mr Gurpreet Singh Gill, SP
City said a hunt had been launched to trace the
miscreants and that police personnel had been posted at
the cinema hall. |
||
|
MOGA, Jan 3 (UNI) — A noted Hindi writer and satirist from Madhya Pradesh Jagat Singh Visht has been selected for the Leela Rani Memorial Award for 1998 for his book entitled "Ath Daftar Katha" (a satire on office routine). The award was declared by the Leela Rani Samriti Purskar Samiti Award selection committee organiser and renowned Punjabi writer and satirist K.L. Garg here today. Mr Garg said that the award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 5000, and a memento will be conferred on him at his native place Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh in the third week of February. Visht is a popular
satirist and had written prominent book like
"Tirchhi Nazar", "Aap Kuchh Lete Keon
Nahin" and "Hindi ki Aakhri Pustak". |
||
Obey
edict, says Tohra MANSA, Jan 3 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), today appealed to SGPC members and MLAs of the SAD to follow the "Hukamnama" issued by Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh on December 31 directing to the warring Akali leaders to stop infighting till April 15. Addressing a select gathering here, he said that the "Hukamnama" issued by the Akal Takht Jathedar was supreme and other things were subordinate to the authority of "Hukamnama". Mr Tohra, who visited here to set up district-level committee for the Khalsa Chetna March to be taken out on the eve of tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa, said it was prime duty of every member of the SGPC and MLA to obey the "Hukamnama". He appealed to the people to ignore remarks of the people who were objecting the issuance of the Hukamnama. He pointed out that if the Akali MLAs did not obey the "Hukamnama", then there would be no other in Punjab to give recognition to the "Hukamnama". He made it clear that Jathedar of Akal Takht could issue "Hukamnama" on matters religious and political of the Sikh community. He added that according to Sikh religious convention, every Sikh had a moral duty to follow the Hukamnama. He declined to comment when asked about his reaction about the statement made by Bhai Ranjit Singh about the Akali Dal chief when he issued the Hukamnama. He said that the Sikh community was being divided under a deep-rooted conspiracy and certain forces were out to defame Sikhs. He also criticised a
language daily for publishing certain items "against
Sikhism". Later, Mr Tohra announced the formation of
a 31-member Khalsa Chetna March Committee. |
||
Old
couple murdered TARN TARAN, Jan 3 — Mr Gurbax Singh (60), a retired constable and his wife Surinder Kaur (55) residents of Kairon village were murdered at their farm house last night. Sources said that the aged couple was sleeping when they were attacked with sharp-edged weapons. Body of the husband seen out side the farmhouse while that of the wife inside the room. The sources told that a case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered by the Patti police station. Property dispute is said to be the cause of the murder. The couple had three
daughters and no son and held eight acres of land. Mr
Jasminder Singh the SSP alongwith other police officials
visited the spot today, and said the case would be solved
in two days. The bodies were autopsied in the Patti civil
hospital. |
||
Vimla's
plea on nursing homes AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — The former CPI MLA, Mrs Vimla Dang, yesterday suggested that the issue of the proposed registration of the private nursing homes by the Punjab Government should be discussed threadbare before introducing it in the state assembly. In a press note issued here today, she said an all-party meeting should be convened which had representatives of doctors along with non-government organisations before giving a final shape to the Bill. She said it was, the need
of the hour to regulate the working of the private
nursing homes in the state who were making money while
patients suffered. |
||
Minister
clarifies PHAGWARA, Jan 3 — Sales Tax had been imposed only on big halwais and bakers selling packaged and marked products and not on small sweet and bakery shops, clarified Finance Minister, Punjab, Captain Kanwaljit Singh. He spoke to this reporter here yesterday, he had come to attend the marriage of the daughter of Akali leader Jarnail Singh Wahad. Denying any financial crisis in the state, Mr Kanwaljit Singh admitted resource crisis and declared a multi-pronged plan was afoot to boost economic health and mobilise resources. He refused to say whether
the coming Budget would be tax-heavy or have tax holiday.
The Budget session would be held in March and any talk
about taxes was premature at this stage, added the France
Minister. |
||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
