Tohra told to quit or face stir
JALANDHAR, Jan 20 — The All-India Sikh Students Federation (Badal) today said the removal of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as SGPC chief would lead to "liberation" of Akal Takht.

Principals for release of 95 pc grants
DORAHA (Ludhiana), Jan 20 — A general body meeting of the Association of the Principals of Non-Government Colleges affiliated to Panjab University was held in Guru Nanak National College here under the presidentship of Mr P.S. Sangha.

Cement scandal unearthed
GURDASPUR, Jan 20 — The police today unearthed a scandal involving the sale of cement be used in government works like laying of channels on roadsides in the district.

Amendment will hike drug prices by 20 pc: CITU
BATHINDA, Jan 20 — Mr Chander Shekhar, General Secretary, CITU, Punjab, today said that with the amendment to the Indian Patent Act, the prices of all types of drugs would rise by 20 to 30 per cent.

Memorandum against demolition

1,800 new phones by March

Aided school staff threaten stir

‘Ban’ demonstrations

24 jhuggis gutted

Most signatures 'forged'
Chandumajra defends edict
Tribune News Service

HARCHANDPURA (Patiala), Jan 20 — The Tohra camp today shook off its defensive posture in its ongoing war of attrition with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal with SGPC Chief G.S. Tohra's protege and Lok Sabha member Prem Singh Chandumajra announcing the tercentenary celebrations could be called Panthic only if the Akal Takht Jathedar was in charge of the same.

Addressing a gathering, he said the Shiromani Akali Dal could not claim to represent the entire Sikh Panth. "It must be recognised that we are celebrating the day of the birth of the Khalsa and not the Akali Dal", he observed.

The Lok Sabha MP took up cudgels on behalf of the Akal Takht Jathedar, saying only the "enemies of the Panth" could oppose the "hukamnama" issued by him. It was unfortunate that the Jathedar was being marginalised.

"I can understand the Congress criticising the Jathedar, but not the Akali Dal which has been returned to power with its blessings", he said.

In an obvious dig at SGPC members who have urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to review the edict, Mr Chandumajra said he found the plea "illogical". The Jathedar had only tried to strengthen Panthic unity.

The Tohra loyalist claimed that many signatures on the representation submitted to the Jathedar were "fake". Some had been taken on a blank paper while some members were coerced into signing the representation. He gave the example of Mr Bachan Singh Saphera of Dakala whose signatures he said had been forged and that of Bibi Kartar Kaur of Kurukshetra, Giani Bhagat Singh of Ludhiana, Kaur Singh Khera of Mansa and Rajinder Singh Dhami of Hoshiarpur who, he claimed, had been coerced into putting their signatures on the representation.

Tohra told to quit or face stir
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Jan 20 — The All-India Sikh Students Federation (Badal) today said the removal of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as SGPC chief would lead to "liberation" of Akal Takht.

Accusing the SGPC president of influencing Akal Takht into issuing a politically motivated "hukamnama" for his survival, Mr Avtar Singh Boparai, president of the AISSF (Badal) group, briefing the media here, said the 11-member executive committee of the AISSF had in a resolution issued an ultimatum to the SGPC president asking him to resign by February 20, failing which a "Tohra hatao, Akal Takht bachao" stir would be launched.

The meeting also decided to "expose" Mr Tohra for having "colluded" with Mr Harkishen Singh Surjit and Indira Gandhi in masterminding "Operation Bluestar."

The meeting criticised Mr Tohra for having visited the Nirankari Bhavan at Patiala to garner votes for his protege Prem Singh Chandumajra.

It accused Bhai Ranjit Singh of having "saved" Mr Tohra in the Nirankari controversy.

The AISSF president challenged the contention of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD (Amritsar), and Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala, president SAD (Democratic), that the general house of the SGPC was not competent to remove the Akal Takht jathedar. He said Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode had been removed by the general house.

He urged the Chief Minister not to vacillate and "oust" Mr Tohra from the SGPC presidentship. The AISSF (Badal) has called a meeting on January 31 at Manji Sahib Gurdwara in Amritsar to "monitor" the anti-Tohra campaign.

Slush greets visitors to Fazilka
from Praful Chander Nagpal

FAZILKA: At the very entrance to Fazilka people are greeted with a pool of stinking water, slush, potholes and a damaged road. Sullage from sewers can be seen for a half-kilometre stretch between the bus stand and the Ferozepore-Abohar crossing due to overflow of sewage from leaking manholes and lack of drains.

The road has been so badly damaged that it is not just unusable but even dangerous for vehicular traffic. This pitiable condition is the result of partial choking of sewers in Amar Colony, Basti Hazoor Singh and nearby localities and lack of drains along the road, despite the fact that there are more than 150 shops on either side of the road.

Although shopkeepers on both sides of the road are forced to put up with the foul smell emanating from slush and filth, yet no effort has been made by them to clear the drains in front of their shops to facilitate the flow of accumulated sullage.

In this hazardous situation several accidents occur on this busy road where there is traffic throughout the day and even at night. Many a time vehicles get stuck in the potholes. Rickshaws and two-wheelers often skid in the slush. Recently a rickshaw skidded on the road resulting in a woman passenger falling off it. The woman was crushed to death by a bus coming from the other side.

Earlier the accumulated water was drained from low-lying areas along the railway track behind shops by laying a pipe. However, the Railways have now plugged the pipe fearing damage to the railway track. The shopkeepers, whose trade has also been hit hard, have sent representations to the authorities demanding drainage of the accumulated water and repair of the damaged road but to no avail. The shopkeepers have now submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal seeking his intervention.

On the other hand, sources in the Municipal Council maintain that no funds for proper drainage and repair of this stretch of road have been earmarked so far due to a financial crunch.

43 clauses to be deleted from Municipal Act
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Jan 20 — A select committee headed by Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Balramji Dass Tandon, has decided to delete 43 clauses out of 642 clauses of the newly proposed Punjab Municipal Act, 1999.

This was stated by Mr Tandon while talking to newspersons here today. He said the select committee, which met at Chandigarh last night, had recommended 40 per cent share of collection of five taxes — i.e. road tax, stamp duty, entertainment tax, cinematography tax, electricity duty — for municipal committees, while the state government had decided it as 20 per cent.

Mr Tandon said the next meeting of the committee would be held on February 2 and 3 at Chandigarh to give final shape to the draft of the new Act to be presented in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha before March 15.

Mr Tandon denied reports of financial crisis in the state, but admitted there were some temporary financial problems. These would be overcome by accelerating tax collections.

He said chairpersons of all improvement trusts would be appointed within 15 days.

Mr Tandon ruled out any possibility of replacement of Punjab BJP president Daya Singh Sodhi.

Regarding increase in minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour in the state, Mr Tandon said a sub-committee, constituted under the presidentship of the Labour Commissioner, Punjab, would give its recommendations within three months.

Earlier addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone of Din Dayal Upadhayay Road at Banga, Mr Tandon appealed to the people to give more taxes for all-round development of the state.

Four escapees held
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 20 — One day after five undertrials under his charge escaped. Head Constable Sukhdev Singh, redeemed his reputation by being instrumental in the arrest of four of them.

Mr Sukhdev Singh was in the forefront when undertrials Sanjay Kumar, Sanjay and Balkar Singh were arrested from the old Rajpura octroi post and Buklia was nabbed from the railway station.

Police sources said the fifth undertrial Vinod, alias Goldi, who had also escaped yesterday, was still at large. They said one of those nabbed today, Buklia, was part of the Pardhi gang which had been busted by the police few months earlier.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the undertrials did not break open a door of the Bakshi Khana in the court where they were seated before appearances but had escaped as the door had come apart on its own.

Sources said Bakshi Khana was a very old building and not proper place to lodge undertrials specially when they were not handcuffed. Adequate security arrangements were not present in the Bakshi Khana.

A case under Section 224 had been lodged in the city kotwali station.

Principals for release of 95 pc grants
Tribune News Service

DORAHA (Ludhiana), Jan 20 — A general body meeting of the Association of the Principals of Non-Government Colleges affiliated to Panjab University was held in Guru Nanak National College here under the presidentship of Mr P.S. Sangha.

The meeting demanded immediate release of funds under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme and grant of new pay scales to principals, teachers and non-teaching employees.

A sum of Rs 9.78 crore for 1997-98 was long overdue. Colleges had not received any grant after October, 1998. This had put the colleges in serious financial crisis.

More than 40 principals attended the convention. Mr Tarsem Bahia, general secretary of the association, presented the annual report. During the discussion Mr Harinder Dhillon, Mr J.S. Gill, Mr R.S. Pawan and Mr Jaspal Brar raised various issues which were agitating the minds of principals in running the colleges.

The association resolved to hold a state-level convention of the principals and managements to chalk out its future course of action.

Mr Kashmir Singh Gill, DPI (Colleges), Punjab, was the chief guest. He was honoured by the principals on the eve of his retirement as DPI. Mr Inderpal Singh Hans and Mr Parminder Kaur Gill were also honoured on their retirement.

Mr Kashmir Singh Gill assured the principals of early implementation of the pension and gratuity scheme. He also assured them that he would take up the pending demands of the colleges with the authorities concerned.

Cement scandal unearthed
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Jan 20 — The police today unearthed a scandal involving the sale of cement be used in government works like laying of channels on roadsides in the district.

Government officials, contractors and businessmen are allegedly involved in the scandal.

Mr Varinder Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, said here today that the police intercepted a truck carrying 200 bags of cement that was supposed to be used in government construction works in Jammu and Kashmir.

The police arrested Ranbir Singh, Harjit Singh and Subash Chander, occupants of the truck bearing number (JK-02P-6595 which was carrying the cement bags. Ranbir Singh is a government contractor and Harjit Singh has a cement store at Pathankot.

According to the district police chief, the accused in their preliminary interrogation said that the cement was being stolen in connivance with an SDO and a junior engineer.

The district police chief said the police raided the store of Harjit Singh and seized another 600 bags of cement allegedly stolen from government stores.

Amendment will hike drug prices by
20 pc: CITU
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Jan 20 — Mr Chander Shekhar, General Secretary, CITU, Punjab, today said that with the amendment to the Indian Patent Act, the prices of all types of drugs would rise by 20 to 30 per cent.

Addressing a press conference here, he pointed out that granting exclusive marketing right (EMR) to multinational companies by the Central Government, by issuing an ordinance, would make Indian pharmaceutical industry sick and leave lakhs of people jobless.

He said at present the drug prices in other countries were higher by 20 to 30 per cent than in India and despite this, only 25 per cent of Indians could afford to buy drugs. He said with the amendment to the Act, the drugs would be out of reach of even rich people.

He said this move would be a major setback to the government's slogan, "health for all by 2000 AD."

Later, he addressed the rally of activists of the Punjab and Chandigarh Medical and Sales Representatives Union here.

Pak delegation to visit Punjab

MOGA, Jan 20 (PTI) — A 25-member Pakistani delegation comprising poets, businessmen, advocates and writers will visit Punjab and New Delhi for two weeks from January 26 on a goodwill visit under the auspices of the South Asia Fraternity Association.

The delegation, under the leadership of Dr Khalid Javed Jan, a renowned revolutionary poet, will first visit Dhudike, the birth place of Lala Lajpat Rai on January 26 and will participate in the three-day sports mela, the secretary of the association, Mr Satyapal said here yesterday.

The delegation will reach Delhi on January 31 where it will stay for a week.

Bus permits for unemployed youth
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 20 — The Punjab Government has begun a survey in the district to identify unemployed youth to provide permits for routes of mini buses under the self-employment scheme launched by the SAD-BJP government.

Disclosing this at a road safety function at Ghagga town organised by the Progressive Youth Forum, Mr B.C. Gupta, Secretary, Transport, said the government had also invited applications from youths to avail themselves of the benefits of the self-employment policy.

Mr Gupta said the scheme had got encouraging response in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana districts were as many as 267 permits had been distributed so far.

Under the road safety campaign, Mr Gupta said the government had decided to carry out special checking of the school buses regarding their road worthiness.

On the occasion the forum distributed tricycles among disabled persons.

Memorandum against demolition of shops
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 20 — Representatives of five colonies in the city yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and demanded an inquiry into the alleged illegal demolition carried out by the Municipal Corporation on January 15 in Kartar Colony, Ablowal Road, here.

Releasing a copy of the memorandum to the Press Sub Surjan Singh, president of Kartar Colony, Krishna Colony, Pritam Colony, Bazigar Colony and Sikligar Colony alleged that on January 15 the Municipal Corporation demolished certain shops in Kartar Colony and the surrounding areas. Many of the demolished shops were not illegal as their owners produced registration deeds of the shops to the demolition squad.

Gurumohan Singh alleged that while demolishing his shop the squad did not give him time to remove the stock.

The shopkeepers also alleged that the Municipal Corporation had not given them any notice of the demolition.

‘Ban’ demonstrations by Christians
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Jan 20 — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, Punjab, have urged the state government to ban all demonstrations by Christians in the state.

Mr Chiranjeev Lal Sharma, organising secretary of the parishad, told newsmen here yesterday that the VHP and the Bajrang Dal could not be silent spectators for a long time as Christians were trying to propagate against these organisations.

Mr Sharma also urged the government to prevent cow export from Punjab. He threatened to intensify struggle against cow export.

1,800 new phones by March
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, Jan 20 — The General Manager of Telecommunications, Mr G.S. Julka, said here today that 1,800 new telephone connections would be released by end of March in the local cantonment and city areas.

Mr Julka said there was a possibility of releasing new connections on demand by December-end.

He said with a view to improving servicing, the DoT would commission optical fibres between the city and cantonment areas within a week.

24 jhuggis gutted
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Jan 20 — As many as 24 jhuggis, belonging to migrant labourers from Bihar, were gutted in the coal handling plant of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant here.

According to delayed information received here today, the jhuggis were destroyed on Sunday at around 3 p.m. when the labourers had gone for work in the plant complex. All valuables of the labourers were burnt in the fire.

This has been the third incident in which jhuggis have been gutted at the same location. Earlier, about a year ago, in two separate incidents, more than 40 jhuggis were gutted within a gap of one month.

Mr S.K. Bansal, Chief Engineer of the plant, confirmed the incident, but could not give much details.

Mr Ajmer Singh, Superintending Engineer, Coal Handling Plant said the fire started from a jhuggi in which fire had been left in a pot by a labourer before leaving the jhuggi. He said the fire immediately spread to the adjoining jhuggis.

Aided school staff threaten stir
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Jan 20 — The Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union has served an ultimatum on the Punjab Government to issue notification regarding the already accepted demands of the union by January 31 failing which the union will launch a state-wide agitation in the first week of February.

The agitation will include rallies, demonstrations, casual leave en masse and "satyagrah".

Stating this here today, Mr Manohar Lal Chopra, general secretary of the union, alleged the government had adopted a "discriminatory" attitude towards the staff of aided schools by denying them benefits of the Fourth Pay Commission.

Mr Chopra said Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh had agreed to implement the demands on August 27 last. An announcement had also been made by the Punjab Government in this regard but nothing had been done so far.

The general secretary said if the teachers were forced to launch an agitation five lakh students would be affected.