Lawyer heckled, pushed around
PATIALA, Jan 23 — The district courts today witnessed an ugly scene with Mr R.S. Cheema, a senior lawyer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, being pushed around and heckled by certain lawyers and members of the public outside the court of the District and Sessions Judge.

Tarna dal chief supports edict
HOSHIARPUR, Jan 23 — Panth Akali Tarna Dal chief Jathedar Baba Nihal Singh today fully supported the "hukamanama’’ issued by Akal Takht on December 31 last.

Superintendent of jail held
PATIALA, Jan 23 — The Vigilance police has arrested Superintendent of the Central Jail Swaran Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a medicine supplier here late this evening.

Schoolboy kidnapped
LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — An 11-year-old boy was kidnapped by some unidentified persons from the Kochar market road in the morning here today.

Bus passengers looted
ABOHAR, Jan 23 — Four armed men looted passengers of a private bus this morning near Qabarwala village on the Abohar-Malout road.

• Small savings scheme prizes presented
• Court restrains university
• Petrol dealers' stir on Feb 8
• Salaries ‘not paid’
• PRTC union flays management
• Jr engineers’ plea to CM

• Process to acquire land stepped up
• 'No instance of forced conversion'
• Probe into paddy damage ordered
• Joga Singh cremated
• Overbridge project cleared

Respect edict, says Badal supporter
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — Support for the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who is involved in a political feud with the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, came today from unexpected quarters.

Mr Didar Singh Bains, Convener of the SAD (Badal) in North America, who is considered a staunch supporter of Mr Badal, said here today that all Akali leaders should respect the "hukamnama" issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, stalling action against the SGPC chief, till April 15.

He said that as Akal Takht was the supreme authority of the Sikhs, there should be no questioning of "hukamnama" issued from Akal Takht. He said that he fully supported the "hukamnama" and would like the entire Sikh leadership to obey it. Another "hukamnama" issued by Akal Takht with regarding to enforcing the "langar maryada" in gurdwaras abroad was also supported by him.

Mr Bains said that Mr Tohra had been President of the SGPC for the past 25 years. At least some respect should be shown to such a leader, he added. He said that if Mr Tohra continued to be President till April 15 it would not make any difference for the SAD.

He said the Sikh leadership should show some maturity as the entire world was looking towards its actions when it was about to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa. It was not a time to fight and grab the turbans of each other. He said that only those who did not concede the concept of Akal Takht were opposing the "hukamnamas" issued by Akal Takht.

Mr Bains, who had a meeting with Sikh intellectuals, industrialists and others for finding out ways and means to enhance interaction among Punjabis living here and those settled abroad, said the Akali leadership should celebrate the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa with a spirit of Sikhism and should not reduce it to a mere formality.

When asked whether the "hukamnama" issued could be taken back, he said that he was not aware whether any "hukamnama" issued earlier by Akal Takht was withdrawn. "It was a time to propagate Sikhism the world over and all Sikhs should make an endeavour for it", he urged.

When asked about the controversy in gurdwaras abroad with regard to the "langar" issue, Mr Bains said that this issue would be resolved in due course. He said that he was in favour of maintaining the "maryada" of the "langar" set by Sikh Gurus and the "hukamnama" issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht in this connection should be obeyed by all Sikhs abroad.

He denied that he met the Jathedar in Amritsar on behalf of Mr Badal. "I had gone to Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and met the Jathedar in connection with the visa issue," he said. No discussion was held with regard to the Tohra-Badal feud with the Jathedar of Akal Takht, he asserted. "Mr Badal had not sent me to meet the Jathedar", he said.

When asked about the violence in gurdwaras abroad, Mr Bains said that he was opposed to all sort of violence. He said that due to rift among Sikhs abroad, the Sikh community had suffered but efforts were being made to resolve the differences among them.

Earlier, addressing a small gathering organised by Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Foundation, Mr Bains said that Sikhs, who earlier struggled to settle abroad, had now become self-sufficient. They were in a position to have better interaction with people living in Punjab.

Lawyer heckled, pushed around
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 23 — The district courts today witnessed an ugly scene with Mr R.S. Cheema, a senior lawyer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, being pushed around and heckled by certain lawyers and members of the public outside the court of the District and Sessions Judge.

The incident occurred when Mr Cheema came out of the court after appearing in defence of Sarita, a Hindi magazine published from Delhi, regarding a case registered at Rajpura city police station for publication of certain derogatory articles concerning Hindu deities.

Before Mr Cheema and lawyers from the other side came out of the courtroom, there were heated exchanges inside the court. Certain lawyers took umbrage to remarks made by Mr Cheema in the court and started questioning him on these remarks immediately after they came out. Some members of the public also joined the lawyers opposing Mr Cheema following which slogans were raised and Mr Cheema was pushed around.

Few lawyers of the district court, however, broke the melee following which Mr Cheema and the other lawyers opposing him were taken to the Bar Council. After the incident was narrated to Bar Association secretary Vinay Vatrana, the latter himself apologised to Mr Cheema on behalf of the bar.

However, no attempt was made to find out which lawyers or members of the general public had heckled and pushed Mr Cheema around. The bar also refrained from giving its view on their behaviour.

Even in the Bar Council, some lawyers reiterated that Mr Cheema had overstepped his brief by making objectionable statements which had hurt their sentiments. Mr Cheema told the assembled lawyers that he had not said anything to them in his personal capacity and had only argued the case in court.

Later, a deputation of lawyers, including Mr R.S. Cheema, Mr Vinay Vatrana and Mr Balwant Singh Jandu appeared before the Sessions Judge, Mr K.S. Garewal, to say that the matter had been settled. Mr Vatrana expressed an apology to the court for the incident.

Devoted to rural uplift, literacy
From Raj Sadosh

ABOHAR: Under the national youth award scheme, awards were recently conferred on youth who had excelled in activities pertaining to development programmes and social service. While considering candidates for awards, the leadership qualities displayed by them were an important criterion.

Among the 22 youth selected from different states, only one — Om Parkash Setia — was from Punjab.

Setia, a school lecturer posted at Longowal village, was given a medal, a scroll and Rs 10,000 in cash by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee. The award for the year 1997-98 was in recognition of the outstanding voluntary work rendered by him in national development and social service.

Setia had been honoured earlier ( 1985-86) by the state youth services directorate and again got Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh State Youth Award for 1988-89.

Setia, born on October 6,1963 in Abohar subdivision, had during his studies at the DAV College here activated NSS units and founded the Gandhi Yuva Sangathan. Accompanied by several students, he was often seen picking up polythene bags from the drains and educating people on the importance of a clean environment and sanitation. To spread the message of secularism and brotherhood, he held many corner meetings, rallies, seminars, and even organised a peace march.

After completing his post-graduation here, he got a job at Ballia, the hometown of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar where he added tree plantation to his list of activities. He was instrumental in launching a "save energy" campaign and welfare projects for those affected with leprosy. The worked as scoutmaster at the Navodaya School and won the first prize at a state rally held at Gorakhpur.

When terrorists struck at Abohar, Setia was in the forefront taking the injured to hospital at risk to his life. When floods seriously affected Arya Anathalya at Ferozepore and other places, Setia worked hard in arranging three truck-loads of clothes and food for the affected people. He associated himself with campaigns of Baba Amte and Nirmala Deshpande and fought against dowry, alcoholism and gambling.

Having donated blood 15 times, Setia rising above regionalism married a girl from Uttar Pradesh refusing to accept dowry. He was an active participant in cycle rallies to promote literacy, national integration, communal harmony, cleanliness, health awareness and three plantation.

Setia, also known as Gandhi, set up a rural library and tried to take literacy to a backward community by holding regular evening classes.

He was honoured at golden jubilee function on Independence Day at Sangrur. His efforts to educate children of poor families regarding oral rehydration therapy, first-aid and home nursing were highly commended. he runs a yoga kendra also and inspired people for eye donation.

Talking to this correspondent recently, Mr Setia said he drew inspiration for his social work from his parents and his wife, Mukta Ratnam.

Birth anniversary of Netaji celebrated
From Tribune Reporters and UNI

ROPAR, Jan 23 — The 102nd birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was celebrated here today by the Netaji Research Foundation here and the All-India Jai Hind Parivar.

Major Sohan Singh of the INA inaugurated an exhibition of photographs on the life of the Netaji.

Major Sohan Singh said the nation could be steered out of the present crises by adopting the ideology and philosophy of the Netaji.

Mr V.P. Saini, Chairman of the Foundation, regretted that the government had abandoned the propagation of Netaji's ideas after his birth centenary year was over.

MOGA: Freedom fighters from various districts of Punjab assembled at Freedom Fighters Bhavan here and celebrated the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Saturday.

Freedom fighter Jagan Nath, 92 welcomed freedom fighters who had come from districts of Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jagraon, Faridkot, Muktsar and Ferozepore.

SONEPAT: The birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was celebrated here and in other parts of the district on Saturday. Members of various organisations participated in the prabhat pheri which was taken out in this connection.

Speakers recalled the selfless services of the Netaji towards the nation on the occasion.

SIRSA: The birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was celebrated here at the local Subhash Chowk by the Haryana Tarun Sangh on Saturday. Speakers paid rich tributes to Netaji on the occasion.

PANIPAT: The birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was celebrated here on Saturday. It was organised by the Bharat Dal. Mr Sukhbir Singh, president, Bharat Dal, presided over the function in which freedom fighters of Haryana participated.

US Congressmen seek visa for Jathedar
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Jan 23 — As many as 24 members of the US Congress have written to the Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS), to reconsider its decision on denial of visa to the Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh.

The Congressmen have expressed concern over the decision of the INS not to grant a visa waiver to Bhai Ranjit Singh.

"The Jathedar of Akal Takht is the highest religious and spiritual leader of the Sikh nation. His status in Sikhism is comparable to that of the Pope. Half a million Sikhs in the USA have been waiting for the Jathedar", the letter read.

It further says "Bhai Ranjit Singh has been apparently denied a visa because he has served time in an Indian jail. By that standard, President Mandela of South Africa, President Havel of the Czech Republic, Mr Yasser Arafat, Gerry Adams and others should have been barred from this country."

Tarna dal chief supports edict

HOSHIARPUR, Jan 23 (UNI) — Panth Akali Tarna Dal chief Jathedar Baba Nihal Singh today fully supported the "hukamanama’’ issued by Akal Takht on December 31 last.

A meeting of the dal to this effect, was held at Gurdwara Harian Belan 8 km from here.

Baba Nihal Singh said that the "hukamnama" was according to the Sikhs traditions and it was the duty of every Sikh now to follow it strictly,

He said that tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa should be celebrated with the blessings of Akal Takht.

Baba Nihal Singh appreciated Singh Sahib of Akal Takht for inviting the meeting of all Sikh organisations on February 2 to chalk out the programmes for the celebrations.

He said that the Panth Akali Tarna Dal would participate in this meeting.

He made it clear that his dal was totally a non-political organisation.

He appealed to Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal President Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra to follow the Panthic decisions upto Baisakhi this year.

Superintendent of jail held
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 23 — The Vigilance police has arrested Superintendent of the Central Jail Swaran Singh, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a medicine supplier here late this evening.

According to sources, the Superintendent of the jail struck a deal for releasing the payment of long pending bills of the medicine supplier amounting to about Rs 5 lakh. His charge has been given to the Deputy Superintendent. A case has been registered.

Schoolboy kidnapped
From Our Correspondent and PTI

LUDHIANA, Jan 23 — An 11-year-old boy was kidnapped by some unidentified persons from the Kochar market road in the morning here today.

The boy, Kashyap Arora, a student of Sacred Heart High School, was going to attend school in an autorickshaw with some other students when four young men in their twenties (all clean shaven) suddenly stopped their white Maruti car in front of the autorickshaw. Two of them came out. One of them pointed out a revolver at the driver. The other asked the boys inside as to who was the son of Mr Kanwal Arora.

After the confirmation, he lifted the boy and told him that he was wanted back home by his grandfather. The car then escaped with the boy towards Pakhowal Road and disappeared.

The police has registered a case.

Bus passengers looted
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Jan 23 — Four armed men looted passengers of a private bus this morning near Qabarwala village on the Abohar-Malout road.

Sources said the Amritsar bound bus of the People Transport Company left Abohar bus stand at 4.20 a.m. The culprits had reportedly boarded the bus from here. They were carrying pistols and sharp-edged weapons with them.

They reportedly forced the driver to stop the bus near a canal outside the village at around 4.45 a.m by firing a shot inside the bus that pierced a window pane.

The bus is used every Saturday by many cloth merchants who travel to wholesale markets in Amritsar. A passenger who tried to resist the robbers was injured with a sharp-edged weapon.

A Tata Sumo vehicle that had been reportedly following the bus was used by the robbers to escape. A tyre of the bus was punctured by the men by firing a shot while fleeing.

Small savings scheme prizes presented
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 23 — Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Minister for Finance, here today said that small savings played an important role in the economy of a state as more than 50 per cent of the state's annual plan outlay was met from the resource mobilisation under small savings deposits. He said the net deposits in various small savings schemes had touched a record level of Rs 1448 crore in the current year.

Capt Singh was addressing a function in connection with a prize distribution function of a small savings scheme.

He said with the active involvement of thousands of agents and investors, Small Savings had become a people's movement in the state. He also launched a logo of "Banda Khush" for small savings organisations in the state.

He said the government had been adopting new marketing strategies and computerisation to start new methods to enhance mobilisation.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the district had achieved the target under small savings for the current financial year which was Rs 18 crore.

Mr Vinod Mumar Bhalla, Director, Small Savings, Punjab, Mr R.S. Cheema, former minister also addressed the gathering.

Prizes to best agents of each sub-division of the district and other officers for contribution towards small savings were also awarded.

Court restrains university
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 23 — A district court here today restrained Punjabi University from initiating any disciplinary or departmental proceedings against two professors of the Department of Business Management till February 10.

Civil Judge H.S. Gill passed these orders on an application by Dr M.S. Bedi and Dr Gurdip Singh who pleaded for ad interim injunction to the university, restraining it from taking any action against them on the basis of an inquiry report.

The applicants alleged that the university had prepared an "illegal" inquiry report against them. The inquiry officer had not sought their explanation at any stage of the investigation.

The court upheld the application, observing that if the stay was not granted the applicants would suffer an irreparable loss. The court also restrained the university from acting in any way on the inquiry report submitted against the professors.

Petrol dealers' stir on Feb 8
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Jan 23 — The Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association has decided to observe a strike on February 8 in protest against disparity in sales tax on petrol products in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The vice-president of the northern region petrol dealers, Mr J.P. Khanna, in a statement here yesterday said that in spite of various representations and the closure of outlets on December 28, no action had been taken to redress their grievances.

Salaries ‘not paid’
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Jan 23 — The Junior Doctors Association has alleged that its members have not paid salaries for December.

The vice-president of the association, Dr Karamjit Singh, in a statement here yesterday, said the college had been without a regular Principal since December 1. This had resulted in the delay in the disbursement of their salaries.

The association alleged that the new Principal, Dr S.S. Sidhu, who took over in November had been on leave.

Dr Karamjit Singh said their arrears amounting to over Rs 3 crore. which the college authorities had received in October last year, too, had remained unpaid.

The association urged the state government to appoint a full-time Principal to streamline the functioning of the college.

PRTC union flays management
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 23 — The PRTC Workers Union, AITUC, has urged the management to improve deteriorating economic conditions of its employees.

In a statement here yesterday. Mr Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the union, said the management had adopted an adamant attitude towards the workers' demands which was hitting the staff economically. Issues like staff shortage and the slow pace of promotion were hanging fire. Now the management had refused the payment of 22 per cent dearness allowance from January 1 this year and had also stopped the payment for overtime work done by the staff. Mr Dhaliwal further alleged that even arrears of pensioners were not being given.

Process to acquire land stepped up
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Jan 23 — Objections by shopkeepers notwithstanding, the PWD Punjab, has accelerated the process to acquire land for constructing roundabouts on the Chandigarh-Kharar-Kurali road in Kharar as well as Kurali.

Mr Sukhwinder Pal Singh, Land Acquisition Officer, PWD (B&R), Jalandhar visited Kharar yesterday and heard traders objections.

The traders pleaded that a bypass could be constructed from the Khanpur bridge to the Balongi bridge. They said their business would be affected, if the government went ahead with its plan on the roundabout.

'No instance of forced conversion'

MOGA, Jan 23 (PTI) — The National Minority Commission had not found any instance of conversion into Christianity by force or allurement.

Vice-Chairman of the commission, Prof Bawa Singh, talking to a deputation of a large number of Christians here last evening, said the minorities should be given more rights and facilities.

He pleaded that Hindus in six states where they were in minority should also be treated as minorities.

The delegation alleged that certain fundamentalists in the city were threatening Christians.

Probe into paddy damage ordered
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Jan 23 — The Punjab Government is reported to have ordered a high-level inquiry into the cause of damage to 20,000 bags of paddy valued at over Rs 1 crore belonging to Markfed and lying in the open for the past several years in a godown of a local contractor.

The paddy had been rendered unfit for human consumption.

Jr engineers’ plea to CM
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — The Joint Action Committee of Junior Engineers of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh in a statement issued here today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to direct the officials concerned to implement the accepted demands of junior engineers.

Mr Amar Singh Randhawa, Convener of the committee, said a few weeks ago representatives of the committee had held a meeting with the Punjab Chief Secretary and he had accepted the demands of the committee which included enhanced salary structure, status and allowances to junior engineers working in various departments, boards and corporations of the Punjab Government.

Mr Randhawa said these demands had not been implemented so far. He said that the Finance Department was delaying the implementation perhaps due to financial crisis. He said as the Finance Minister had stated there was no financial crisis in the state, the agreed demands of the committee should be implemented at the earliest.

Joga Singh cremated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 23 — Eminent Punjabi writer, Mr Joga Singh, who died on January 20 following a heart attack, was cremated here today. His son, Manjit Singh, lit the pyre.

A large number of writers, artists, scholars, politicians, representatives of different political parties and employees of the Punjab School Education Board in which Mr Joga Singh was posted as Joint Director attended his funeral.

The cremation was delayed as his daughter, Mrs Charan Reshma, was to come from the USA.

Overbridge project cleared
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Jan 23 — The much-awaited railway overbridge at Rajpura township will soon become a reality as the Punjab Government has given clearance to the project.

Stating this at Damanheri village while laying the foundation stone of a road, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Local Bodies Minister, said work on the railway overbridge would start in April and would be completed in a year. With this bridge, traffic jams at railway barriers would end, he hoped.

He said the government would spend Rs 1.5 crore to construct link roads connecting all villages in Rajpura block.

He said the government had also approved a plan to start a blood bank at Rajpura Civil Hospital. He said the Patiala-Rajpura road from bypass to the Ambala-railway barrier would be widened.