Thursday, July 22, 1999
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Thursday, July 22, 1999 |
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Badal's daughter in race
for Tarn Taran CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, announced here today the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. Badal camp divided against Tohra FATEHGARH Sahib, July 21 — The SAD (Badal) district unit, here has disintegrated into small squabbling factions instead of uniting in Jathedar G.S. Tohra's home district. |
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Tohra
summoned on Sept 14
Villagers return home Fee
for MBA, B. Tech revised Teachers
hold rally against govt apathy |
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| Councillor booked for fraud Medical teachers asked not to launch stir Punjab Govt-MNC agreement on wheat flayed |
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RRD to contest Lok Sabha poll |
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Badal's daughter in race for
Tarn Taran CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Parkash Singh Badal, announced here today the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. The Union Minister for Food, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, has been renominated for the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat while Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal has been chosen to contest from the Ropar reserved constituency. Mr Zora Singh Mann would recontest from Ferozepore and a fresh face, Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, has been nominated from the Patiala constituency where earlier Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra was elected on the SAD ticket. Mr Chandumajra this time would be a candidate of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Addressing a press conference Mr Badal said the SAD would extend support to Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, a leader of the Bahujan Samaj Morcha, from the Phillaur constituency. Mr Kainth was elected from the Phillaur constituency earlier also and he would be contesting again from that area. Mr Badal said the remaining candidates would be announced within a week or so. Asked about Jalandhar seat, Mr Badal said there was no dispute with regard to this seat with the SAD's electoral ally, the BJP. Mr Badal added that the SAD had given three seats to the BJP and the SAD's candidate would contest from Jalandhar. The SAD chief admitted that Mr I.K. Gujral had expressed his desire to contest from Jalandhar again this time a few months ago. But in recent weeks no contact had been made by Mr Gujral with him in this connection, Mr Badal claimed. Quizzed whether the SAD would extend its support to Mr Gujral if he decided to contest from Jalandhar, Mr Badal said he would have to consult the BJP in this regard. Informed sources in the SAD said Mr Badal had made up his mind to give the party ticket for the Jalandhar seat to Mrs Prabhjot Kaur, wife of Mr Darbara Singh, who died of a heart attack when he was the Governor of Rajasthan. Sources said that the SAD was seriously thinking of changing its earlier candidate, Mr Chitan Singh, who was elected from the Bathinda seat. Mr Gura Singh, an inspector in the Cooperative department, is expected to be the SAD candidate for Bathinda seat this time. He has the support of Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, state Minister for Irrigation, and president of the district unit of the SAD. Likewise, the SAD is also in search of a new face for the Ludhiana seat. Sources said the party leadership wanted to put up a candidate belonging to the Ramgharia community from Ludhiana. But so far it has not got a suitable candidate. The sources added that if a suitable Ramgharia candidate could not be found then the party would renominate Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, who was elected last time. There is also a debate going on as regards Tarn Taran seat in the party. Mrs Parneet Kaur, daughter of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is strong contender for the SAD ticket from there. Last time she had urged Mr Badal to nominate her from Tarn Taran but he did not agree. Again she is in the race for the ticket this time. It was expected today that Mr Badal would also name his son for the Faridkot seat. But he has withheld the name of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is already campaigning in that constituency, for the time being. Asked whether the
outcome of the Lok Sabha elections will be a verdict
about the functioning of the Punjab Government, Mr Badal
said in the Lok Sabha poll only national issues would
dominate and not state issues. It would be Mr A.B.
Vajpayee versus Sonia Gandhi election and the issue would
be whether India-born or foreign-born should be India's
Prime Minister. |
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Badal camp divided against
Tohra FATEHGARH Sahib, July 21 — The SAD (Badal) district unit, here has disintegrated into small squabbling factions instead of uniting in Jathedar G.S. Tohra's home district. Separate public rallies and workers meetings each day by different factions have demoralised party workers. The recent admission of Dalip Singh Pandhi, a former minister and rival of Balwant Singh the local MLA into the SAD (B), has added fuel to the fire. After the expulsion of Jathedar Tohra, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister was deputed to manage the affairs of the party unit here to strengthen it and he visited every nook corner of the district to interact with grass root workers. However his visits antagonised local leaders including the lone Akali MLA from the district, Balwant Singh Sahpur, as they felt they were being sidelined. Mr Sahpur had deserted the Tohra camp in search of a ministerial berth, but his hopes have been belied. At present the Badal camp is divided into factions headed by Randhir Singh Cheema, former minister, Didar Singh Bhatti and Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli a confidant of Mr Badal. The latter group has joined hands with Mr Balwant Singh Sahpur. Another group owes allegiance to Capt. Kanwaljit Singh. Every group considers itself the real Badal Akali Dal. Recently when Captain Kanwaljit Singh organised block-level meetings to mobilise workers for the coming Lok Sabha elections, the MLA and his supporters and some of the other groups were conspicuous by their absence. They even hold separate meetings on Saturday, Mr Sahpur organised a public rally at Amloh town in his constituency, which was addressed by Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC chief and Raja Narinder Singh. This rally was not attended by the other factions. Instead the very next day the Captain Kanwaljit Singh group organised its own rally, attended by several ministers. The situation has come to a pass where each group is interfering in development projects undertaken by the other group leaving no stone unturned to stop development grants from being sanctioned. Similarly, in the Sirhind assembly constituency the Cheema group and Lalli group have objected to the release of grants to in each other areas of influence. The worst affected in
this tug of war is the district administration and Bibi
Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, SAD (B) candidate for the Ropar
parliamentary seat who has to attend the meetings and
rallies of each group as she need every ones support.
Sometimes she is humbled by the speakers criticising the
party itself although each group in its speeches, asks Mr
Badal to bring the warring groups together so that the
chances of the party may not be jeopardised. |
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Tohra summoned on Sept 14 AMRITSAR, July 21 — The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today ordered that notice be served on former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, through an advertisement in a newspaper in the case filed by 10 former pro-Badal SGPC executive members since notice could not be served on him by other means since January 1 when the case was filed. The commission, headed Mr Manmohan Singh Brar, also ordered that notice be served on a pro-Tohra former SGPC executive member. Mr Gurvinder Singh Shampur, by the beating of a drum since notice could not be served on him either. The commission has directed Mr Tohra and Mr Shyampur to appear before the commission on September 14, when regular hearing in the case would be taken up. The 10 pro-Badal SGPC members had sought disqualification of Mr Tohra and four others as members of the SGPC for five years as for grave Act of malfeasance and misfeasance, breach of trust neglect of duty etc. Other respondents in the case are Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, former Senior Vice-President, Mr Surjit Singh Cheema, Bibi Kuldip Kaur (all former executive members), Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, who was removed from the post of senior secretary by the commission earlier and Mr Surjit Singh Secretary. Earlier, the counsel for the applicants sought publication of the notice since the two respondents had been evading court notices. The court also adjourned contempt proceedings against Mr Tohra, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Mr Surjit Singh and Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta till September 14. The contempt application under Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act was moved by Mr Hardalbir Singh Shah, at present General Secretary and nine other pro-Badal SGPC members due to non-compliance of the commission orders dated February 3 for holding a meeting of the SGPC executive of February 10. The applicants had alleged that they wilfully and deliberately failed to call this meeting in Guru Nanak Niwas as per the directions of the commission and prayed for punishment of them under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for a period of six months and fine to the tune of Rs 2,000 and their conviction. The commission also
ordered exparte proceeding in this case against the
former Senior Secretary, SGPC Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta,
as there was no response to the notice served on him
through registered post. |
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Tohra men join SAD PATIALA, July 21 — A number of local leaders today joined the Shiromani Akali Dal in presence of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, and Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Rajya Sabha member. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said these leaders had left the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) led by Mr G.S. Tohra and announced total support for Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, prospective candidate of the SAD from the local parliamentary seat. Prominent among those who joined the SAD today were Mr Manjinderjit Singh Kapoor, former Senior Vice-President of SHSAD, Mrs Shanti former Vice-President, women wing, SHSAD and senior leaders like Mr Harchand Singh Sahni, Mr Bhupinder Singh Anand, Mr Baldev Singh Kohli and Mr Joginder Singh Kohli. Capt Kanwaljit Singh also said senior BJP leaders would campaign for Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra whose candidature would be formally announced in a few days. He added that Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr K.L. Sharma along with other senior BJP leaders would address several rallies in the local constituency. Responding to queries
about his alleged differences with Mr Surjit Singh
Barnala, Mr Dhindsa said he would support Mr Barnala in
the coming elections if the party gives him the ticket
from Sangrur. |
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Sikh women need not wear
helmets CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The Punjab Government today sent an SOS to the union government to take steps immediately to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmet while driving or riding two-wheelers. Informed sources said the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today contacted Mr L K Advani, Home Minister, over the phone to discuss the helmet issue and to request him for issuing a necessary exemption notification. Mr Badal at a press conference called here today said he had also taken up the matter with the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut Gen B K N Chhibber (retd). Asked what was the response of General Chhibber, the Chief Minister said he had assured him of finding a way out. The issue of helmet wearing by Sikh women has snowballed into a major controversy. In fact the Punjab Government today swung into action in this connection as its political rivals, like Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, have issued very-hard hitting statements in this regard. Mr Tohra in a statement appearing in a section of press stated yesterday that if there had been his government, he would have got the helmet wearing order cancelled before the sunset. He had alleged that Mr Badal was himself responsible for getting the helmet order implemented. Immediately reacting to Mr Tohra's statement, the Punjab Government today swung into action. Mr Badal said the state government had issued a notification a few years ago exempting Sikh women from wearing helmet. Newspersons drew Mr Badal's attention about the instructions issued by the Mohali police with regard to wearing helmets by Sikh women. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has in a separate press note issued in this connection said the state government had amended the Motor Vehicles Act and exempted the Sikh women from wearing the protective headgear (helmet). This was done as provisions in Section 129 of the Act had authorised the state governments to provide such exemptions. Newspersons quizzed Mr
Badal as to why so far the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir
Kaur, had not raised her voice on the helmet issue. Mr
Badal said she might not have been contacted by any
mediaperson. |
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Abductors held, boy rescued NAWANSHAHR July 21 — The local police today recovered an eight-year-old boy, Lovely who had reportedly been abducted from Friends Colony here on June 13, and arrested Chandan Singh (40) a resident of Rahon a self-styled doctor and Vinod Kumar, a labourer in this regard. The police also seized a country-made .32 bore revolver and four cartridges from their possession. Giving this information at a press conference here today, the SSP, Mr Surinder Singh Sodhi, said it had become difficult for the police to trace the boy as several theories it was working on, had yielded no results. The police, which had been recording telephone calls being made by Chandan Singh to the mother of Lovely, Mrs Reena Rani, had tried to nab him from where he had been making the calls, but he succeeded in escaping. On July 11, on a piece of cartoon, he directed the boy's mother and his maternal grand father, Mr Dev Raj, a former sarpanch of nearby Gorakhpur village, to bring the cartoon and Rs 2 lakh at a bus stand at Belongi, near Kharar. Later he called them at Balachaur, but he himself did not turn up. Today at 4 a.m., he dropped a letter at the flour mill of Mr Dev Raj and asked them to come at a canal bridge near Kariha village. When the police came to know of it, a special operation was planned in which Mr Balkar Singh, SP (HQ), Mr Satinder Singh, DSP, Nawanshahr, Mr Jaswinder Singh and Mr Surinder Mohan Singh, both SHOs, and other police officials, all in plain clothes, were involved. The parents of Lovely were told not to go there. The DSP spotted the abductors, on a scooter, waiting for Mr Dev Raj near the canal bridge. After some waiting, they came back and stopped at a tea stall at the bus stand of Mallpur village. The DSP asked one of the ASIs, accompanying him to keep a vigil on them. After talking with the suspects, their purpose was confirmed. They were brought to the police station, where, upon searching them the other half of the cartoon was recovered. During interrogation, Chandan Singh revealed that he had been keeping the boy at his residence at Rahon since June 13. A police party was sent there and the boy was recovered. Chandan Singh was reportedly giving Lovely a tablet of Valium 5 everyday and some injections, the SSP said. The boy was also kept in the guise of a girl. The boy has been handed over to his mother and further interrogations are yet to be made. Chandan Singh, when
asked why he had abducted Lovely, said he said had done
it to take revenge from Mr Vijay Kumar, father of the
boy. He had hired Vinod Kumar, his accomplice, and
promised to pay him Rs 5,000 out of the ransom. |
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Fighting for full pension BATHINDA: Asso Kaur, a widow of an armyman belonging to Chak Ram Singhwala village of the district has been fighting for the past many years with the Union Government for getting her due. Asso Kaur, who has witnessed tragedy after tragedy in her life, has great fighting spirit and is determined to get her full pension which has been denied to her by the authorities concerned so far. Asso Kaur was married to Sepoy Bishan Singh about 70 years ago. Her husband died due to small pox while he was working in 10/13 FF Rifles on March 16, 1931. Few days later Asso Kaur's only child also died. Finding herself alone in her in-laws' house, Asso Kaur decided to not to marry again. However, she was thrown out by relatives of her husband. She was not given the share of her husband in the agriculture holding of the family. Asso Kaur, who was on the road now took the challenge and decided to get her rights from the family members of her husband. She filed a suit in a court in Ferozepore and kept on contesting it for many years till it was decided in her favour. "I used to go to Ferozepore from this village on foot. I would start my journey about seven days ahead before the date fixed for hearing. I kept on going to Ferozepore regularly till the suit was decided by the court and ultimately I got the share in the agriculture holding of the family of my husband," said Asso Kaur. She said, "I used to manage two meals a day by grinding the wheat on the traditional grinder for the whole night for the people. I have worked at a number of houses as domestic help to earn my living." Now Asso Kaur has been fighting for getting full pension meant for widows of armymen for the past many years. She could not get pension as relevant documents were not handed over to her by her father-in-law, Zora Singh. As there was no provision of pension for army personnel's widows when her husband died, she represented her case for pension about 25 years ago. She was granted pension from October 24, 1986, and not from the date of death of her husband. She said that the Ministry of Defence had extended the benefit of pension to the widows prior to January 1, 1964. The Minister of Defence ordered the grant of pensions to such widows from September 22, 1977. She demands that she should be given pension from the date of death of her husband or at least from September 22, 1977 as per the policy of the Ministry of Defence. She said she would leave
no stone unturned for getting her pension under the
policy of the Ministry of Defence if she survived. She is
about to be 100. |
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Jobs for martyrs' kin CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The Punjab Council of Ministers at its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today, has finalised the policy regarding appointments in the state's class I, class II, class III, class IV services to the dependent members of the families of "war heroes" as a token of honour and gratitude to the valiant jawans who sacrificed their lives for defending the borders of the country. The policy envisages that dependent members of the family would be offered Class I or lower posts depending upon their suitability. The educational qualification for non technical Class I and Class II posts would be graduation, whereas for Class III posts, it would be only matriculation. For class IV posts there would however be no academic qualification. The condition of experience prescribed for any of these posts, including technical posts, shall stand waived for appointment, under this policy. Appointees under this policy will also be exempted from the mandatory requirement of knowledge of Punjabi language or from passing Punjabi typewriting test where ever prescribed. The appointment to all these posts will be made on the recommendations of a High powered committee comprising the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Principal Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, Financial Commissioner (Dev), Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Principal Secretary, Finance, and Secretary, Personnel. For appointment under this policy against Class IV posts, Deputy Commissioner of the respective districts shall be competent to make recommendations to any department at district level. After considering the memorandum of the Administrative Department it was decided that in the case of death or disability ranging between 75 per cent and 100 per cent an ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh from the state government will be given in every case. In addition, out of the Punjab War Heroes' Families Relief Fund, a grant of Rs 5 lakh will be given for the construction of a house or a residential plot available in any of the PUDA colonies will be allotted at the reserve price a sum of Rs 5 lakh will be paid out of the Punjab War Heroes' Families Relief Fund and the rest of the price will have to be paid by the allottee. In the case of disability ranging between 50 per cent and 75 per cent, an ex-gratia grant of Rs 1 lakh will be given and in the case of disability ranging between 25 per cent and 50 per cent an ex-gratia grant of Rs 50,000 will be given. The ex-gratia grant and the grant for the house will be given on priority to widow, children, dependent parents, brothers/sisters. In the case of death or disability leading to discharge, a suitable job will be given to the bereaved family . For this the Department of Personnel will frame rules and policy. These recommendations will be binding on the departments. Efforts will be made to adjust candidates in the Departments of their choice after ascertaining the preferences of the bereaved families. Even if there is no vacancy available in a particular department/office, a post of direct quota will stand created automatically over and above the present cadre strength and the same shall be adjusted as and when the next direct quota vacancy in that office/department accrues. To expedite the appointments under these rules, the relevant provisions of the Punjab Civil Services Rules will be amended. The Council of Ministers has also approved the proposal of upper age relaxation up to a maximum of 10 years to the disabled persons for direct recruitment in Class I and Class II services. The council of Ministers has granted ex-post factor sanction to increase the ex-gratia grant in respect of 34 victims of Dharam Yudh Morcha form Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh retrospectively with effect from August, 1981, as in the case of terrorist victims. The Council of Ministers has given its approval to the rules conferring powers of police officers to Dowry Prohibition Officers with a view to effectively curbing the evil of dowry in the society. The council of Ministers has granted its approval to the proposal to introduce preliminary examination for the posts of DSPs on the pattern of Punjab Civil Service (Examination Branch), Class I, preliminary examination to be conducted by the PPSC, the preliminary examination shall consist of two objective type papers, one in general studies and one subject to be chosen from the list of optional subjects of 150 marks each.The Punjab Police Rules, 1959, will be suitably amended for conducting this examination. The Punjab Council of
Ministers has also granted its approval to the proposal
under which landless prisoners would be given six weeks
parole (temporary release) twice a year as is given to
the prisoners who own agricultural land. |
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Fee
for
MBA, B. Tech revised AMRITSAR, July 21 — Guru Nanak Dev University has revised the fee structure for MBA and some B.Tech courses regarding admissions against NRI seats for 1999-2000 academic session. This decision has been taken at a meeting of a committee appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr H.S. Soch, for the purpose. Giving details, Dr Soch said as per the revised schedule the students would have to pay a total fee of $ 6,000 in two equal instalments for the MBA course. Earlier the total fee was $ 8,000 for the same course. The Vice-Chancellor said the fee for B.Tech in electronics and communications had been reduced from $ 16,000 to $ 10,000 payable in four instalments. Similarly, Dr Soch said the NRI fee for B. Tech in sugar technology, textile chemistry, food science and technology and urban and regional planning had been revised from $ 5,000 to $ 4,000 payable in four instalments. He said under this decision the total NRI fee for bachelor in Architecture would be $ 5,000 against the previous total fee of $ 10,000. He, however, clarified that there would be no change in the fee structure for other courses in the university for NRI seats. Talking about the preference for admission against NRI seats, Dr Soch said first preference would be given to foreign NRI students while second preference would given to foreign NRI sponsored students, and non-sponsored but ready to pay equivalent amount in Indian currency would get the third preference. The Vice-Chancellor
added that it had also been decided that those who had
qualified CET-1999 test conducted by Punjab Technical
University for B. Tech. B. Arch course would be given
admission against NRI seats as per their number on the
CET merit list. Those who do not have the CET score would
be given test as already given in the prospectus and
admission would be made as per their merit in the
separate entrance test, he added. |
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Villagers return home AMRITSAR, July 21 — Even as residents of border towns including Ajnala, Valtoha, Jhabal, Ramdass and Lopoke (Amritsar District) who had migrated to safer places due to the escalation of warlike situation in the Kargil sector have returned to their homes. There are few villages, especially in the Khemkarn sector (Amritsar), Dera Baba Nanak, Narot Jaimal Singh and Dorangla towns of Gurdaspur district (which are in the firing range) are returning back at slow pace. As per official reports of the 2000 residents of Serai Amanat Khan who had gone to safer places, as many as 1,625 had returned to their homes. Similarly in Cheema Kalan 1,680 people who had migrated had returned. In Dauke which faces Pakistan from three sides as many as 1,350 residents had come back. In Attari town which was only 2 km from the Indo-Pakistan border more than 6,000 people had returned. In Dhanoe Khurd which is only 1 km away from the border, more than 4,000 residents have come back. A large number of residents of mode, Roranwala Khurd, Dande and Atalgarh villages have returned. Mr J.B. Birdi, Inspector-General (Border Range) when contacted said although most of the residents of the border villages in Amritsar district had returned after normalcy returned in the Kargil sector, yet as many as 42 pickets set up by the police there would not be withdrawn. He said these pickets were opened in border villages for taking preventive measures in the wake of heavy exodus which took place in the recent past. The villages of Ajnala
subdivision, where almost everyone had returned to their
homes included Ballarwala, Tera Rajputan, Dalla Rajputan,
Sarangwal, Khanwal, Shekhbhai, Manji Mian, Balras,
Chartewali, Jagdev Khurd and Khanwala. The villages near
Ramdass town where all migrants had returned included
Mulekot, Udderdhaliwal, Burj, Dehra and Bhindi Nain, etc. |
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Teachers hold rally against govt
apathy JALANDHAR, July 21 — Teachers from non-government colleges in the district held a rally here today at the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall to protest against the state government's apathy about strengthening the state-founded education system. Addressing the rally, their national-level leader Mr V.K. Tiwari, alleged that the state government had abandoned the education policy while taking negative decision such as lowering the age of retirement from 60 years to 58 years against the Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ministry's notification regarding the enhancement in retirement age. The union leader condemned the HRD Ministry and UGC notification (dated July 27, 1998, November 6, 1998 and December 24, 1998). Mr Tiwari pointed out that the non-aided affiliated colleges as on January 1, 1996, had been left out of the purview of the aid though 80 per cent central monetary help was assured. Moreover, the teachers had been denied provisions like counting of past service rendered in other colleges and universities, adjustment of total service in the new structure of scales, designation of reader and professor and payment of arrears in single instalment. Voicing the cause of the teaching staff like DPEs and librarians who were deemed teachers by the university Acts, Mr Tewari demanded that they be given the benefit of fixation at the basic pay of Rs 14,940 on a par with other teachers. He clarified that the UGC notification of December 24, 1998 had been issued with the full concurrence of the HRD Ministry and be implemented as a full package by the state government. The bureaucrats were raising unwarranted questions on the issues like retirement age, feeder grade, refresher courses, incentive increments for Ph. D. holders, all existing posts on January, 1996, and parity fixation for DPEs and librarians. The Union also demanded
the immediate release of the arrears amounting to Rs
23.61 crore for 1997-99 as committed by the Chief
Minister on April 21, 1999. Later the PCCTU submitted a
memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy
Commissioner. |
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Punjab BJP on August 1 PHILLAUR, July 21 — The 5-member election committee of the Punjab BJP, headed by its state president, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, will finalise its list of names of BJP candidates for the seats of Amritsar. Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituencies for the coming Lok Sabha elections at a special meeting to be held on August 1 at Chandigarh. Stating this here Punjab BJP chief Daya Singh Sodhi told newsmen here today that the other members on the election committee were Punjab Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, Local Bodies Minister Balramji Dass Tandon besides party’s vice president Brij Lal Rinwa and general secretary Jugal Mahajan. Mr Sodhi said that the panel’s recommendations would be sent to the BJP parliamentary board, which would finalise the list during its two-day meeting at New Delhi on August 2 and 3. Asked about the BJP reported claim to the Jalandhar seat won by former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral last time Mr Sodhi said the SAD-BJP alliance would contest and win the seat at all costs. Mr Sodhi said that the proposed third front including some Akali would pose no challenge to the ruling combine. He said the state BJP
will finalise its poll strategy in its special meeting
scheduled to be held on July 22 at Chandigarh and on July
24 at Pathankot. Mr Narinder Modi, incharge, Punjab
Affairs will address the Pathankot meeting. |
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Heavy showers cool region CHANDIGARH, July 21 — The monsoon rainfall so far has been more than the average in Punjab and Chandigarh, while it has been normal in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The rain brought the day temperature 28.4° around 5 degrees below normal for the second consecutive day in the city and its surrounding areas. In Punjab, however, the rains, so far, have been 20 per cent more than the average. This has been the second year that rainfall in Chandigarh has been above average. Last year the rainfall was 117 cm almost 40 cm more than the average. This year the city has so far received 47 cm of rain that is 19 cm in excess of the average. Actually monsoons have been less active than the average in Himachal and Haryana but the Meteorological Department calculates rainfall on the basis of an average mean rainfall of the season between June 1 and September 30. Any variance of 19 per cent less or more than the calculated average is treated as normal rain. Overall the rain has been normal in Haryana but the southern belt of Rohtak (5 cm of rain), Narnaul (4 cm) and Hisar (6 cm), have remained largely dry as the rainfall has been below average till this morning. In Himachal Pradesh Shimla with 32 cm rain has received 9 cm less rain this time while Solan with 10 cm of rain is behind by about 31 cm. The present spell of rain has been caused due to upper air cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan adjoining Rajasthan and Punjab. Besides this the local Meteorological Department said the monsoon had been active in these parts. With more rain predicted in Himachal Pradesh the water level in the reservoirs of Bhakra, Pong and Dehar dams is likely to rise. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has been informed about the possibility of heavy rain in the region, the acting Director of the local met office, Mr Manmohan Singh, said. A high ranking source in the BBMB said there was no cause for alarm immediately. Besides this the met
office has also prepared a list of emergency telephone
numbers of Punjab and Haryana to inform them in case of
any major rain prediction during the next two months. |
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Councillor booked for fraud GURDASPUR, July 21 — The police has booked Kuldip Singh Kangla Municipal Councillor of Dhariwal, under Section 420 of the IPC for alluring a youth of the area on pretext of getting him a job in return of money. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, while briefing newsmen here today said the accused extorted Rs 25,000 from Santokh Singh of Amipur village of the district on a plea of getting his son, Davinder Singh a job in the Cooperative Department. Santokh Singh had made the payment on May 25, 1998. The SSP said the accused
after repeated demands from the complainant did not pay
him the said amount nor could get him the job. On being
pressurised the accused issued a cheque to the
complainant which has not been honoured so far. |
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RRD to contest Lok Sabha
poll PATIALA, July 21 — The Rashtrya Rakshak Dal (R.R.D.), a political wing of the Indian Ex-services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, has decided to contest the local parliamentary seat along with those of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana and called upon suitable war heroes or war widows with political inclination to offer their candidature. Mr Bhupinder Singh Sohi, convener of the RRD, said in a press note that ex-servicemen and widows of the constituency have pledged to offer all-out support to the Dal candidate to ensure his or her entry into Parliament. Ex-servicemen lament that the present political set-up has been polluted to the extent that even the war disabled men and war widows did not get proper attention they deserve. Often the re-employed ex-servicemen and widows get shabby treatment at the hands of their employees. The Punjab Government
and the Central Government had been announcing several
benefits and measures to resettle the ex-servicemen and
widows in the past but the tardy implementation and
tricky measures adopted by the bureaucracy had compelled
the soldiers to think about their entry into politics. |
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Medical teachers asked not to PATIALA, July 21 — The PCMS Association, Punjab, has urged upon the state government not to withdraw or dilute pay scales already granted to Punjab medical and dental teachers working in the state medical and dental colleges. The patron, president and general secretary, respectively, of the association in a joint statement said here yesterday that the PCMS association had forcefully taken up the issue with the Punjab Government and expected a positive outcome. The association also
advised the Medical Teachers Association not to resort to
agitation which may do more harm than good to their
cause, the association maintained. |
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AISSF revamps organisation JALANDHAR, July 21 — In a major move the All-India Sikh Students Federation (Gill group) has revamped the entire organisational structure. The president of the AISSF, Mr Harminder Gill, while announcing the new party structure, said today that 10 senior vice-presidents, 16 vice-presidents, 12 general secretaries, eight joint secretaries, eight organisation secretaries, five secretaries and a 55-member working committee, besides 25 district presidents. The new party structure
represents 70 per cent of students and 30 per cent
self-employed youths. The party president said members
for the advisory board and the legal cell would be
announced soon. However, the final list of office-bearers
would be announced soon, he added. |
||
Medical/dental test result on
July 28 AMRITSAR, July 21 — Guru Nanak Dev University will declare the result of the postgraduate entrance test for admission to medical and dental courses on July 28. Stating this here today Dr Satinder Singh, Coordinator, PGET-1999, said some candidates were issued provisional roll numbers conditionally on obtaining an undertaking that they would submit the required documents in proper form before the declaration of the result. The coordinator said,
those candidates who were issued provisional roll numbers
were directed to submit the required documents by July
27, otherwise their result would be declared as
cancelled. Punjab Govt-MNC agreement on BATHINDA, July 21 — Mr Hardev Arshi, CPI leader, Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Secretary, Punjab Kisan Sabha, today condemned the Centre for granting permission to a multinational company (MNC) to buy wheat and paddy from Punjab for three years. Addressing a press conference here, he pointed out that by giving the permission the Central Government was trying to keep government agencies away from procurement centres under a "planned conspiracy". He said if the multinational company monopolised the entire procurement operations in the grain markets of the state, the farmers of Punjab would be at their mercy. He alleged that the state government, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, which claimed to be a champion of farmers' interests, had proved that it was anti-farmer and anti-people. He demanded that before implementing the agreement, the state government should take the Vidhan Sabha into confidence. The multinational
company would buy wheat and paddy at cheap rates and sell
flour and rice at higher rates, he claimed. |
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Octroi posts auctioned BATALA, July 21 — The octroi posts of the Municipal Council, here was auctioned yesterday at the Municipal Office here. The auction was conducted under the direct supervision of Mr S.S. Shergill, Deputy Director, Local Self Government, Punjab, in Amritsar. There were seven bidders
who had deposited Rs 5 lakh each as guarantee money. M/s
Rakesh Naib and Company, Pathankot, gave the highest bid
for Rs 3.43 crore for the year starting from August
1,1999 to July 31, 2000, and got the octroi posts. 5 killed as car, tanker collide GURDASPUR, July 21 (UNI) — Five persons, including two teenaged sisters, were killed and two others injured in a collision between a car and an oil tanker on the Pathankot-Shahpur Kandi road on Monday night, a delayed report said here today. The victims were
returning home to Shahpur Kandi from Pathankot after
watching a circus. |
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Statute ‘violated' by GND
University AMRITSAR, July 21 — Mr Sukhminder Singh Randhawa and Mr Amarjit Singh Bai, president and general secretary, respectively of the Guru Nanak Dev University (Non-teaching) Employees Association, here yesterday alleged that the university authorities had "violated" the university statute by re-employing a librarian after the age of superannuation. They said Mr R.G. Prashar was employed as librarian on contractual basis for a period of two years. The statement alleged that the period of two years expired on July 15 and he had been asked to continue as librarian till further orders. The association demanded
that keeping in view the statute Mr Prashar should be
removed as librarian immediately. Kale kachhewale gang busted AMRITSAR, July 21 — The police has reportedly busted a gang of "Kale kachhewale" with the arrest of five persons. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Parmpal Singh Sidhu, district police chief, said with the breakthrough, the police had solved several cases of thefts. Those arrested have been identified as Rajbir Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Jasbir Singh, Ajit Singh, Hira Singh and Kuldip Singh. The police also
recovered huge quantities of stolen goods, including gold
jewellery from their possession. |
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