Saturday, June 5, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, June 5, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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No siropa
in sanctum sanctorum ‘Ghallughara divas’
SAD(A), SGPC men clash |
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Notice of
motion to CM No policy for care of
martyr’s family CM promises aid to soldiers' kin Badal unpopular, says Sukhjinder Mann, Rode, Wadala to form
alliance Mandi Board faces rough weather Tohra, loyalists hold closed-door
meeting PSSSB selection: record summoned
Mercury dips as region has rain BJP's approach on Kargil flayed No compensation for lensman's kin Cops' quarters in bad shape Health workers’ rally on June
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No siropa in sanctum
sanctorum AMRITSAR, June 4 — In a major decision, the SGPC has discontinued the age-old tradition of bestowing siropas and giving prasad of "patasas" in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple to end the "inequality" between the rich and the poor. The SGPC step has, however triggered a controversy with resentment being expressed by certain pro-Badal members of the Sant Samaj over this move. The SGPC Secretary, Mr Kulwant Singh, told TNS that a decision to this effect was taken at the previous SGPC general House meeting held on March 30. The decision was taken in the interest of the devotees who had been alleging that only the rich could get siropas whereas those who could not pay Rs 100 at the time of paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum were left out. The president of the Gurbani, Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj, Baba Mangal Singh of Satlani, Sant Anup Singh of Ber Sahib, Sant Ajit Singh of Mirankot, Sant Satnam Singh of Sur Singh, Sant Suba Singh of Koharka and Sant Baba of Isapur, addressing a joint press conference here today, said this move had caused resentment against the SGPC management headed by Bibi Jagir Kaur as these traditions were being observed since the days of the Sikh Gurus. They said these were historic traditions which could not be ended abruptly. "End of such traditions amounted to turning away from the Gurus", they added. The sants said they had brought the matter to the notice of the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani, Puran Singh, who had given an assurance that he would talk to the SGPC authorities for the restoration of the siropa tradition. They were of the view that the SGPC arrangement to make available siropas and prasad at stalls set up within the precincts of the Golden Temple amounted to commercialising of the old traditions". "This is bound to start a new controversy among the Sikhs." The sants said they would also meet Bibi Jagir Kaur to request her not to end these traditions. They believed that certain elements opposed to Bibi Jagir Kaur were behind this move as they wanted to "tarnish" her image. They warned that if the old traditions were not revived members of the Sant Samaj would be compelled to take stern steps in accordance with the wishes of the Sikh masses. The SGPC had
discontinued the offering of flowers and garlands in the
sanctum sanctorum about a year and a half ago on the plea
that this amounted to "disrespect" as in many
cases garlands were made by persons to use tobacco and
cigarettes. |
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‘Ghallughara divas’ SAD(A), SGPC
men clash AMRITSAR, June 4 — The SGPC today deployed its task force around the complex in view of the "Ghallughara divas" which is observed at Akal Takht every year to coincide with Operation Bluestar. Today, unsavoury situation arose in the SGPC complex when there was minor clash between SAD (Amritsar) officer-bearers and the task force in the complex when former brought Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book) for bhog ceremony in the office of Akali Dal (A) in the committee complex itself. Bhai Ram Singh, General Secretary, SAD (A) told mediapersons that officials of the SGPC and task force "insulted" the holy book when it was being 'escorted' to the office. He said that activists of SAD(A) where peaceful at that time when they were 'manhandled'. He appealed to the sacked Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh to summon Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Kulwant Singh, President and Secretary of the SGPC, respectively, at Akal Takht. When asked that Bhai Ranjit Singh stand sacked as Jathedar Bhai Ram Singh claimed that he was the "real Jathedar" of Akal Takht. The SAD (A) leader alleged that the unsavoury situation arose at the instance of the state government. Bhai Ram Singh further alleged that like the Beant Singh government, the Badal Government was also directly "interfering" in the Sikh affairs. He said Sikhs could never tolerate insult of the Guru Granth Sahib. He further said that "come what may" they would observe 'ghallughara divas' at Akal Takht. He said instead of creating hurdles, Mr Parkash Singh Badal should come to Akal Takht to pay tributes to those who had laid down their lives for the sake of Panth in June 1984. He said families of the "martyrs" would be honoured on the occasion. Bhai Ram Singh said that akhand path had been started in the Akali Dal office and bhog would be held on June 6. The ardas would be performed at Akal Takht the same day. He said the SAD (A) would remain peaceful in spire of provocation by the SGPC. UNI adds: However, timely intervention by SGPC Secretary Kulwant Singh prevented the incident from taking an ugly turn. The SAD(A) members were then allowed to proceed to their party office located behind Manji Sahib Dewan hall and allowed to begin the akhand path ceremony the bhog of which would be performed on Sunday being observed as 'ghallughara divas' (genocide day) by both the SGPC and the Akalis. Mr Kulwant Singh later told mediapersons that he had allowed the SAD(A) supporters inside as he did not want to show disrespect to the Guru Granth Sahib which they had brought along. However, the SGPC Secretary, before allowing the Akalis to proceed to their office, warned that the "akhand path" ceremony should be a purely religious affair and should not be turned into a political platform. Even after the bhog ceremony on Sunday no one would be allowed to make a political speech in the premises of the shrine, he said. Mr Kulwant Singh maintained that all Akali factions had clearly been given prior information that no one would be allowed to hold any function connected with the "ghallughara divas" either in the premises of the Golden Temple or for that matter on the premises of all SGPC-run gurdwaras. They were welcome to participate in the ceremony being organised by the SGPC at Akal Takht in this connection, he added. The SGPC also began the
Akhand path ceremony at Akal Takht today, the 'bhog' of
which would be held on Sunday. |
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Notice of motion to CM CHANDIGARH, June 4 — On a writ petition filed by Sant Tek Singh, Manager of Gurdwara Sahib Gurusar Dhanola, Sangrur, who apprehended danger to his life and dispossession from his, properties in the wake of the S.G.P.C. order dissolving all trusts of educational institutions, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered status quo and issued a notice of motion to respondents, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, for July 13,1999. Mr Justice G.S.Singhvi and Mr Justice M. S. Gill, who comprised the Bench also issued a notice to the State of Punjab, SSP, Sangrur, and Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur. The petitioner said on the demise of Sant Jagat Singh he became the mohitmim (Manager) of the institution. It was submitted that the institution which runs a religious vidyalaya is located in an area of about 3 acres. The area of the gurdwara is five acres. It was contended that during the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, the Sant Samaj decided not to share dais with Mr Badal. The petitioner said he had organised a religious march to Anandpur Sahib. He alleged due to the Tohra-Badal tussle, Mr Bharpur Singh, member of the District Grievances Committee, Sangrur, at the instance of Mr Parkash Singh Badal was trying to get control of the gurdwara and its institutions. It was further alleged that Mr Bharpur Singh had held meetings of undesirable elements at this house and the police too had visited the gurdwara a number of times. The Chief Minister had got dissolved all trusts of educational institutions via a public notice issued by the SGPC on April 6, 1999, petitioner said. He apprehended that the respondents would take forcible possession of the institutions. In similar cases filed
by the Nankana Sahib Education Trust, Ludhiana, and Guru
Ram Das Charitable Trust, counsel for the SGPC informed
the court that the resolution dissolving the trusts stood
withdrawn by the SGPC. The letters addressed to
principles of colleges also stood withdrawn. |
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No policy for care of
martyr’s family LUDHIANA, June 4 — Lance Naik Maluk Chand of 16 Dogra lays down his life fighting the enemy in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his widow and three children, the eldest of whom is 10 years old. Jaswinder Singh of 8 Sikh Regiment makes the supreme sacrifice fighting the Pakistani intruders in Kargil sector. Married only five months ago, he is survived by his young widow, a blind father and an ailing mother. Surinder Singh of 13 Punjab Regiment gives his life fighting intruders in the Anantnag area of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his aged parents. Deputy Commander Sukhbir Singh Yadav of 171 BSF battalion achieves martyrdom while fighting the intruders in Kargil sector. He is survived by his widow and children. Deputy Commandant Joy Lal of the ITBP dies in a landmine blast near Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his widow and two children besides aged parents. Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja is shot dead in cold blood by Pakistanis after he bails out of his plane in Kargil sector. He is survived by his widow, son and parents. Major Rajesh Adhikari lays down his life fighting Pakistani-trained infiltrators in the Dras sector. Married less than a year ago, he is survived by his widow and parents. A steady stream of casualties from Jammu and Kashmir in recent days has highlighted once again the need for a comprehensive well-thought-out policy to take care of the families of the martyrs. While the armed forces have institutionalised a system for providing succour and relief to next of kin of martyrs, the state governments of the region — Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh — which make a substantial contribution to the armed forces, lack a coherent policy and a reliable mechanism to implement it. "Their approach to the problem is totally ad hoc which tends to change with the changing priorities of the government of the day," says Col Chanan Singh Dhillon (retd), president of the Punjab and Chandigarh Ex-Services League. "A young man who joins the armed forces must have the feeling that he belongs to an elite force and, therefore, he is to be treated as a special case. Under no circumstances, should an ex-serviceman of the family members of a martyr be forced to run from pillar to post for claiming their privileges," he asserts. Take the case of reservation in government service for former soldiers and wards of martyrs in Punjab. Nothing illustrates the government attitude towards them more than the steadily shrinking percentage of reservation in the services. The reservation was originally fixed at 20 per cent which was later reduced to 15 per cent, then to 14 per cent and now stands at 13 per cent. Even this is implemented with certain amount of reluctance. The attempt on the part of the bureaucracy has always been to delay, dilute and even stop implementation of the 13 per cent reservation for ex-servicemen in the services, complains Colonel Dhillon. Cases relating to 220 war widows of the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan are still under process in Punjab. Despite voluminous file work, no land has been allotted to them so far. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, did well to attend the funeral of Squadron Leader Ahuja and offer a job to his widow. But what about the family members of other martyrs who may be equally needy, if not more, asks Colonel Dhillon. In Haryana, no one from the state government has bothered to write to the family of Deputy Commandant Sukhbir Singh Yadav of the BSF, leave aside offering any relief. All this points towards lack of a proper policy on the part of the government. Colonel Dhillon feels the government should involve ex-soldiers’ bodies like the Punjab and Chandigarh Ex-Services League in framing and implementing a policy. "It is time we
mature as a nation and begin to take care of our martyrs
and their families in a systematic manner. This is the
only way to attract India’s best to the armed forces
to serve the motherland to make up the deficiency of
about 13,000 officers and 50,00 other ranks in the Army
alone", he emphasises. |
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Amritsar's ‘chessmen’ for
Europe AMRITSAR: The game of chess which remained the first love of nawabs and kings in the past is losing its charm, as people in today's world have no time to play this game of brain and time. Amritsar which is the main manufacturing centre of chessmen in India is now surviving only on export to European countries. In today's world where life has become too fast, people have no time to spare and play the game. The chess industry is flourishing only on the basis of exports to European countries and the developed ones. The industry owners strongly feel that this game has to a great extent lost its charm and there is no local market or demand in the developing countries, mainly because people have no time and are busy trying to make both ends meet. The holy city is the main manufacturing unit. From here chess material is exported to the entire world. The industry was established 40 years back. Earlier the production was less due to handiwork but now machines have replaced human hands and business is being done on a large scale. There are about 50 manufacturing units in the city and six big ones doing mainly export. Local sale is very low — only a little in Delhi and Bombay. Interestingly there is not much demand even in Lucknow, the city of nawabs, where the game of chess flourished in the past. Another reason for the decline of this game and demand is lack of advertisement. Very few people know that the holy city is the main manufacturing centre of chess material. Raghubir Singh, of Rajput chess makers, who is in the business for 20 years, says the main business depends on export. Export is done to the whole of Europe and 50 per cent alone to the USA. There is a 10-crore turnover per year from this industry. Last year it was about 8 crore. He further says the main season of this business is from February to November. Mainly chessmen are made here. They are available in about 100 to 150 designs and are made of wood and board. The chess men are made mostly of rose wood, ebony wood, sheesham, bone and sandal wood. The wood is brought from Madhya Pradesh (MP). Chessmen are also made of "white wood", depending on demand . He said the samples come from abroad. Adding another chapter in the manufacture of the chessmen, the owners have started making chessmen in "figures", which are costlier than the regular ones and are more in demand in European countries. Each piece is minutely carved and fixtures are made. The pieces pass 25 stages before they are ready for packing. Baljit Singh, another exporter and manufacturer, who is in the business for 10 years, says business has picked up in the past few years due to more exports. He says about 100 regular sets are made in one month but only two sets get ready of high quality. On an average 20 sets are ready in a day. Chessmen of regular quality cost Rs 150-3000 and that of high quality, Rs 10,000-25,000. Ivory sets were also made which cost Rs 1 lakh. But now ivory has been banned by the government. Baljit Singh further says that militancy did not have any effect on the business as it mainly depended on export. Finance is the only problem because of which small scale industries suffer. Banks create problems and demand a lot of guarantee before giving loan. Santokh Singh, another manufacturer in the business for 10 years, says there is no problem with the business and it is mushrooming day by date due to good export. Earlier the government used to give 10 per cent bonus to exporters. But this export incentive has stopped. Lately they have introduced "coloured chessmen". They are in all 1600 shades. Like Amritsar is famous
for manufacturing chessmen, chess boards are famous of
Taiwan and Italy. About 2000 labourers are involved in
the business. They are from UP and Punjab. It takes about
three years to train a person. Chess is made in all
sizes. |
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Badal unpopular, says
Sukhjinder HOSHIARPUR, June 4 — A big public response to the recent conference of the Akali Dal (Tohra) at Ludhiana has confused the ranks and files of SAD (Badal) and encouraged Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s men to provide option to the electorates in Punjab who want to get rid of the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress. Mr Sukhjinder Singh former Education Minister and close associate of Mr Tohra told mediapersons at the residence of Mr Jaswinder Singh Parmar here today. He alleged that the Parkash Singh Badal’s government had failed miserably on all fronts. The people of Punjab had realised that Mr Badal had a single-point programme to promote his family. He said Mr Tohra had given suggestion to Mr Badal to appoint a functional President of SAD to lighten his workload, but Mr Badal made it a personal issue. His disrespect to Akal Takht and fights with Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Bhai Ranjit Singh had made him unpopular, he said. The people would not spare Mr Badal and his associates for showing disrespect towards Akal Takht. He said negotiations
were going on to form a third front with the BSP and
other like minded forces. He said there would be three
options for the voters. First to vote for the Congress
led by Maharaja of Patiala who was engaged in drawing
room politics. Second was SAD (B) BJP alliance and the
third option would be Jathedar Tohra’s SAD with BSP
and other like minded parties. The sole aim of third
front would be to promote interests of farmers and
downtrodden people. He hoped that this combination would
attract voters of all shades. He criticised Mr Badal for
making State Government bankrupt and for making unfounded
allegations against the proposed third front. He said
there was no chance of revival of terrorism. He said the
third front would go for sincere and honest politics. It
would play a constructive role for the uplift of people
and maintain equal distance from the Congress and the
BJP. |
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Mann, Rode, Wadala to form alliance JALANDHAR, June 4 (UNI) — President of three radical Akali factions decided here today to forge an electoral alliance among themselves and try to rope in the faction led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra to set up a third political front in Punjab to challenge both the ruling Akali-BJP combine and the Congress in the coming Lok Sabha poll. Confirming their decisions separately to UNI, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Jasbir Singh Rode and Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, President of the Amritsar, Panthic and Democratic Akali factions respectively, said former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh had agreed to "patronise" their broad panthic alliance and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo (BSP) Kanshi Ram had concurred for seat adjustment provided all Akali factions opposed to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal united under the umbrella of Bhai Ranjit Singh. The three hardliner Akali leaders claimed that forging of broad panthic alliance, including the faction led by Mr Tohra, would pave the way for setting up a third political front to challenge both the Akali-BJP ruling alliance and the Congress. Mr Mann said that he would discuss formation of the front with the leadership of the Janata Dal in Delhi tomorrow, Mr Rode said that he had discussed the issue with Mr Kanshi Ram in Delhi on May 26, while Mr Wadala claimed that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had given his concurrence for such a front. The meeting of three Akali leaders at the residence of Mr Wadala today was the outcome of earlier meetings between Mr Mann and Wadala and between Mr Mann and Mr Rode here on May 30 and Mr Mann’s parleys with Bhai Ranjit Singh at Amritsar the next day. Mr Wadala and Mr Rode today said that the meeting between Mr Mann and Mr Tohra at the latter’s residence in Tohra village today could not materialise. Mr Mann said that when he reached Mr Tohra’s home, the latter had left his residence because of his scheduled preoccupation. He said that he would again try to meet Mr Tohra to persuade him to join the three-faction alliance to make it a broad panthic alliance which was must for seat adjustment with the BSP as part of the boarder third political front in Punjab. Mr Wadala and Mr Rode said that they had authorised Mr Mann to again try to meet Mr Tohra to secure his nod for the panthic alliance. The three factional leaders hoped to persuade Mr Tohra to join hands with them because the former SGPC chief had proclaiming day in and day out that like them he was also committed to the supremacy of Akal Takht and dedicated to the task of restoring Bhai Ranjit Singh to the office of Akal Takht. Mr Rode today veered around to Mr Wadala’s view of "collective panthic leadership" instead of authorising Bhai Ranjit Singh to appoint a convener of panthic alliance. Mr Rode said that the presidium of panthic alliance could comprise representatives of Bhai Ranjit Singh and of the Sant Samaj, an umbrella organisation of Sikh saints, besides presidents of Tohra, Mann, Wadala and Rode factions of Akalis. Mr Mann and Mr Wadala concurred with the presidium arrangement delineated by Mr Rode. All three radical Akali leaders said they were against "monopolistic trend of leadership" in the Akali polity and hence their agreement to collective leadership to preserve inner-party democracy which they claimed had been throttled in the Akali party led by Mr Badal. Mr Wadala said that Mr Mann’s offer to Bhai Ranjit Singh to lead the Panthic alliance was out of respect to him but he added Bhai Ranjit Singh was welcome to "bless and guide the Panthic alliance" and no leaders, including Mr Tohra, would have any objection to it. Meanwhile, Mr Mann today
reiterated that he would not bring Khalistan on the
agenda of such a Panthic alliance which would contest the
coming elections within the parameters of the law of the
land. |
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Mandi Board faces rough
weather CHANDIGARH, June 4 — The Punjab Mandi Board is facing rough weather. The politico-administrative under-currents that are beginning to surface indicate that the board chairman, Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, a political appointee, and the Secretary, Mr P.S. Aujla, an IAS officer, often agree to disagree on several administrative matters. This tie between the two has had a cascading effect. That such a situation has arisen at a time when the things in the board were beginning to look up is, to say the least, unfortunate. Both from wheat procurement point of view and revenue earning, the board is comfortably placed. The incentive reward scheme introduced by Mr R.N. Gupta (a former Financial Commissioner, Development) has paid dividends just as has monitoring through flying squads. Even the pendency of cases involving employees against whom action is to be taken for their various acts of omission and commission has been expedited because the board has constituted a panel of retired IAS officers to hear such cases and decide at the earliest. The board has also raised handsome loan for a major project to strengthen the mandi infrastructure as well as for repair and maintenance of the rural link roads, thus giving the state a new look. But, sources told TNS the tussle between the chairman and the secretary has reached a flash point, necessitating the Financial Commissioner, Development, Mr Y.S. Ratra, to intervene and over rule the Chairman, thereby, proving that lack of administrative experience and too heavy a leaning on subordinate staff with vested interests could lead to wrong decisions. Sources revealed that it all started with orders passed by the chairman to appoint a certain officer as Establishment Officer (Engineering); the incumbent being Mr Narinder Singh Sidhu. He was earlier Cotton Officer, Bathinda. He was transferred to the headquarters due to certain "administrative reasons." Mr Sidhu is now posted as Establishment Officer (Budget). The chairman wanted to have him posted as Establishment Officer (Engineering). The orders were passed but the Secretary as well as the Administrative Officer pointed out, in writing, certain "facts" pertaining to Mr Sidhu and opposed his posting. With chairman showing his adamant attitude the Secretary reportedly referred the matter to the Financial Commissioner. He is learnt to have even visited the board office. Later he agreed with the Secretary and the Administrative Officer and overruled the chairman. It may be pointed out that against three posts of Establishment Officer the board has now four. This itself is contrary to the rules. A proposal has now been sent to the government to send Mr Sidhu back to Bathinda as Cotton Officer. Among other things against Mr Sidhu is one in which it was pointed out to the chairman Mr Sidhu had not yet furnished account of Rs 2.75 lakh placed at his disposal on November 3, 1995, a sports meet on the founders' day of the board. This was despite reminders having been issued in 1995, 97, 98 and 99 to him. Even as the old amount is still in his name, the chairman in a meeting held on May 28 last has decided to organise another sports-cum-cultural meet for which Mr Sidhu has again been made convener of the working committee and technical and ground committee. A sum of Rs 9 lakh is to be spent on the proposed meet. Why pick on Mr Sidhu who is yet to give an account of Rs 2.75 lakh? sources wondered. There are several items
in the minutes available with TNS on which the board
cannot spend the money as per the laid down rules. That
will amount to "misuse" of the mandi
development fund. This again has strained the relations
between the Chairman and the Secretary. Moreover officers
much senior to Mr Sidhu have been made ordinary members
of the two key committees he is heading. The ongoing
clash of opinion between the Chairman and the Secretary
is in the knowledge of the Chief Minister and the Chief
Secretary. While it remains to be sorted out, the tie at
the top has sent wrong signals down the line in the
board. With the Financial Commissioner intervening and
the ruling given by him going against the Chairman, it is
likely that the politico-administrative problems will be
sorted out sooner than later. |
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Tohra, loyalists hold
closed-door meeting CHANDIGARH, June 4 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Tohra), here today held a closed-door meeting with top functionaries of his party. The meeting which last more than four hours was held at the flat of Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, who had resigned from the Cabinet of Mr Parkash Singh Badal a few months ago. Those who attended the meeting were Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira and certain prominent leaders from various districts. Informed sources said the main issue at the meeting was the strategy to be adopted in the coming Lok Sabha elections, alliances with like-minded parties and finalisation of the organisational set-up well before the poll. Sources said a decision was taken to set up party office at Chandigarh and other important places like Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar. According to information available all district units of the party will be established by the weekend. Names of the district jathedars and other office-bearers had been short-listed, sources added. The issue of the symbol was also discussed, it is learnt. There was an opinion that a claim should be made to the election commission to allot the official symbol "Scales" of the Shiromani Akali Dal to the party. A final decision in this regard is expected to be taken soon. A close confidant of Mr Tohra said there was panic in the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Badal following neutral reports with regard to an impressive gathering at the party's Ludhiana conference. Mr Tohra and his loyalists have the feeling that they have made Mr Parkash Singh Badal to call a meeting of the district jathedars and also a delegates' session of the outgoing house of the party. "Mr Badal and his associates were following the agenda set up by Mr Tohra for Mr Badal's party", said a close associate of Mr Tohra. There is a programme to
hold conferences at all important places in the state and
to mobilise people against the party headed by Mr Badal.
Sources said a programme would be announced soon in this
regard. |
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PSSSB selection: record
summoned CHANDIGARH, June 4 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today summoned the record relating to selection of Naib Tehsildars by the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, (PSSSB). Mr Justice G.C. Garg and Mrs Justice Bakshish Kaur, who handed down this order on a writ petition filed by Ms Preet Kiran Dhillon, a resident of Jalandhar district, challenging the selection, also issued a notice to the Punjab Government for July 21. In her petition, Ms Dhillon alleged that the board selected only relaltives of the highly placed politicians of the present government and relatives of members of the selection committee. Elaborating the allegations, the petitioner told the court that the selected candidates included Mr Kirandeep Singh Bhullar, son-in-law of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Bikramjit Singh's father's brother, Mr Manvir Singh, in charge of the Akali Dal, Lambi constituency, which is the constituency of the Chief Minister, Mr Charanjit Singh, P.A. to Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, nephew of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and an M.L.A. from Gidderbaha Mr Mukhtiar Singh, nephew of the Chairman of the Punjab subordinate Services Selection Board, Mr Navpreet Singh, brother of the President of the Akali Dal (Youth Wing), Mr Harnek Singh brother of Mr Ajaib Singh, M.L.A. from Ghanaur and a relative of the Chief Minister. She stated that similar was the position of other candidates. Ms Dhillon alleged that Mr Navpreet Singh did not fulfil the minimum requisite qualifications prescribed for the post. "Meritorious candidates have been ignored only to make room for the relatives of politicians which shows that the selection has not been made in a free and fair manner," she alleged. She claimed that she had meritorious academic record and did well in the written test as also in the interview and yet she had not been selected. The P.SS.S. Board had
advertised 18 posts of Naib-Tehsildar in the general
category on July 1, 1996. The result was declared on May
15, 1999. |
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CM promises aid to
soldiers' kin MANSA, June 4 — The Punjab Government will give jobs, residential plots and suitable financial aid to the families of the Army and Air Force personnel belonging to Punjab who have been killed in Operation Vijay, launched in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said a formal decision in this regard would be taken at the Cabinet's next meeting to be held in 10 days. Talking to newsmen after inaugurating a Rs 7 crore mini-secretariat here, Mr Badal said he had spoken to the Indian Army chief and asked for a complete list of the killed Army and Air Force personnel from Punjab. The Chief Minister said the Punjab Government would make all arrangements for the families of these martyrs. In the hour of crisis, the whole nation should unitedly fight the enemies from across the border. No political party should drive mileage from the Kargil incident or make it an election issue, he said. When asked whether the caretaker government at the Centre should take all parties into confidence before taking any major decision on Kargil, he said an all-party meeting should be called to discuss all major issues, whenever necessary. Asked why the BJP-led coalition government did not take its allies into confidence before launching Operation Vijay, Mr Badal said a meeting of the BJP and its allies was being held on June 9 at Delhi to discuss the developments. He added that the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, might have been "misquoted" regarding his statement on the safe passage to Pakistani infiltrators. When asked whether he would take disciplinary action against those MLAs who participated in the rally of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra at Alamgir in Ludhiana district, he said that issue would be discussed at the party level. He, however, claimed that Mr Tohra's faction would in no way affect the SAD base among the masses. He clarified that the machinery of the sugar mill at Budhlada was not being shifted to Malout, where a new sugar mill was being set up. Certain leaders were making false statements in this regard, he alleged. Asked why Mansa district had not been given representation in the Punjab Cabinet so far, he said the Cabinet would be expanded after the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a district-level SAD-BJP rally here, he alleged that the Congress had pulled down the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre to grab power by undemocratic means. Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, also spoke. Mr S.S. Aulakh, MLA, demanded funds for sewerage, roads, eradication of waterlogging and building a railway bridge in the district. Mr Chiranji Lal Garg,
state Food Minister, and Mr Baldev Singh Khiala, MLA were
also present. |
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Two cars with same number FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 4 — Two Maruti cars bearing the same registration number (PB-23A-5551) have been spotted in this town. Interestingly the owners of both cars occasionally come to the district head quarters. Mr Avtar Singh, a resident of Ward No 5 of Sirhind who owns a cherry coloured Maruti car, claims that the number was allotted to him on April 21, 1998, by the District Transport Department. He further claims that when he noticed the same registration number on a white Maruti car, he sought a clarification from the department. On August 6, 1998, Mr G.S. Luthra, ADTO, certified in writing that there was no other vehicle in the district bearing the same number. The owner of the white Maruti bearing the same number is of Mr Harbhajan Singh, Chairman of the Market Committee, Chanarthal, and who is close to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He also claims that the number has been allotted to him. Mr Avtar Singh said even after repeated requests to Mr Harbhajan Singh, the latter did not remove the number plate from his car. He said he wrote a letter to the State Transport Commissioner, who directed the DTO to take necessary action. The DTO further wrote to the SSP, who asked the SHO, Mulepur, to register a case. However, nothing has been done in this regard so far. Mr M.S. Jaggi, DTO,
while confirming that he had written to the SSP, said
that Mr Harbhajan Singh's car could not be traced by the
police. |
||
Mercury dips as region has rain CHANDIGARH, June 4 (PTI) — Widespread rain along with high velocity wind in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today dipped mercury by 10 degrees below normal in the region. Rainfall accompanied with winds disrupted power and water supply at a few places in the region, throwing normal life out of gear. Chandigarh and its surrounding areas were lashed by widespread showers which inundated low-lying areas and brought mercury to 32°C, eight degrees below normal, a weather office spokesman said. The city recorded 1.4 mm of rainfall. In plains of Punjab and Haryana, Ambala recorded 6 mm of rainfall, Hisar 0.5 mm, Amritsar 7 mm and Patiala 0.2 mm. Following widespread rain the mercury fell to 32.6°C in Ambala, 33.3°C in Hisar, 30.1°C in Amritsar and 33°C in Patiala, he added. SHIMLA (UNI): High altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh experienced snowfall while lower hills had rain today, bringing a considerable fall in the temperature in the region. High peaks in tribal areas had fresh snowfall and Dhauladhar mountain ranges overlooking the Kangra valley also had snowfall, a report from Dharamsala said. Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by sharp showers during the day. The Kangra valley also
experienced high velocity winds, accompanied by a
hailstorm. |
||
BJP's approach on Kargil
flayed HOSHIARPUR, June 4 — Talking to media persons here yesterday Mr Devinder Singh Babbu, President, Punjab Youth Congress, criticised the BJP government for its failure to effectively handle the situation in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He condemned the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, for giving a clean chit to Mr Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani Prime Minister and the ISI by stating that they were not responsible for the infiltration and for providing a safe passage to Pakistani intruders in the Kargil sector. Mr Babbu said he (Mr Fernandes) was more concerned about the wellbeing of the aggressors than the defence personnel. He demanded immediate dismissal of the Defence Minister. Mr Babbu also condemned the SAD-BJP alliance, for not honouring soldiers who have recently laid down their lives. He said Youth Congress office-bearers would attend bhog ceremonies of these great sons of Punjab, who sacrificed their lives while flushing out intruders from the Kargil sector. He alleged that the Punjab Government functioning had totally collapsed due to which there was resentment among its staff. He said, to make people
aware about the corrupt functioning of the government,
the Punjab Youth Congress would organise rallies in the
district headquarters of the state from June 13 to July
4. It would also organise a state-level rally in
Chandigarh on July 30. He said he had requested Mrs Sonia
Gandhi to take part in the rally. The Youth Congress
would also organise block-level rallies in August. A
blood donation camp would be organised to commemorate the
death anniversary of Sanjay Gandhi at Hoshiarpur on June
23. Replying to a question he said All India Youth
Congress had already requested Mrs Sonia Gandhi to
provide 200 party ticket to the youth between the age
group of 25 to 40 years. |
||
Cong gives Rs 2 lakh to
Ahuja's widow BATHINDA, June 4 — Mr Harminder Singh Jassi and Mr Bhagat Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the state unit of the Congress and president, Bathinda District Congress, respectively, have given a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to Alka widow of fighter pilot Ajay Ahuja, who was killed in Operation Vijay, as financial aid from the party. Mr Kewal Krishan
Aggarwal, general secretary, DCC, said in a press note
today the party took the decision on June 1 when the PPCC
president, Mr Amarinder Singh, visited the bereaved
family. |
||
No compensation for
lensman's kin AMRITSAR, June 4 — The bereaved family of press photographer Rana Jaspal Singh, who had died in a parasailing mishap in the cantonment last year, had approached the Army authorities for suitable compensation many times, but in vain. Rana (37), who had gone to cover the parasailing demonstration, organised by the Army at Khasa cantonment on June 4 last year, was invited by the officers to take a joy ride on a parasail. While doing so, he fell abruptly on the ground and sustained serious head injuries. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. The representatives of the Amritsar Working Journalists Association (AWJA) headed by Mr Ashok Sethi had met the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, during his Amritsar visit last year. He had promised to suitably compensate the family of the deceased. However, no compensation has been given so far. The members of the association had also met local Army officials to demand compensation for Rana Jaspal's family. The Army has not given a job to his widow, as promised at the time of his cremation. The AWJA has threatened
to boycott the functions of the Army if it fails to
compensate the family of the deceased. |
||
Cops' quarters in bad shape MOGA, June 4 — Resentment prevails among policemen of Baghapurana police station in this district over the dilapidated condition of their residential quarters. They said today that the quarters, built by the British around 80 years ago, were not only in a dilapidated condition but had already been declared unsafe. They said they had put
tarpaulin on the roofs of their quarters to prevent rain
water from seeping in. They have demanded that 100 new
quarters should be built for them. |
||
Health workers’ rally on
June 7 CHANDIGARH, June 4 — Members of the Multi-Purpose Health Workers (MPHW) Farag Union, Punjab, will stage a state-level rally in Faridkot on June 7, besides boycotting all official functions in the state in case their demand of reinstatement was not met. This was stated by Ms Rajwinder Kaur and Ms Lakhvinder Kaur, President and General Secretary of the union, respectively, while addressing mediapersons here today. The government had not spared a thought for as many as 500 women workers, who have been on the road for the past four years. They said the Beant Singh government had accepted their demand, but his death brought things to a stand-still. Over the years leaders of various parties had given them assurances but nothing had come out of it. In the meantime, owing to financial constraints and other pressures, many workers became mentally unsound or were divorced by their husbands, they alleged. The Akalis had promised
them that they would be regularised once they came to
power. But nothing had been done so far although more
than 700 posts of MPHW were lying vacant in the Health
department. |
||
ABVP meeting from today JALANDHAR, June 4 — A meeting of the executive committee of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Punjab unit, will be held here from June 5 to 7, according to Mr Anu Bhardwaj, vice-president of the unit. Mr Ramesh Pappa,
all-India secretary of the ABVP, will also attend this
meeting. |
||
Chawla alleges discrimination AMRITSAR, June 4 —The BJP MLA, Mrs Lakshmi Kanta Chawla yesterday said development work in her constituency was slowpaced. The BJP leader in a letter addressed to the Punjab Governor, the Chief Minister and the Minister for Local Bodies has alleged the government was discriminating against her constituency regarding development. The letter quoted that the government had spent Rs 27.50 lakh during 1997-98 in her constituency against Rs 34 lakh in 1998-99. The amount for other three areas was much higher. In the Amritsar South constituency the amount spent was over Rs 71 lakh. Mrs Chawla said these
figures were given in the Punjab Assembly in an answer to
her question about the expenses on various development
projects. |
||
Sukhbir to contest from
Faridkot, if asked FARIDKOT, June 4 — The Shiromani Akali Dal has not taken any decision whether Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries, will contest from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. However, if asked to do so, he will obey the orders of the party, said Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal at a press conference here today. Lashing out at Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, Vice-President, PPCC, who accused the SAD for enlisting 60,000 fake votes in the Faridkot constituency, the Union Minister said he (Mr Brar) was in the habit of making fabricated stories to win the favour of the people but was always dejected in his mission except when he won from this constituency in 1992 when the SAD had boycotted the polls. Mr Badal also flayed senior Akali Dal leader Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and his coterie who on many occasions tried to harm the SAD to achieve political successes but failed to do so. Answering a question the Union Minister said Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would not be able to show any charisma during the polls, rather her alliance with corrupt leaders like Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mrs Jayalalitha would prove a waterloo for the Congress. Mr Badal was sure that
the SAD-BJP alliance would rout out the Congress in all
13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Later, he inaugurated a
physiotherapy centre at G.G.S. Medical College and
Hospital here. |
||
Cotton farmers in ‘debt
trap’ BATHINDA, June 4 — Dr Dharminder Singh, member, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Economic and Planning Cell, yesterday alleged in a press note that cotton farmers had fallen in a deep debt trap and the Punjab Government was not coming to their help. He said that due to lack of administrative skill among Akali leaders, the Punjab Government had been deprived of grants that it used to get from the Central government and other quarters earlier. He pointed out that Mr
Amarinder Singh, President PPCC, had set up a economic
and planning cell under the command of a senior retired
bureaucrat to evolve various economic strategies to solve
the problems of farmers, unemployment and poverty in
Punjab. |
||
Shifting of mill machines flayed BATHINDA, June 4 — Mr Hardev Arshi, the leader of the CPI in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, not to shift the machinery of the Budhlada Co-operative Sugar Mill to the new sugar mill being set up at Malout by Markfed. Talking to TNS here, he said Mansa district in which Budhlada Sugar Mill fall is already industrially backward. He added that if the machinery of Budhlada mill is shifted to Malout, which is closed for the last many years, its chances of revival would become remote. He said that Punjab Government should start the Budhlada Sugar Mill so that farmers of area who grow sugarcane and unemployed youths could be benefited. Mr Arshi said if Mr Badal wanted to develop the industries in Muktsar district, he should bring new projects for this task instead of closing the units established in other areas. He also condemned the
registration of criminal case by the Nabha police against
Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. He added that such acts of the
Punjab government showed that popularity of the SAD-BJP
government was on the decline. |
||
PAU recommendations LUDHIANA, June 4 — The scientists of Punjab Agricultural University here have released a number of recommendations for the ensuing kharif crops. They have advised the farmers to start transplanting rice varieties, PR-114, PR-11, PR-106, PR-108, PR-113, IR-8, Jaya from June 10 onwards and variety PR-103 from June 20 onward. PR-103 vacates the fields earlier and facilitates timely sowing of potato, peas or berseem crops. The rice experts of the university have asked the farmers to apply 37 kg urea per acre on medium soils at the time of transplantation. Basmati 386 and Basmati 370 mature late, therefore, nursery of these varieties should be sown in second fortnight of June and that of Basmati 385 in the first week of June. Regarding groundnut, university experts recommend to sow it before June 10 after applying pre-sowing irrigation. Sowing of kharif pulses
particularly AL-201 and AL-15 variety of arhar should be
completed during the first fortnight of June whereas mash
and moong sowing particularly on light textured soils
should be started from last week of June. |
||
Traders allege land grab BATHINDA, June 4 — Members of the Sirki Bazar Traders Association have urged the Executive Officer, Municipal Council to immediately stop the grabbing of land worth lakhs of rupees in the market. In a press note issued here, Mr Krishan Kumar Singla, President of the Association, said some persons had occupied a common piece of land in the market without having the documents of ownership. He pointed out that if
the possession of land grabber was not removed it would
lead to road accidents. |
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