Tuesday, June 8, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, June 8, 1999 |
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Tohra,
Kanshi Ram, Surjeet join hands |
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Kargil
issue will not be politicised : Soni Traffic chaos blamed on apathy
It was murder, ‘not
suicide’ Ghallughara week: gang of thieves
busted
Mandi board chief refutes charges HC notice to Sarita Editor
Badal ‘obsessed’ with
Tohra |
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Tohra, Kanshi Ram, Surjeet join
hands LUDHIANA, June 7 — Three top Punjabi politicians, the Akali Dal (T) strongman, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the BSP supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram, and the CPM leader, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, plan to appear together at a joint public rally to be held at Faridkot later this month to kick off their poll campaign for winning the 13 Lok Sabha seats from Punjab. The decision to hold a joint poll rally follows an agreement hammered out between the three leaders to contest the parliamentary poll in the state on a seat-sharing basis. The Dal (T) will contest at least four seats namely Patiala, Tarn Taran, Ropar and Faridkot, while the BSP will contest at least three i.e. Ferozepore, Hoshiarpur and Phillaur. The Dal (T) has left open, for the time being, the option of contesting the Ludhiana seat from where Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, MP, president of the Lok Bhalai Party and a protege of Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, is keen on contesting. The Dal(T) may extend support to Mr Simranjit Singh Mann if he decides to contest from Sangrur against the Union Minister for Food, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala. Similarly, it may extend support to winning candidates in other constituencies. The choice of Faridkot for launching the campaign is significant because that is the constituency from where Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries and son of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is seeking re-election. "We plan to beard the lion in his own den", said a Tohra loyalist in a talk with TNS here today. "By bringing together the ‘Big Three’ — Mr Tohra, Mr Kanshi Ram and Mr Surjeet — on one stage, we want to send out a clear message that the challenge from the third force just cannot be brushed aside by Mr Badal or the Congress". The Dal (T) will field its own candidate against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal who is likely to face main opposition from his old rival, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, vice-president of the Punjab Congress. "We will fight both the Dal (B) and the Congress with equal force because we regard the two as our principal political enemies. But we deem (Dal (B) as the bigger evil right now. Therefore, if we find that Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal can be defeated by some other strategy, we will not hesitate to act accordingly...." Meanwhile, the Dal (T)
will hold public meetings at Sangrur (June 8), Ferozepore
(June 9), Tarn Taran (June 10) and Gurdaspur (June 11). |
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Tohra loyalists to be
expelled: Badal RAJPURA, June 7 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said 11 legislators and three district chiefs who were supporting former SGPC president G.S. Tohra would be expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shortly. Talking to reporters before addressing a public meeting at Saidkheri village, near here, the Chief Minister said a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party would be held soon at which a decision in this regard would be taken. Mr Badal said as far as he was concerned, the 11 legislators and three district chiefs were no longer members of the party and any action against them would be a formality. He said the formation of a separate group by the former SGPC chief would not have any effect on the SAD's poll prospects as people had always supported the SAD which had been proved many times in the past. When asked why activists of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) were prevented from marching towards Akal Takht to pay homage to those killed in 1984, he said his government wanted to maintain peace at all costs. He said there was no need for such a march as earlier also the event was being observed by Akal Takht and the SGPC. Questioned about relief not being provided to farmers of Shatrana who had suffered due to a breach in the Bhakra mainline canal and those of Khanauri who had suffered the same fate last year, he said farmers of Shatrana would be given Rs 13 lakh from the Chief Minister's Calamity Fund. Later, addressing the public meeting, the Chief Minister accused the former SGPC chief hatching a conspiracy with Congress President Sonia Gandhi under which it was agreed that the Tohra faction would field its own candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. He said it was because of this reason that it was decided to expel Mr Tohra from the party. The Chief Minister also gave his version of why the split in the SAD had taken place. He accused the former SGPC chief of demanding a Rajya Sabha seat to "create links in Delhi", adding his "political greed" had proved to be his biggest handicap. He also said work on the Rs 270 crore Dashmesh canal project would be taken up soon to give a fillip to irrigation facilities in the Rajpura area. He announced Rs 3 lakh for a veterinary dispensary for the village. Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh said the entire area was with the SAD led by Mr Badal and Mr Tohra would be made to realise this soon. He urged people not to fall a prey to the conspiracy launched by the former SGPC chief to help the Congress. Other who spoke on the
occasion included Subordinate Services Selection Board
chairman Jasdev Singh Sandhu, Fatehgarh Sahib district
Akali chief Swarn Singh Chanarthal, Ghanaur legislator
Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur and employee leader Kulbir Singh
Saidkheri. |
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Cong to release list well
before poll CHANDIGARH, June 7 — Though elections to the Lok Sabha are still three months away the All-India Congress Committee has begun the process of shortlisting candidates. A top functionary of the party told TNS today that this had been done after the Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) took up this issue with the party high command saying party candidates for the election should be announced well before the last day for filing of nomination papers. The Congress leader said that earlier the party would continue to dither on nominating candidates for election till the last day of filing of nomination papers with some candidates cleared at the eleventh hour while most regional parties announced candidates at least couple of weeks before the filing of nomination papers. He said that clearance of the names of candidates well in advance provided a big advantage to the candidates to plan their election campaign in the constituency, organise public meetings and for coordination with party leaders in various segments. He said the AICC had already appointed party observers to various states and they would be going to the states allotted to them this week to meet aspirants and select 'winning' candidates in consultation with local leaders. Meanwhile, Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma, a former Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly, who has been appointed observer for Punjab reached here today and held a meeting with the election committee and manifesto committee recently constituted by Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC. When asked how he would
shortlist candidates Mr Sharma said he would be visiting
all district headquarters for interaction with local
party leaders. "I would also have an interaction
with Capt Amarinder Singh and other senior functionaries
of the party before submitting my report", Mr Sharma
added. |
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Kargil issue will not be
politicised : Soni JALANDHAR, June 7 — The All-India General Secretary and a Congress Working Committee member, Ms Ambika Soni, said today that the Kargil crisis would not be politicised by the Congress. But she did not overrule that the party would campaign on the agenda that only a stable government could ensure the nation's security. On a visit here and to Hoshiarpur, Ms Soni, while briefing the media, said the BJP-led government had failed to monitor the situation in Kargil and the intruders had made "bases" within the Indian territory. She also accused the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes for issuing contradictory statements on Kargil and demanded his resignation. While the Congress will stand with the BJP in its commitment to flush out the intruders, sponsored by the Pakistan Government, however, she said Congress will not condone the mishandling of the Kargil intrusion by the government. Although the Congress was not averse to a dialogue with Pakistan, but it had "flouted" the Simla and Lahore agreements, she added. Speaking on her party's success in Goa Assembly elections, she said the Pawar, Anwar and Sangma trio had failed to destabilise the party, and the results of the Goa Assembly were testimony to it. Answering a query on whether she would be contesting from Punjab in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, she said, although I was keen to contest, it's the high command which will decide. She has represented Chandigarh as a member Parliament in 1980. Later in the day she
went to Hoshiarpur. |
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Traffic chaos blamed on apathy LUDHIANA: Lack of coordination between the municipal corporation, the district transport office and the traffic police is responsible for the chaotic traffic congestion in the city. With one department blaming the other over the problems, residents of Ludhiana continue to suffer. The three departments have been unable to cope with the burgeoning population and an ever-increasing number of vehicles on the city roads. This has resulted in lack of infrastructure, poor administration of the traffic rules and their enforcement. According to the figures available from the DTO office, 5,22,820 vehicles were registered in the city till April. Around 3000 to 3500 vehicles are registered on an average each month. The traffic police has merely 250 personnel to manage the show. Informed sources reveal that the city traffic police had sent a proposal to the state headquarters almost a year ago for enhancement of the traffic force by another 250, but the proposal is biting dust due to paucity of funds. Mr Amardeep Singh Rai, SP (City), who is also holding additional charge of SP (Traffic), when contacted said as a result they were forced to deploy traffic police only at important intersections and the other less important crossings were left unattended. Although the figures available from the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation put the number of traffic signals in the city to more than 30, there are a few newly installed signals that have not been put to operation for almost a month now as the corporation hasn't taken charge from the contractors. Sometimes traffic lights that become defunct due to technical fault, continue to remain so for three to four days at a stretch, a charge vehemently denied by MC officials. Last year the traffic police had called an expert from Mumbai, Prof Vishwanathan, to study the problems of traffic management in Ludhiana. He had pointed out that the signals in the city were not according to the specified norms, especially with regard to the diameter of traffic lights, their luminosity and about the lights showing both the right hand and the left hand turn. However his recommendations have not been implemented for paucity of funds coming in the way. The switching off of traffic lights at 9.30 p.m. in the peripheral areas of the city and at 10.30 p.m. on the main intersections too has raised many an eyebrow. However, Mr Rai says that this is being done because of staff shortage. However the main problem of traffic jam is seen around the three main roundabouts of Samrala chowk, Clock Tower and the Jagraon bridge. Even the Fountain chowk has become a bottleneck for traffic — something quite unimaginable three years ago. Officials at the MC reveal that they have already planned to do away with the rotary at Jagraon bridge, Clock Tower and Samrala chowk to install traffic lights but are still undecided on the Fountain chowk. While work is in progress at the Samrala chowk, the traffic remains stagnant for almost an hour before one could steer his way through a number of vehicles. A senior traffic police officer said the National Highway Authority was responsible for the demolition of this rotary and the installation of the traffic lights here. Though the work was to have been completed by January, the delay is enormous because of financial reasons and labour problems. The municipal corporation is planning to construct overbridges and fly-overs. As 80 per cent of the trips are made to the core city area, which is the central business district (CBD), the corporation is planning constructing of a new overbridge to link Jagraon bridge to Jalandhar bypass on one side and to link the Fountain chowk to Mata Rani chowk on the other said Dr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation. He added that they were also studying the feasibility of a light rapid transit system (LRTS) on this flyover to be built at the cost of Rs 48 crore. Quizzed about reasons for the delay in the construction of the flyover near the general bus stand, the commissioner conceded that problems with contractor and want of funds were the main reasons. Lack of proper parking places too, has added to the problem as people would leave their vehicles on the road. However, Dr Sandhu is confident that this problem would be solved soon as the multi-storeyed parking complex at Mata Rani chowk had already been made operational. The local bus service launched by the district administration with much fanfare last year as well as autorickshaws used by the city residents for local commuting, ply without a route permit and add to the traffic problem by moving in the congested areas where they can pick up maximum passengers. The MC has been unable to construct bus stops, and as a result these buses and autos stop at any place, thus aggravating the problem. However the DTO, Mr
Sukhminder Singh, when contacted said the time-tables for
the buses had now been approved and would be implemented
soon. |
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Pensioners resent govt apathy LUDHIANA, June 7 — Pensioners in the state are sore over the dilly-dallying by the Punjab Government in implementing the recommendations made by the Fourth Punjab Pay Commission in its report on pension and other retirement benefits submitted to the government on February 20, 1998. For the 1,30,000 pensioners and family pensioners the recommendations of the commission were a mere flash in the pan as only one of the 10 major recommendations, that of the pay revision, has so far been implemented. "It has been almost 16 months since the recommendations were made, but their implementation by the state government is still a distant dream", says Mr K.K. Sharma, general secretary of the pensioners' association. The recommendations which have not been implemented so far include old age allowance at the rate of 5 per cent and 10 per cent on attaining the age of 65 and 75 years, respectively, 97 per cent DA admissible on July 1, 1993, to be counted for gratuity, benefit in pension for service rendered beyond 33 years, restoration of the commuted pension after eleven and a half years, reservation of plots and flats in PUDA colonies, at least 50 per cent pension to the retiree of the revised grade of the post he held at the time of retirement, says Mr Yashpaul Ghai, additional general secretary of the association. "There is no point in setting up a pay commission, if its recommendations are not to be accepted. We want the SAD-BJP government to give us a fair deal...", he remarked. He informed that around 15,000 cases of pre-1986 pensioners for national fixation of pay and revision of pension were pending for settlement in the office of the Accountant-General, Punjab. The commission had recommended that those pre-1986 retirees who were not getting additional benefits other than their pension, be given 50 per cent of the revised grades of the pension. The association has also sought parity in the pension of pre-1996 and post-1996 retirees as it has been done in the case of pre-1986 and post-1986 retirees on the central government pattern. "The cases of those Punjab Government employees who retired from January 1996 to September 1996, too, deserve a favourable review for determining their pension", opined Mr Sharma. He explained that when the pension was revised in January 1996, the DA given to the pensioners was merged in the basic pension and the pension was determined by taking an average of the pay the employee had been taking for the past 10 months before his retirement. But for the employees retiring between January 1996 to September 1996, the pension was less and they are now suffering a loss of Rs 200 to Rs 600 per month on their pension, as the time was less than 10 months. "The notification for the release of revised pension was issued on July 18, 1998. But the implementation committee headed by the Chief Secretary had already rejected the other recommendations", he informed. The pensioners also want the government to setup an anomaly committee to deal with the anomalies arising out of the revision of pensions, said Mr Mahesh Chander Kuymar, additional general secretary of the association. "We want that a
house rent allowance at the flat rate of Rs 100 per
month, increase in the medical allowance from Rs 250 per
month to Rs 300 per month and the restoration of travel
concession/allowance to both husband and wife pensioners,
withdrawn from one of the spouses from January
1995". |
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It was murder, ‘not
suicide’ FEROZEPORE, June 7 — Nazar Singh, a resident of Basti Saroopewali under Guruharsahai police station was killed by his wife and her paramour. He had not committed suicide as was reported to the police a year ago. According to a press note issued here today by the Ferozepore SSP, Mr Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, Mr Sukhwinder Singh, a son of the deceased on May 20, 1998, had lodged a complaint with the Guruharsahai police that his father (Nazar Singh) had committed suicide by consuming intoxicants. But, on a request of two brothers of the deceased, the SSP had ordered an inquiry into the case. The complainants had accused that their brother had been killed by his (Nazar Singh's) wife, Piaro Bai and Mukhtar Singh. The SSP said that during investigation both Mukhtar Singh and Piaro Bai had confessed that they had killed Nazar Singh who was becoming a hindrance in their affair. The police had registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against both the suspects arrested them. Nazar Singh was married to Piaro Bai 20 years ago. This couple had have four children, including two daughters. Piaro Bai's husband had been working in a rice-sheller at Machhiwara and used to come to his house once or twice a month. In her husband's absence, Piaro Bai forged illicit relations with Sarpanch Mukhtar Singh. When Mr Nazar Singh learnt of his wife illicit relations with the sarpanch he tried to kill her. Deterred by attempts on her life Piaro Bai continued to meet her lover. On May 20, 1998, Piaro
Bai mixed some intoxicating tablets in a cup of tea for
Nazar Singh. Piaro Bai caught arms of her husband, and
strangled him to death. Mukhtar Singh coerced Sukhwinder
Singh to remain silent. Mr Mukhtar took Sukhwinder to the
police station and made him state in the FIR that his
father had committed suicide by consuming intoxicant
tablets. |
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Ghallughara week: gang of thieves
busted FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 7 — The district police claimed to have made a major breakthrough during the "Ghallughara week" by nabbing culprits in connection with two murders, busted a gang of thieves and highway robbers, involved in snatching of vehicles. Two pistols, 1.1kg of opium, one truck, one Enfield motor cycle, two scooters, two rifles and Rs 8.75 lakh were recovered from them. Addressing a press conference here today Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, said a few days back the body of one Amandeep Singh of Harbanspura village was recovered from the Bhakra canal. His parents suspected foul play and termed it as murder, but the SHO, Sirhind did not investigate the case properly. On their complaint the SP (D) investigated the case thoroughly and arrested Jaswant Singh, Kulwant Singh and Gurkirpal Singh, friends of Amandeep, who admitted that they had taken him to a canal for bathing and after hitting him with bricks threw him into the canal because they suspected that he had illicit relation with their sister. The SP (D) said the police had recovered the clothes and shoes of the deceased and suspended the SHO, Sirhind, and a departmental inquiry has been ordered against him. Similarly the suspects of a murder at Mandofal village have been arrested and identified as Bhupinder Singh, Jagtar Singh and Kamaljit Singh. They used to commit thefts and had murdered Ramu, their accomplice, suspecting that he had illicit relation with the wife of one of the arrested persons. The police also arrested Surinder Singh of Raipur Majri village for snatching Rs 1.20 lakh from the commission agent of Chanarthal village and recovered a motor cycle and the amount from him. Two of his accomplices have absconded. He said the drive
against anti-social elements in the district would be
further intensified. |
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Operation Vijay martyrs ‘war
heroes’ CHANDIGARH, June 7— The Punjab Council of Ministers today approved a proposal to treat all defence personnel of Punjab killed during operations protecting the country as 'War Heroes'. It was decided to give Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kith and kin of such warriors who laid down their lives, irrespective of rank. Earlier, this amount was Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 in case of officers, JCOs and Jawans respectively. This decision will be effective from January 1,1999 and applicable to all defence services and para-military forces, whose Jawans either died or suffered total disability. The amount of ex-gratia grant will be disbursed immediately to the widow in case of married soldiers and to the mother in case of bachelors. The Council of Ministers also decided to give Class-II jobs to the next kith and kin of the martyrs. Earlier, only Class-III and Class IV jobs were given in deserving cases. It also decided to give a plot or a house to the next kith and kin in PUDA colonies. These plots/residential houses will be given of the size and place of their choice against reserved price, minus Rs 5 lakh as a token of respect to the martyrs. The council also decided to create 'War Heroes Family Welfare Fund' to give substantial relief to families of the martyrs. All Punjab Ministers have decided to contribute one month salary to the new fund. Mr Parkash Singh Badal has appealed to the people to contribute generously as well. Earlier, the Council
paid rich tributes to the martyrs of "Operation
Vijay" and appreciated the Union Government and the
defence personnel for taking bold steps to protect the
LoC. |
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Mandi board chief refutes
charges CHANDIGARH, June 7 — The Punjab Mandi Board Chairman, Mr Mall Singh Ghuman, in a press statement today sought to "clarify" certain facts mentioned in a news item, "Mandi board faces rough weather" appearing in these columns on June 5. He said his posting and transfer orders pertaining to appointment of establishment officers were not "overruled" and the financial commissioner development had not "intervened". The fact was that the board secretary, Mr P.S. Aujla, referred the Chairman's decision to the government to issue appropriate directions to the Chairman of the Board under Section 41-A of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, The secretary had recorded his dissent on the proposed reshuffle of the establishment officers and referred the same to the Financial Commissioner development, so that orders passed by the board were in consonance with rules, regulations and government policies. This Authorisation is as per D.O. Letter No. 18 (37) M-1-94/3458 dated April 28, 1994. Mr Aujla had explicitly mentioned that the posting of Mr Narinder Singh Sidhu, Establishment Officer (Engineering Wing, Works) would not be in the interest of the board and the public and all facts related to the case were brought to Chairman's notice. But Mr Ghuman insisted on implementation of his orders. Later, the Financial Commissioner Mr Y.S. Ratra, apprised Mr Ghuman and he agreed with the Secretary that such a posting would not be in the interest of either the board or the public. (In fact the Board has asked the government to repatriate Mr Sidhu to Bathinda as Cotton Officer. He was brought to Chandigarh in 1996 by the then minister, Mr Brij Bhupinder Singh and had worked with him while drawing pay from the board. Later he was "adjusted" as establishment officer (budget). Mr Ghuman has however forgotten to mention in his statement that when he, on his own, transferred Mr Kesar Singh Sangha, as Executive Engineer, from Chandigarh to Ferozepur, the same was struck down by the Chief Minister. This happened on April 24 without the knowledge of the Secretary and the administrative officer. The orders having been cancelled, Mr Ghuman later wanted Mr Sangha to be given current duty charge as Superintending Engineer, despite being told that Mr Sangha was shifted to Chandigarh barely four months ago due to certain "lapses" in handling tenders and was a diploma holder. There is no dispute over Mr Ghuman having "full powers" to exercise control over the employees as per the act, rules etc. The moot point is that it is the Secretary who has to ensure no provisions are violated in postings and transfers. In his two-page statement Mr Ghuman mentioned that "it was unwarranted, irrelevant and unnecessary on the part of Secretary Board to refer the matter to the Financial Commissioner, Development, as there was no violation of set rules in making these transfers". If that were so, the Financial Commissioner would have disagreed with the Secretary, whereas, as per his orders of May 28, Mr Ratra has dropped the name of Mr Sidhu and instead agreed with making Mr Karnail Singh and Ms Purinder Kaur swap places. The Chairman wanted to replace Mr Vinod Gupta, Establishment officer (works) with Mr Sidhu, to which the Secretary objected giving the background of Mr Sidhu. There is no complaint against Mr Gupta. Mr Ghuman had charged Mr Aujla with "violation of rules etc" and dubbed his acts as "malicious and contrary to the facts" when there was no such mention in the news report. The news report had mentioned expenditure being incurred on the proposed sports and cultural activities" on "some items". The Sections 26 of the Relevant Act lists on the expenses the Mandi Development Fund can incur. These pertain only to "mandi infrastructure, marketing improvement and marketing of agricultural produce". Certainly a seminar on Sikhism (this being Tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa) or documentary or a play on Sikh... can not be justified and for this government sanction is required. The TNS report was not
intended to "tarnish" the political image of Mr
Ghuman, was a bare statement of facts. |
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HC notice to Sarita Editor CHANDIGARH, June 7 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to Mr Vishwa Nath, Editor and Publisher of "Sarita" magazine for July 20 on a petition preferred by Mr Ashok Narain, a resident of Rajpura in Patiala seeking cancellation of his bail. Mr Justice R.L. Anand, who handed down this order, observed: "The petitioner has invited my attention to the order dated September 10, 1998, passed by the Sessions Judge, Patiala who granted anticipatory bail to the respondent as follows: ‘The petitioner is specifically directed not to write or publish any other articles touching upon Hindu religion or mythology and he shall also not publicise the offending article in any form in any of his publications.’ The Judge further observed: "Counsel for the petitioner (Mr Ashok Narain) submits that in spite of the directions given by the Sessions Judge, the respondent (Mr Vishwa Nath) has published articles in violation of the directions given by the Sessions Judge, Patiala." The Judge ordered that the notice be given dasti to the respondent. The petitioner stated
that on learning that Mr Vishwa Nath had carried articles
in his magazine which offended the religious feelings of
Hindus he approached the SSP of Patiala requesting him to
move court for the cancellation of anticipatory bail
granted to the respondent. However, when he did not take
any action, he himself moved the court of the Sessions
Judge, Patiala. The Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala,
however, dismissed his petition without "properly
appreciating the facts of the case." Therefore, he
approached the High Court. |
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Moga gets 150 Ferozepore
villages CHANDIGARH, June 7 — The Punjab Council of Ministers today approved the transfer of nearly 150 villages from Ferozepore district to neighbouring Moga, which is a "tiny" district at present. Informed sources said that it had been a long standing demand of people of Dharamkot and Zira subdivision that their areas be merged with Moga as Ferozepore, the district headquarters was far away. The council, which had deliberated on this at its last meeting, had left the decision to the Chief Minister on effecting the change either before or after the Lok Sabha elections. Today's decision fulfils a major demand of the people and also enhances the geographical area of Moga. The council also discussed an outstanding amount of nearly Rs 10 crore against Jodhpur detainees, released in 1990-92 and given financial assistance for their rehabilitation and victims of terrorist violence and other such categories. No final decision on writing off the loan was taken and the Chief Secretary was asked to present a detailed report to the Chief Minister. Today's meeting lasted
for about 45 minutes. |
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Badal ‘obsessed’
with Tohra CHANDIGARH, June 7 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, a confidant of Gurcharan Singh Tohra said here today that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his associates one-point programme was condemning Mr Tohra. He said that there had been no power supply in Patran belt for the one month or so, there were no doctors in dispensaries in rural areas, many schools were without adequate teachers and old aged persons were not getting pensions but rather than solve such problems. It was spending all its energy against Mr Tohra. He said that the
government should pay attention to create employment
opportunities for lakhs of unemployed youth in the state
and take measures to protect the people from floods. |
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Ludhiana dist tops in small
savings LUDHIANA, June 7 — Ludhiana district has attained the top position in the country by making record net collections of Rs 385 crore against the fixed target of Rs 207 crore under different small savings schemes during 1998-99, thus registering an increase of 185 per cent. At a function organised here today to honour the small saving agents and officers of the district for their contributions, Mr D.S. Kalha, Commissioner, Patiala division, said the small savings would play an important role in the economy and the development of the country. The Commissioner said during the past years the small saving schemes registered better performance than the competing economies and boost the liberalisation process by achieving a good domestic saving rate. He added that as a result of the general trend of investing in long-term securities in the banks, the state was suffering financial constraints as major part of the money deposited in banks was being flushed out of the state and spent on other parts of the country. On the other hand, the state got a substantial portion of the small savings collections as award money for the development projects. Mr Kalha said the people of Punjab who had better per capita income were in a position to contribute more for the small saving schemes. Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, congratulated the agents and officers for this outstanding achievement and said in 1997-98, the district had achieved first position in the state by collecting Rs 252 crore against the target of Rs 147 crore. The Deputy Commissioner
informed that an agent of the district, Mrs Sangeeta, had
stood first in the state by collecting more than Rs 10
crore in the PPF schemes during 1998-99, whereas Mrs N.K.
Gupta won the top position under the Mahila Pardhan
Agency Scheme by making yearly collection of Rs 1.03
crore. |
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Case against Bhattal to be
withdrawn CHANDIGARH, June 7 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal today assured Capt Amarinder Singh, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, that the case registered against former Chief Minister, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal at Nabha would be withdrawn within a day or so. Capt Amarinder Singh, accompanied by senior functionaries of the party including Chowdhary Jagjit Singh, leader of the Congress Legislative Party in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, Mr H.S. Hanspal, Mr Harnam Das Johar, Mr Rana Sodhi and Mrs Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha met Mr Badal here this evening. The meeting lasted for about an hour. "It was held in a very good atmosphere and the attitude of the Punjab Chief Minister was positive", said a Congress leader who was part of the delegation. Capt Amarinder Singh also took up the general law and order situation with the Chief Minister saying there was a need to tone up the law and order machinery. Earlier, addressing a press conference Capt Amarinder Singh had stated that the case against Mrs Bhattal had been registered to divert attention from the murder of a commission agent at Nabha. He said the police should have concentrated on solving the murder instead of targeting politicians. Meanwhile, Mrs Bhattal
has congratulated Mrs Sonia Gandhi for the parties
historic win in Goa. |
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Sadhu’s murder case solved HOSHIARPUR, June 7 — The district police Hoshiarpur has solved the blind murder case of Sadhu Gobind Gir of a famous religious Dera of Sangwal village Hajipur police station. It may be recalled that the body of Sadhu Gobind Gir was found hanging from a tree while his colleague Balak Dass was found wounded in the adjoining nullah of the dera on May 2, 1999. The Hajipur police registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC. Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP said
in a press note here last evening that Amrik Singh, son
of Mukhtar Singh, Gurmit Singh son of Balbir Singh,
Karnail Singh son of Bachan Singh all residents of
Gandhar police station Fazilka, Surinder Singh son of
Mukha Singh of Pehliwala PS Jalabad, Prem Chand son of
Dharam Chand, Nam Dev son of Paras Ram both residents of
Makowal PS Hajipur and Hazara Singh son of Sadhu Ram of
Nariala Sanearpur PS Dasuya, were arrested in this
connection. |
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School building declared unsafe FEROZEPORE, June 7 — The building of over 100-year-old government-aided H.M. Senior Secondary School has been declared unsafe by the Executive Engineer (XEN), Public Works Department (PWD), Building and Roads. According to the information received here today, the XEN has informed the Principal of the school that the subdivisional engineer concerned, after examining the building, has observed that the building is not safe. According to the XEN, the building was constructed in 1897 and its roofs were made of wooden beams which have outlived their age. Hence, the building may cause danger to the lives of the students. If the building was still used violating the directions, the principal of the school will be responsible for any mishap, the XEN added. Meanwhile, the Principal of the school, Mr Vinod Kumar Sharma, said only four roofs needed to be replaced for which the management of the school had sanctioned Rs 2 lakh. He said the work for the replacement of four roofs started today and was expected to be completed within a month. He said more than 600
students were on the rolls of the school, which was under
the management of DAV College Managing Committee, New
Delhi. The work on the replacement of roofs was being
done according to specifications of the PWD, he added. |
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Poets lash out at politicians BARNALA, June 7 — The Punjabi Sahit Sabha here organised a symposium to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa on Sunday in the library of Lal Bahadur Shastri Arya Mahila College. Punjabi poets flayed the division in the Shiromani Akali Dal through their poems. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Fertiliser and Chemicals Minister, the chief guest, laughed away literary diatribes against politicians. Celebrated poet Surjit Patar recited: "Machiwade de Jungle Chon Awaz Aje Bhi Aaondi Ae Awaz Suno Kee Kehndi Hai?... Prof Anoop Virk recited:
"Koyi Aisi Kayenaat Mile, Mazhban Ton Nizaat
Mile." |
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Stone laid for women's college MOGA, June 7 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to establish missionary colleges in every district of Punjab under its programme Gurmat Parchar so that youth could be saved from drug addiction and other social evils. This was announced by SGPC chief Jagir Kaur while addressing a gathering at a historic gurdwara in Daroli Bhai village near here after laying foundation stone of Mata Damodari Women Degree College. The village panchayat
donated seven acres and the SGPC allocated a sum of Rs 50
lakh for the college. The construction work of the
college would start within a fortnight, according to Ms
Jagir Kaur. |
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