Awaiting piped drinking water SANGRUR: Nearly 35 per cent of the 1 lakh population of Barnala town, a subdivisional headquarters town in this district, is without the facility of piped drinking water. No steps to provide this facility to all in the town have been undertaken for several years, admit official sources.

Martyr's mother wants memorial
FARIDKOT, June 14 — Ms Nihal Kaur, mother of Sepoy Gurbhej Singh, has impressed upon the central and Punjab Government to raise a suitable memorial in the memory of her son who laid down his life while fighting intruders backed by Pakistani forces in the Bandipur area near Srinagar on June 5.

Seniority not must for DEO’s post
FEROZEPORE, June 14 — The Education Minister of Punjab, Mr Tota Singh, while talking to reporters at the PWD rest house here today said the seniority of an employee was not considered at the time of appointment of DEOs as the post was an administrative post and required administrative skills rather than length of service.

Duggal to pursue 'Project Library'
AMRITSAR, June 14 — Expressing a sense of dismay over the apathetic attitude of the Punjab Government to promote Punjabi literature and bring it close to people, the grand old literary man and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Kartar Singh Duggal, has asserted that he will not give up on his dream of opening libraries in every village of the state.

SGPC resolution, order stayed
CHANDIGARH, June 14 — A Vacation Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar today stayed the operation of the resolution of the SGPC dated April 28, 1999 and order of May 25, 1999 appointing Mr Kulwant Singh and Ajaib Singh (Joint Secretary of SGPC) as Secretary and Additional Secretary, respectively, of the managing committee of General Shiv Dev Singh and Divan Gurbachan Singh Khalsa College Patiala.

Patwaris urged to call off stir
FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 14 — While talking to mediapersons here today Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Public Relations and revenue, has urged the patwaris to call off their agitation and resume duty by June 15. He said the government was ready for negotiations but it would not succumb to any pressure.

No likelihood of war: Dy GOC
FEROZEPORE, June 14 — The Deputy General Officer Commanding of the Golden Arrow Division, Mr J.S. Sarao, has said there was no possibility of war between two neighbouring countries on the Ferozepore border.

PCS officers harden stand
CHANDIGARH, June 14 — PCS officers, who met here today at Punjab Bhavan, have threatened to proceed on casual leave en masse if the Punjab Government went ahead with inducting non-PCS officers directly into the IAS.

• All-party dharna staged
• Tributes paid to martyrs
• University holiday

• Soldiers wished good luck
• 3 of family die after having tea

Prayer for peace at Sharif’s village
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

JATI UMRA (Amritsar), June 14 — Panic-stricken residents of Jatti Umra, the ancestral village of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, today assembled in the local Gurdwara for a especial prayer. They prayed to the Almighty that good sense should prevail upon Mr Sharif so that he should work for defusing tension on the border due to the warlike situation in the Kargil Sector.

The landless joint family of Mr Nawaz Sharif’s forefathers lived in this village before Partition in extreme poverty. The family had, however, shifted to West Punjab (now Pakistan) much before Partition, in search of greener pastures. The present gurdwara of the village was constructed adjoining the ancestral house of the Sharifs. However, the Sharif family donated land to the gurdwara later where villagers held ardas.

The ardas (prayer) reads that Mr Sharif should know that in case of war, his ancestral village, Jati Umra, would also be ravaged. "This is your own village, Mr Nawaz Sharif, where you had stayed for a night during Asiad the (Asian Games) in 1982 and old friends of your father and grandfather had showered love on you" said Mr Arjun Singh. It was at Mr Arjun Singh’s small house that Mr Sharif had stayed a night. "Can you afford to see destruction of your village", he asked.

The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had taken the soil of Jatti Umra village to Pakistan while accompanying Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee on the bus bound for Lahore on March 20. Mr Sharif had kissed the packet containing the soil of his ancestral village when Mr Badal handed over this gift to him.

Mr Arjun Singh (83), who used to play with the father of Mr Sharif and his six paternal uncles said the latter had accorded the villagers a warm welcome during their recent visit to Pakistan. Mr Arjun Singh, Mr Gurcharan Singh and Mr Hardip Singh had gone to Pakistan along with Col Partap Singh as members of the Jatti Umra-Hind-Pak Milap Trust where they were given a red carpet welcome. Mr Sharif had hosted lunch and dinner at his residence and had put vehicles at their disposal for taking a round of various cities and towns of the country.

Mr Preetam Singh Nambardar (85), an old friend of Mr Ramzan Sharif grandfather of Mr Nawaz Sharif, said the memories of old days were still fresh in his mind. He said Mr Sharif's father, Mr Mohamad Sharif, and his brothers Dheeto, Nikki, Barkat Ali, Shafi, Jija, Addo, Masha and their sister Jijan (all nick names) were kids at that time when they would play under the big pipal tree. "How can Mr Sharif afford to indulge in war with India which could damage the ancestral village of his forefathers too?" he asked.

Ms Tej Kaur (79) said all seven uncles of Mr Nawaj Sharif had visited the village years ago. They had brought sweets, gifts and fruits for their old friends and their children from Pakistan.

Mr Jarnail Singh, Sarpanch of the village, said a collective letter would be written to Mr Nawaj Sarif for making a fervent appeal for ensuing permanent peace in the subcontinent.

The villagers said Mr Sharif had promised to visit Jatti Umra in response to their request. They wanted his visit to his ancestral village to materialise fast.

Blood stains help solve murder case
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, June 14 — Forensic experts have solved the mystery behind the murder of Nabha businessman Bant Ram Goel, which led to a violent protest by traders and a case was even registered against former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, by finding blood stains on a receipt allegedly forcibly got signed from the victim by the accused.

The blood stains were exposed during magnification following which the accused to whose house the businessman had gone on May 20 to recover a debt confessed to having murdered him.

If it were not for the stains on the receipt the accused Mashoor Singh might have gone scot free as the police could not make any headway despite interrogating him and his brother for more than a week and had even started investigating the involvement of family members of the businessman in the murder after letting off the brothers.

Superintendent of Police (Detective) Kewal Kumar said that Mashoor Singh confessed to having committed the crime when confronted with scientific evidence and that he and his 14-year-old son Ramandeep Singh, who had allegedly helped in disposing of the body of the businessman, had been arrested.

Relating the sequence of events, Mr Kewal Kumar said Mashoor Singh disclosed that the businessman had come to his house on May 20 and demanded Rs 1.43 lakh on the basis of a blank pronote signed by him earlier instead of the Rs 36,000 he owed him. Mashoor Singh said following this there was an altercation and he hit Bant Ram on the head with a sharp weapon attached to a stick.

The SP disclosed that following this Mashoor Singh told his son Ramandeep to get a piece of paper and directed, Bant Ram to give a receipt of Rs 1.43 lakh. He said it was during writing the receipt that blood fell on the paper following which Mashoor killed the businessman. The police officer said Mashoor Singh and Ramandeep put the body of the businessman in a gunny bag and threw it in Sirhind choe near Gehla village.

The SP said forensic experts would also study the blood stains on the receipt and see if they matched with the blood group of the accused. He accused the victim's family of giving the investigation a political colour and not cooperating with the police which led to delay in the completion of the investigation.

The body of the businessman was recovered on May 27 following which a group of traders held a demonstration outside the court complex and ransacked the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The traders had also protested against the alleged partisan attitude of the Nabha Station House Officer Gurbaj Singh.

SAD (Badal) delegates’ session today
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 14 — The Shiromani Akali Dal's delegates' session called by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal tomorrow at Amritsar is expected to take some important decisions.

A top functionary of the SAD (Badal) said here today that apart from ratifying the expulsion of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra from the party, the session would also initiate action against the party leaders siding with the former SGPC chief.

There are several senior leaders, including Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Surjan Singh Thekedar, Mr Baldev Singh Sibia, Mr Major Singh Uboke, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Mr Kirpal Singh Libra, who have sided with Mr Tohra. All these leaders have been either made members of the executive committee or office-bearer of the All India Shiromani Akali Dal (Tohra).

The functionary said all those leaders siding with Mr Tohra would be expelled from the party by passing a resolution at the delegate session scheduled to begin its proceedings tomorrow at Teja Singh Samundari hall at 11 a.m.

About 11 MLAs and one member of Rajya Sabha are with Mr Tohra. There are two opinions in the party on possible action against these leaders.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Secretary General of the SAD, has already stated that action would be taken against the leaders. Other leaders have suggested a cautious approach.

If MLAs are expelled from the party, the party and MPs and MLAs siding with Mr Tohra will form separate from respective legislative parties. The anti-defection law will take its toll.

There are total 448 delegates as per the constitution of the party, but 27 delegates have not been elected as they were to be elected from countries like Malaysia, Burma, Afghanistan etc. At present there are 417 surviving delegates and Mr Tohra has already been expelled from the party. The functionary said even those delegates owing allegiance to Tohra's party had been invited for attending tomorrow's session.

He claimed that as many as 395 delegates were with Mr Badal and remaining with Mr Tohra.

The other items on the agenda of the session include reposing faith in the leadership of Mr Badal, discussion on a report on party's activities in the past two years and expression of solidarity with armed forces pushing out infiltrators in the Kargil sector.

The report includes the landslide win in the last Lok Sabha elections and the Udhan Singh Nagar issue.

Martyr's mother wants memorial
From Our Correspondent

FARIDKOT, June 14 — Ms Nihal Kaur, mother of Sepoy Gurbhej Singh, has impressed upon the central and Punjab Government to raise a suitable memorial in the memory of her son who laid down his life while fighting intruders backed by Pakistani forces in the Bandipur area near Srinagar on June 5.

Talking to this reporter at her village, Dhudi, in this district, which is about 10 km away from here, yesterday, she said she had appealed to the government to give a job to her elder son, Mr Jagroop Singh, who is at present working as a labourer. However, in a firm tone, Mr Jagroop Singh said he would prefer to join the army if invited to complete the work left unfulfilled by his younger brother. When asked who would look after his four kids, his wife and parents, he replied that God would help them. The entire Dalit family living in a dilapidated two-room house completely depended upon labour work and had no other source of income to meet their basic needs.

Martyr Gurbhej Singh joined his first duty as Sepoy in the Sikh Regiment during 1995 and after serving it for more than two years later he was posted in the second battalion of Rashtriya Rifles from where he was ordered to march to fight against the enemy.

Expressing the laudable role played by this village in the Army Subedar Balwinder Singh (retired) who himself had served the military for 28 years said a record number of 30 youths of this small village were already performing their duties in the paramilitary and armed forces.

When contacted, Ms Kirandeep Kaur, Sarpanch of the village, underlined the need for immediate granting of adequate financial assistance to the bereaved family to rehabilitate it in a better way. She was all for upgrading the high school in the village to the senior secondary level and naming it after the martyr. Sufficient funds should also be granted to the panchayat for the development of the village which would be a real tribute to the late soldier, she said, adding that the panchayat had already decided to construct a primary school complex separately to perpetuate the memory of the martyr.

Meanwhile, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal who went to the village to console the bereaved family assured them that the state government would shortly give an exgratia of Rs 7 lakh to the family. Mr Surinder Gupta and Mr Satish Bagi, President and press secretary respectively, of the District Congress Committee, also shared their sorrow with the family on behalf of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. The akhand path bhog in memory of the martyr will be performed in the village on June 18.

Seniority not must for DEO’s post
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, June 14 — The Education Minister of Punjab, Mr Tota Singh, while talking to reporters at the PWD rest house here today said the seniority of an employee was not considered at the time of appointment of DEOs as the post was an administrative post and required administrative skills rather than length of service. He gave this reply when he was asked to answer about some of the complaints that seniority was being ignored at the time of appointing DEOs.

Replying to a question, he said the state government had empowered the Deputy Commissioners in the state to initiate action against the aided schools charging exorbitant fee and the parents should bring such complaints to the notice of the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

Regarding poor matriculation result of the Punjab School Education Board, the Education Minister said it was due to strict check on copying during the examinations.

He, however, said the teachers who had shown poor efficiency would be questioned and the teachers whose students had got more than 70 per cent marks would be honoured.

Mr Tota Singh said efforts were on to improve the standard of education, particularly in the government schools, and three term tests in September, December and March, would be held now in each academic year.

Regarding the ETTs, the minister said the unemployed ETTs in the state had been given government jobs and claimed that there was no ETT qualified unemployed in the state.

Mr Tota Singh had come here in connection with the transfers of teachers. As many as 800 secondary and 573 primary teachers of the district had applied to him for transfer. The Minister of State for Cooperation and Sainik Welfare, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, was also present at the press conference.

Duggal to pursue 'Project Library'
From Ashok Sethi

AMRITSAR, June 14 — Expressing a sense of dismay over the apathetic attitude of the Punjab Government to promote Punjabi literature and bring it close to people, the grand old literary man and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Kartar Singh Duggal, has asserted that he will not give up on his dream of opening libraries in every village of the state. He feels people should read vibrant Punjabi verse and prose written by some of the top writers who have reflected the true picture of Punjab and its robust culture.

Talking to this reporter, Mr Duggal disclosed that he had written three letters to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on "Project Library" for which the government had earmarked Rs 10 crore about two years ago. The then Minister of Higher Education and Languages, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, had initiated the project and a high-power meeting of the selection committee, which had met only once so far, had not moved forward. He said his delayed visit to the state was a result of the government not bothering to do anything concrete to further the project.

Talking about the process he had initiated to bridge the cultural gap, Mr Duggal said he had committed that he would spend his entire grant of Rs 12 crore, which he would be receiving as a Member of Parliament, to promote his dream. He had selected six districts of Punjab, Amritsar being the first to launch his project.

He said he would build a new library and an open-air theatre at the Gandhi Ground complex. He would provide not just the funds but also get the project designed by an eminent designer, Mr Som Pal, who had accompanied him here yesterday. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, who had initiated the project, said after the due approval of the plan layout the complex would cost about Rs 1 crore and would have a modern library, theatre, cafeteria and other facilities.

Besides, the theatre project, Mr Duggal had also assured the local Management of Indian Academy of Fine Arts, built in the memory of its founder Padamshri S.T. Thakur Singh, that he would bear the cost of air-conditioning the auditorium and the three exhibition halls. The Honorary Secretary of the academy, Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, expressed delight at the offer and said it would bring the academy at par with the best in the country.

Earlier, Mr Duggal inaugurated the 65th All-India Exhibition of Art at the academy where over 210 paintings and art works by some of the leading amateur artists were exhibited. The academy presented cash awards of Rs 4,000 each and a citation to eight artists, namely Ved Parkash from Delhi, Murli Dhar Rai, Noida, Raval Suresh, Rajkot, Ravi Narayan Gupta, Khairagarh (MP), Barun Chaudhary, Baroda, Jaspal Singh, Hoshiarpur, Avatare Vinay, Nagpur, and Basudeb Biswas, Jalandhar.

Later, Mr Duggal's play, "Yasmeen", directed by Dr Neeta Mohinder was staged.

High Court

SGPC resolution, order stayed
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, June 14 — A Vacation Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar today stayed the operation of the resolution of the SGPC dated April 28, 1999 and order of May 25, 1999 appointing Mr Kulwant Singh and Ajaib Singh (Joint Secretary of SGPC) as Secretary and Additional Secretary, respectively, of the managing committee of General Shiv Dev Singh and Divan Gurbachan Singh Khalsa College Patiala. The Bench also issued notice of motion to the SGPC and its president, Bibi Jagir Kaur for August 11, 1999.

The Bench passed the order on a writ petition filed by Mr Karnail Singh, Secretary of the managing committee of the above college.

As per the resolution dated April 28, 1999, passed by the SGPC at Amritsar which was allegedly conveyed to the Principal of the above college on May 7, 1999, Bibi Jagir Kaur was appointed President of the managing committee of the college and Mr Kulwant Singh was made Secretary. It was stated that the account of the college would be operated by Mr Kulwant Singh and others as mentioned in the resolution.

According to the petitioner, the impugned resolution of April 28, 1999 and order dated May 25 were a fallout of the political rivalry between Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, and Mr G.S. Tohra, former SGPC chief, and the resolution was passed to get control of the institution by supporters of Mr Badal, since the petitioners are considered supporters of Mr Tohra.

The petitioner further submitted that he was appointed as Secretary of the managing committee for a period of three years on December 2, 1997 as per the rules, by the governing body i.e. the Education Committee of the SGPC along with other 11 members.

It was further submitted that the change in the constitution of the governing body would have no effect on the constitution of the managing committee of the college.

A Vacation Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar today stayed the termination of service of Mr Gurdeep Singh, Assistant Carpenter, Punjab Roadways, Jalandhar, and issued notice of motion for October 11, 1999 in a writ petition wherein he challenged the rejection of his claim for regularisation.

The petitioner had been issued a show cause notice regarding retrenchment of his service since he had not been recommended for regularisation by the Departmental Selection Committee. The High Court earlier gave direction to the committee to consider his representation in view of policy decision to regularise the services of daily wage/casual employees and work charge employees after completion of 10 years of service. His representation was rejected, hence this petition.

It was contended on behalf of the petitioner that his claim was wrongly rejected since he had put in more than 16 years of service and that the government's instructions that even if there was no post, the post should be created to adjust those who had completed 10 years of service made it compulsory for the respondents to regularise the services of the petitioner.

Awaiting piped drinking water
From Prem Goel

SANGRUR: Nearly 35 per cent of the 1 lakh population of Barnala town, a subdivisional headquarters town in this district, is without the facility of piped drinking water. No steps to provide this facility to all in the town have been undertaken for several years, admit official sources.

Several important areas, including Prem Nagar, Fauji Basti, the left side of Sekhan road, Bhagat Singh Nagar, Mahal Nagar, Baba Deep Singh Nagar and parts of Akalgarh Basti are without this basic facility. Residents of these areas are currently meeting their drinking water needs through hand pumps and in most of the cases water is not fit for human consumption, admit official sources.

The pressure of water is very low and it is hardly available even to ground-floor residents. Due to a low pressure, residents living on the first and second floors have to face big difficulty to get potable water.

At present there are nine tubewells. The water outflow from four tubewells has been reduced considerably due to the lowering of the water level.

To maintain even the existing water supply properly, at least four more tubewells are required, say official sources.

According to Water Supply and Sewerage Board sources, a Rs 2.86 crore scheme to provide piped drinking water in these areas was approved jointly by HUDCO and the Punjab Government in 1996. Of this, HUDCO was to provide Rs 1.43 crore as a loan, the Punjab Government Rs 85.80 lakh as a subsidy while the rest of the amount was to be spent by the Barnala Municipal Council. However, the project seems to have been shelved as no funds have so far been released. According to official sources, the project has been dumped as HUDCO would provide its loan share of Rs 1.43 crore only on the guarantee of the Punjab Government for its repayment by the Barnala Municipal Council and the state government has so far not given the guarantee.

* * *

Residents of Khanauri, Dirba and Cheema in Sunam subdivision and of Bhadaur in Barnala subdivision of this district will soon have the facility of piped drinking water. According to Water Supply and Sewerage Board sources, the entire project is estimated to cost Rs 4.6 crore. Of this, the Central Government would provide a subsidy to the tune of Rs 2.3 crore and the like amount is to be provided by the Punjab Government. Khanauri and Dirba have a population of 10,000 each while Cheema and Bhadaur have a population of 8,000 and 16,000, respectively.

* * *

The district has done a commendable job in the collection of small savings. According to Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, the district collected Rs 117 crore against the target of Rs 67 crore in the past financial year, registering an increase of over 71 per cent. During the previous year (1997-98) also, the district had performed job remarkably, collecting Rs 80 crore against the target of Rs 45 crore.

Patwaris urged to call off stir

FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 14 — While talking to mediapersons here today Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Public Relations and revenue, has urged the patwaris to call off their agitation and resume duty by June 15. He said the government was ready for negotiations but it would not succumb to any pressure. He however, warned that if the patwaris continued their agitation they would be severely dealt with .

The minister said the government was making sincere efforts to strengthen the economy of the state and to create new sources of income by installing big industrial units in the state. He said the previous Congress governments had been running the state by taking loans, whereas the present Akali government was depending on its own resources. He called upon the employees not to blackmail the government on the eve of Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Sekhwan said the so-called third front had no existence in the Akali prospects during elections. He reiterated that the Akali Dal would win all seats and refuted the allegations that Akali conferences were being organised by using Gurdwara funds.

Later, Mr Sekhwan addressed a gathering at Harlalpura village where he was honoured by the All-India Minorities Dalit Front for his services towards Sikhism. In his address Mr Sehkwan urged the Dalits to unite to get justice. He said the state government was committed to the development of the state.

Mr R.S. Cheema, former minister, Mr Didar Singh Bhatti, Akali leader, Mr Swarn Singh Chanarthal, district president of SAD (B), Mr Harinder Singh Khalsa, vice president of the Dalit Minorities Front, Punjab, Mr Harinder Singh Kahlon, general secretary, were also honoured on the occasion.

No likelihood of war: Dy GOC
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, June 14 — The Deputy General Officer Commanding of the Golden Arrow Division, Mr J.S. Sarao, has said there was no possibility of war between two neighbouring countries on the Ferozepore border.

Addressing a meeting of the peace committee here today he asked representatives of the people to discourage rumours.

He added that the Indian Army was actively working to flush out the intruders in the Kargil sector and these activities would go on till the intruders were eliminated.

The Ferozepore Range DIG Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon, asked people not to pay heed to any rumour. Instead, they should contact civil and police administration for any clarification, he added.

Mr Dhillon said the police was coordinating with the Army and in case of any eventuality, the civil administration would inform the people promptly.

The Additional District Magistrate, Ferozepore, Mr R.G. Sahota, said he had met residents of the border villages around Ferozepore and found that their morale was very high. The villagers were ready to fight against the enemy, he added.

Mr Sahota said the villagers had shifted their valuables but were themselves living in houses at their respective villages. A single bridge on the river Satluj and absence of an alternate way had prompted the villagers to shift their valuables.

Two-minute silence was observed at the meeting to pay homage to the Indian soldiers, who had lost their lives while fighting against the enemies in the Kargil sector. Members of the peace committee, pledged to make every type of sacrifice for the security of the country in case of war between India and Pakistan.

PCS officers harden stand
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 14 — PCS officers, who met here today at Punjab Bhavan, have threatened to proceed on casual leave en masse if the Punjab Government went ahead with inducting non-PCS officers directly into the IAS.

Mr Jaswant Singh, president of the PCS officers association, in a statement here today said PCS officers from all districts of the state participated in the meeting. The executive committee of the Association was authorised to take all steps to press the state government to drop its move with regard to the induction of non-PCS officers.

The association, according to him, has decided to make one more request to the Chief Minister in this regard. There was no justification for the induction of non-PCS officers in the IAS as the PCS officers of 1974 batch with excellent service record were awaiting for their promotion to the IAS, the association added.

In the neighbouring states, including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, non-PCS officers were not inducted into the IAS, the association asserted. Other issues discussed were demands regarding designations and new pay-scales.

All-party dharna staged
From Our Correspondent

FARIDKOT, June 14 — An all-party dharna was staged here today in which heads of various social organisations and trade unions, including advocates and municipal councillors also took part. They have decided to intensify the stir following the failure of the Punjab Government to accept their demand regarding the recognition of Faridkot district.

The Speakers urged the leaders of all parties to rise above their political affairs to safeguard the interests of the district. They appealed to Shiromani Akali Dal representatives to use their good offices to pressurise the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to resolve the issue amicably.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Lakhbir Singh Arayanwala, district Jathedar, SAD, assured them that his party would give priority to their demand. A deputation of the district party leaders would meet the Chief Minister in Chandigarh on June 16 to find out a solution.

Later a deputation of political parties presented a charter of demands to the Deputy Commissioner.

Soldiers wished good luck
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, June 14 — Members of the Ludhiana Citizens Council today gathered at the local railway station to wish good luck to the soldiers who were heading towards Kargil to fight the Pakistani infiltrators and to save the frontiers of the country.

The members welcomed the soldiers travelling in the train with flowers and served them with biscuits and cold water. The entire air rent with slogans "Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal" and "Har-Har Mahadev."

Tributes paid to martyrs
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, June 14 — Glowing tributes were paid to the martyrs of Kargil sector in Jammu and Kashmir at a special meeting of the National Martyrs Memorial Committee, Punjab, which was held here today under the presidentship of Mr Balwant Singh Kindra, its Senior Vice-President.

The speakers expressed in one voice that "the proud and grateful nation is thankful to our brave, patriotic soldiers and officers who have sacrificed their lives for the motherland".

3 of family die after having tea
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, June 14 — Three members of a family died after having tea that had something poisonous in it. Ram Saroop and Janak Raj, two brothers, died instantly at their native village, Chak Khurd, in Nakodar block while their mother Kaushalaya Devi breathed her last at Nakodar Hospital yesterday. All three had complained of restlessness after taking evening tea in their home. While the mother had fallen unconscious after taking tea the two brothers were brought to hospital where they were declared dead.

The Nakodar police is investigating, it was learnt here today.

University holiday
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, June 14 — The administrative offices and non-teaching departments of Guru Nanak Dev University will remain closed on June 17 instead of June 16 on the eve of martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev. This was officially announced by the Registrar of the university, Dr R.S. Bawa, here today.