Friday, June 25, 1999
|
P U N J A B | |
Friday, June 25, 1999 |
| weather n
spotlight today's calendar |
 |
||
|
Badal to
be removed after poll: Tohra Mulayam blames BJP for Kargil
casualties |
 |
|
|||||||
|
3 drug
smugglers with BKI links arrested Striking patwaris sacked Six Cong leaders stake claim Move to shift office draws flak
Villagers foil bid to abduct woman Violence against journalists: CM
orders inquiry Measles cases on rise in Jalandhar YC to "educate" people
on govt's failures Markfed staff hold rally |
|||||||||
 |
||||
Badal to be removed after
poll: Tohra AMRITSAR, June 24 — The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would endeavour to remove Mr Parkash Singh Badal as Chief Minister after the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mr Tohra claimed here today that his party would definitely muster adequate strength on the floor of the Assembly for paving the way for a change in the leadership of the SAD. However, he said even after the removal of Mr Badal as Chief Minister, the next government would also be a ‘Panthic’. It may be mentioned here that the SAD (Badal) has already served a notice to 10 MLAs loyal to Mr Tohra for violating the party discipline. When asked about the total strength of his loyalists in the Punjab Assembly, Mr Tohra said he would disclose the number at an appropriate time. Replying to a question, Mr Tohra said the party had already forged an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the next Lok Sabha elections. "Our doors for reaching seat adjustment with other political parties who want to defeat the Congress, the SAD (Badal) and the BJP combine in the poll are open", he remarked. He said his party was ready for seat adjustment with the SAD (Panthic) led by Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, the SAD (Democratic) led by Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, the CPI, the CPM and the Janata Dal. Mr Tohra said the party was also prepared for seat adjustment with the SAD (Amritsar) if it could give categorical assurance that the issue of Khalistan would not be raised henceforth. Mr Tohra said Mr P.A. Sangma and Mr Sharad Pawar, leaders of the Nationalistic Congress Party (NCP) would be star campaigners in the rallies to be organised by the party in Punjab. He said he had already appealed to the Sikhs to support the NCP in other states. Meanwhile, Mr Tohra has appointed chiefs of various state units of the party. They included Mr Hazoor Singh (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh), Mr Kewal Singh (Maharashtra), and Mr Malkiat Singh (Nagpur). Mr Harbhajan Singh Champion would be the chief of East India while Mr Gurdial Singh would be the chief of the Calcutta state unit. Mr Pritam Singh would head the Madhya Pradesh state unit. The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal has also appointed some legal advisers, including Mr G.S. Grewal, former Advocate-General, Punjab, Mr B.S. Jandu (Patiala) and Mr Nirdev Singh, advocate, (Bathinda). Mr Tohra has also asked Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, General Secretary, to look after the work of the Doaba region, including Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, General Secretary of the Dal, would be in charge of the Malwa region. Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra would look after Sangrur and Patiala districts. Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur would be in charge of the Majha region, comprising Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. Answering a question, Mr Tohra alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) had been misusing the committee funds. He alleged that the telephone bill of the SGPC chief was about Rs 50,000. She had been making appointments in back dates, he alleged. Mr Manjit Singh
Calcutta, former minister and Mr Onkar Singh Sharifpura,
district president (urban), were also present on the
occasion. |
||
Mulayam blames BJP for Kargil
casualties SANGRUR, June 24 — The Samajwadi Party chief Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav has accused the BJP led government at the Centre of the large scale casualties of the Indian Army on account of its own failure, be it in the intelligence wings of the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry or in its External Affairs Ministry. Mr Yadav was speaking at a public function here today. On Jammu and Kashmir, the Samajwadi Party leader asserted that it was an integral part of the country and third party intervention could not be tolerated in its affairs, adds UNI. Mr Yadav said that Akali Dal (Democratic) led by Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala had already joined hands with his party and he hoped that the Akali factions led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, too, would join the front. Our Correspondent adds from Sangrur: Predicting a hung Parliament, Mr Yadav while talking to reporters here today stated that no political party including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress would be able to secure the absolute majority to form the government at the Centre after the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Mr Yadav, however, expressed the hope that the third front and its political allies would form the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections because the people were fed up with the wrong policies followed by both the Congress and the BJP. Mr Yadav later addressing a public rally here said that both the Congress and the BJP were communal and both the parties had miserably failed to protect the interests of the farmers, the minorities and the weaker sections of society which jointly constitute a big majority of the country's population. The third force will look after the interests of these sections of society. Mr Yadav further said that BJP and the Congress wanted to promote two-party system to rule the country turn by turn adding that the third force symbolised by the minorities and the weaker sections of society would never allow to develop the two-party system. Talking about Kargil, Mr Yadav said that it was a matter of shame that the fight was going on our own land and our jawans were sacrificing their lives in our own country. He charged that the BJP government had miserably failed to safeguard the security of the country. We want peace with our neighbours but if there is a fight it should on others land and not on ours, stressed Mr Yadav. He, however, lauded the armed forces which were giving a good fight to the intruders and the enemy. Mr Yadav opposed Sonia Gandhi as the future Prime Minister of the country because of her foreign origin. Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, President Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic), Mr Balinder Singh Sekhon, President Samajwadi Party, Mr Teja Singh Tiwana, member national executive of the Samajwadi Party also criticised the Congress and the BJP for their anti-people policies and appealed to the people to strengthen the third front in Punjab to give a crushing defeat to the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Yadav announced a
committee consisting of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr
Kuldip Singh Wadala, Mr Jasbir Singh Rode and Mr Teja
Singh Tiwana to talk to other parties in Punjab to
strengthen the third front. |
||
Poor show by govt schools FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 24 — Resentment prevails among parents and residents of the district against the very poor results of government schools. The results of certain schools are less than 5 per cent whereas the results of public and privately managed schools were 75 per cent to 100 per cent. The parents have demanded a thorough probe and demanded the fixation of responsibility and stern action. Talking to The Tribune people from various sections of society alleged that the affairs of the Education department in the district are in a mess. Teachers do not attend the schools regularly the menace of tuition, the indifferent attitude of teachers, growing unionism, political interference in the working of the department and postings of the teachers far away from their residences and travelling quite a distance daily are some of the causes that spoiled the academic atmosphere. This year the results are far from satisfactory. Government High School, Jallah, five out of 104 were successful, Government Sr Secondary School, Bassi Pathana, (boys) only 13 passed out of 71 in Government Senior Secondary School, Nandpur Kalan, 45 passed out of 173, in Government Secondary School, Mandi Govindgarh, 22 passed out of 81 and so on. People alleged that teachers do not attend classes regularly. People in rural areas said teachers mostly come from the Chandigarh side. They come rather late to school and leave early, according to their bus timings. There are certain schools in the district where groups of commerce, science and vocational education have been introduced and the teachers have been posted, but no student has opted for these groups. In these schools, equipment worth lakhs are gathering dust and teachers are getting salaries without any work. Even the Accountant-General of Punjab in his audit report had drawn attention of the Education department towards this unnecessary wastage, but nothing has been done. The people have demanded that a detailed analysis of the results, teacher-wise, should be done and action taken against those whose results are poor. Presidents of parents-teachers associations of various schools said the District Education Officer should be given powers to take action against the erring teachers. At present the DEO does not have the powers even to transfer a peon, what to talk of his taking action against a teacher. The DEOs visit the school just for formality sake or to complete their quota of checking. All powers lie with the minister only. When contacted Mr
Gurcharan Lal, Assistant DEO, said the cause of poor
results was the control over the copying system and the
five-type question paper system introduced for the first
time by the education minister. He said in government
schools children come from weaker sections and their
parents do not take pains in their studies. He admitted
that the poor results in the district are due to less
devotion of teachers. |
||
3 drug smugglers with BKI
links arrested AMRITSAR, June 24 — With the arrest of three smugglers of drugs the police here has foiled attempts of Pakistan to curtail the Army movement in the border belt by carrying out acts of sabotage. The smugglers who were arrested with a big consignment of arms and ammunition were active in the border belt with specific assignments at the instance of the hostile country. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, district police chief, said that the arrested smugglers and couriers had direct links with the Babbar Khalsa International. The interrogation of the accused smugglers revealed that the terrorist outfits had been planning to revive terrorism by using the old links. The smugglers have been arrested under the supervision of Mr Jatinder Jain, Superintendent of Police (city). To a question, the district police chief said that there were clear indications that the arrested smugglers had brought explosives to disturb peace in this border state. Replying to a question, the district police chief said that after the arrest of these smugglers the police had stepped up vigil as the Pakistani sponsored smugglers and terrorists could blow vital installations. Vulnerable points where the Pakistani-sponsored terrorists could strike include Doordarshan stations, All-India Radio, important bridges and railway stations etc. Apart from this the Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawa Singh and Mehal Singh who had taken shelter in Pakistan had directed them to kill the VIPs. The police has recovered 8 kg of explosives on the basis of clues provided by the arrested smugglers including Gurdial Singh alias Lali, Gurdev Singh alias Happy and Parmjit Singh. The smugglers who have been arrested by the police were arrested a number of times earlier also with huge recoveries of contraband. Yet they resumed their anti-national activities as soon as they were let off on bail. So much so one of the accused Gurdev Singh alias Happy even dared to cross over to Pakistan during his parole period. He along with Gurdial Singh alias Lali smuggled 8 kg of explosives besides meeting the top terrorist leaders in Pakistan during his parole period. He had also smuggled fake currency worth Rs 10 lakh from Pakistan. The smugglers nabbed by the police had crossed over to Pakistan through Jammu and Kashmir border. However, they could not come back from the same border due to heavy deployment of Army in Kargil and adjoining areas. Then they crossed to India through Ferozepore border which is still porous notwithstanding claims that it had been fenced properly. Interrogation of the
accused has revealed that the leaders of terrorist
outfits have been trying desperately to reorganise their
cadres by bringing terrorists and crossborder smugglers
on one platform. This consignment of explosives was to be
handed over to the hitmen of the Babbar Khalsa cadre on
the instructions of Wadhawa Singh and Mehal Singh. Two of
the accused namely Gurdev Singh Happy and Gurdial Singh
Lali were in constant touch with the chief of Babbar
Khalsa International. They have disclosed that the
terrorist organisations have devised system of cut-offs
whereby the source of supply of explosives is detached
from the group of actual users of these explosives. It
has also come to light that the terrorist leaders based
in Pakistan allure the smugglers to indulge in such
activities on the pretext that they would supply gold and
heroin to them when they cross over to Pakistan. But once
these smugglers cross the border, they are persuaded to
smuggle arms and explosives to India for carrying out
acts of sabotage and give shelter to their activists and
provide them ‘safe’ passage for crossing over
to Pakistan after they have carried out acts of sabotage. |
||
Striking patwaris sacked BATALA, June 24 (PTI) — An indefinite strike by Revenue patwaris in Punjab took a new turn in Gurdaspur district when the district administration ordered dismissal of all striking patwaris, who had not completed their probation period and joined the strike. An official release here yesterday quoting Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur SK Sandhu said that orders regarding the dismissal has been dispatched to them. In another case, the administration issued the order to send back all canal patwaris to their parental department who had been on strike, he said. The Deputy Commissioner said that action was being taken against those patwaris who had refused to return the official record to the office concerned in the district. FARIDKOT, (TNS): The Punjab government has started contemplating on hiring services of retired patwaris and Kanungos on contract basis for improving working of patwarkhanas and tehsils in the state. Official sources said that according to a proposal moved by the state Revenue authorities, the retired patwaris and kanungos would be appointed patwaris for a fixed period. Such patwaris would be paid Rs 5000 per month. Sources said that services of patwaris appointed in this way would be terminable by the competent authorities after serving one month's notice in writing or without previous notice if such patwari was found guilty of violating any service rule and in case he became unfit to discharge his duties due to ill health. Sources said that the Punjab government had taken this decision after it decided not to accept any demand of the patwaris in second week of June at a meeting of all Deputy Commission-ers convened by senior Revenue officials at Chandigarh. Sources said that Punjab government would work out the numbers and duration of patwaris to be appointed under the proposal by the coming Monday. Only retired patwaris and kanungos who had good reputation and not involved in any criminal cases would be considered for appointments. Official sources said that State Revenue authorities had issued the specimen proforma for the appointment of patwaris on contract basis to all Deputy Commissioners. the Deputy Commissioners, if need arose, would make the appointments. On the other hand, a
number of striking patwaris has started joining duties
again. In Bathinda district alone 15 patwaris have
submitted their joining report to the authorities
concerned. Joining of duties by the patwaris have also
been reported from other districts of Punjab. |
||
Patiala seat PATIALA, June 24 — The visit of Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma, state observer of the AICC for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, here today saw a virtual showdown among Congressmen on the issue of supporting the candidature of Mrs Parneet Kaur from the local Lok Sabha seat. Talking to newspersons, Mr Sharma said he met six prospective candidates for the seat. These were Mrs Parneet Kaur, wife of Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC, President, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Prem Gupta — all former ministers and senior functionaries and ace-cricketer Navjot Sidhu. While Mr Sharma was non-committal about the prospects of these candidates, he said the ticket would be given to a person qualifying the criteria laid down by party chief Sonia Gandhi. Earlier, Mr Sharma met a number of delegates briefing him about the prospects of the candidates and their support. The first to call on the observer was a delegation of senior Congress ministers who claimed representing eight of the nine Assembly constituencies falling under the local Lok Sabha seat. Their dissident group opposed the candidature of Mrs Parneet Kaur tooth and nail. They instead put forward the name of four candidates — Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Sant Ram Singla, Mr Bir Devinder Singh and Mr Prem Gupta. The group committed that it would support any candidate chosen from among these by the party high command. Speaking in the presence of other supporting leaders like Mr Brahm Mohindra and Mr Brij Lal Goyal, Spokesperson of the group Bir Devinder Singh said Mrs Parneet Kaur had no political organisational or legislative experience. He said the group had a lengthy discussion with the observer and advised him to look beyond the family of the PCC chief. He said the royal family in the past two decades had not won any election on its own. The candidature of Mrs Parneet Kaur was also opposed by a group of freedom fighters led by Mr Faqir Singh. On the other hand, a number of party leaders and organisations claimed that Mrs Parneet Kaur was the best candidate. She enjoyed the support of the masses, was very social and had a clean image, they claimed. A total of 155 organisations gave a memorandum of support in favour of Mrs Parneet Kaur. Cricketer Navjot Sidhu
also met Mr Sharma and presented his candidature.
"Any decision taken by the high command in selecting
the candidate will be binding on me," he remarked. |
||
Move to shift office draws
flak PATHANKOT: The local unit of the BJP will oppose the Punjab Government's move to shift the circle office of the PWD(B&R) from Pathankot to Gurdaspur. Leaders of the BJP, including Punjab Forest Minister Master Mohan Lal, Mr Sat Pal Saini and Mr Ram Lal (both BJP legislators from Sujanpur and Narot Mehra constituencies, respectively) have assured leaders of the joint action committee of the employees of the department that they will not allow shifting to Gurdaspur of the PWD circle office which had been functioning here for the past over 32 years. Mr Mohan Lal said any move to shift the office would neither be tolerated nor allowed. He said the move would not only uproot over 90 per cent employees of the department working in the circle office but also hamper the department works and other projects. Mr Mohan Lal observed the development of Pathankot had already been affected badly following the shifting of industrial and big trade centres to Kathua ( J&K) and Kandrori, Jasur and Bhadroya in Himachal Pradesh. Timber trade too was shifted 10 years ago to Bhadroya in HP, adjoining Pathankot. Mr Sat Pal Saini and Mr Ram Lal urged Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to stall the move as it would affect development works in the Kandi and semi-hill areas of Pathankot and Dhar sub-divisions. JAC leaders, including Mr Naresh Kumar, Mr Tejwinder Singh and Mr Sharad Kumar, the proposal was put forth by a handful of persons having vested interests. Mr Naresh Kumar,
convener of the JAC, said the circle office had been
functioning here since 1968. Its shifting would not only
affect the development of the Bamial and Narot Jai Mal
Singh and the kandi areas in Pathankot and Dhar
subdivisions but also put an additional burden on a
government already facing a financial crunch. The
government would have to construct suitable buildings to
house this directorate-level office which would involve
crores of rupees. |
||
Hearts pour out for brave
hearts CHANDIGARH, June 24 — From Kashmir to Kanyakumari there is a massive upsurge of support for the brave soldiers engaged in protecting the territorial integrity of the country in the Kargil sector and elsewhere on the border. Feeling concerned about the jawans negotiating hostile terrains to drive out the infiltrators and Pakistan army’s regulars from the hills in the Kargil sector, individuals and voluntary organisations have started a countrywide drive to boost the morale of jawans. The best example of it was seen at Fazilka. A voluntary organisation was going door to door to collect donations for the families of the martyrs. A rickshaw-puller stopped his vehicle and poured out every paisa from his pocket in the donation bucket of the organisation. "I want to convey to the jawans that though physically I am pulling a rickshaw here in the town but mentally I am with them, and hence my day’s earnings for them", said a rickshaw puller when asked what made him donate his entire day’s earning. In fact lakhs and lakhs of people wanted to convey the same message to the brave jawans through various means. At this critical juncture people wanted to stand by the brave-hearts and their families. Hundreds of youth organisations are engaged in the task of organising blood donation camps so that jawans requiring blood should not feel the scarcity of it at any stage. The youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal led by a former MP, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, is organising a camp at which 1000 jawans would donate blood tomorrow. Besides this almost all rotary and lion clubs are engaged in this job. Employees have invented their own method of expressing solidarity with the jawans and their families. Almost all sections of employees have either donated their one-day salary for the welfare of the jawans, especially for the families of those jawans who attained martyrdom or they have promised to donate it. The most-laudable offer has been made by the KLM International School of Pathankot in Gurdaspur district. Mr T.L. Bharadwaj, Wing Commander, who is Administrator of the School, in a letter sent to The Tribune has offered to free board and education to the wards of jawans, who laid down their lives in Kargil defending the nation. Mr Bhardwaj has also sent letters in this connection to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Northern Command, which appreciating the gesture has assured him that this offer would be disseminated to the units and formations taking part in Operation Vijay. It is an English-medium school. At certain places units of the Indian Medical Associations has made an offer to provide free treatment to the family members of the jawans who made the supreme sacrifice in the Kargil sector. Village panchayats, especially in the border belt, have offered to help the army in every possible manner in case of exigency. Some Indian companies have extended help to soldiers in kind like sending light eatables, and dry packed snacks, etc. But multinational companies, which are making crores in the country, have not showed much inclination in extending help to the jawans. A reader of The Tribune in a letter today pointed out that although MNCs had make several hundred crores of World Cup they had ignored the Kargil jawans completely. In town falling near
railway lines, people come to stations to offer sweets to
jawans on the way to their allotted destinations, and to
convey them that every countryman is with them. |
||
Plot, govt job for soldier's
widow HOSHIARPUR, June 24 — Tributes were paid to Havildar Kamal Dev Singh, who sacrificed his life in Kargil sector, at the antim ardas ceremony in his native village Sandhra about 48 km from here, today. He had joined 13 Sikh Light Infantry in 1979. He is survived by his young wife and a four-year-old son. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab, said the state government had decided to display the photographs of the martyrs from Punjab at civil secretariat, Chandigarh, and at the district headquarters in state. Besides, memorials would also be set up. He said Punjab was the first state in the country to take lead in providing financial help to the kin of soldiers who made sacrifices in J&K. He said the government would soon provide a residential plot, Rs 5 lakh and a government job to Mrs Rashem Kaur, widow of Havildar Kamal Dev Singh and presented a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to her. Mr Mittal announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for Sandhra village. The Sandhra-Sikri link road would be renamed after the martyr and a dispensary named after the soldier would also be set up at the village. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu,
Deputy Commissioner, while paying tributes to the soldier
assured that the district administration would also
provide all possible help to the family of the soldier. |
||
Rs 5 lakh for Kargil relief
fund CHANDIGARH, June 24 — The people of Sriganganagar and Srivijayanagar town-ship in Rajasthan and of Fazilka have generously contributed to the welfare of the families of those soldiers who laid down their lives or were injured in the ongoing Kargil operations. A cheque for Rs 5 lakh, the first instalment raised under the Pratap Kesari Kargil Relief Fund, has been handed over to Major-Gen Mohinder Singh, GOC of a division, at a function today. Earlier, 120 persons
donated blood for the battle injured. Over 200 persons
have registered their names for blood donation as and
when required. |
||
Villagers foil bid to abduct woman HOSHIARPUR, June 24 (UNI) — Residents of Pandori Krangran village foiled an attempt to abduct a woman from the residence of her sister in the village last evening, the police said. SSP R.P.Mittal said today that seven of the eight accused allegedly involved in the abduction attempt had been arrested and a jeep and car in which they had come had been seized. Those arrested under Sections 364 of the IPC were identified by the police officer as Parmjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, Mukhtiar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Harjinder Singh, all residents of Gakhla village in Jalandhar district, Amarjit Singh of Holria, also in Jalandhar and Harnek Singh of Puara village. Gurdial Singh of Bamali in Kapurthala district, the main accused in the case, however, managed to escape, the SSP added. Mr Mittal, said Gurbaksh Kaur (30), mother of three children, had come from Babak along with her second husband and brother to Pandori Kangran to meet her sister Balbir Kaur. But when Gurdial Singh, her brother-in-law from her first marriage, learnt about her arrival, he allegedly mobilised seven armed accomplices and swooped on the house of Balbir Kaur. They allegedly beat up Gurbaksh Kaur and then tried to take her away forcibly. But the residents
rescued her and informed the police which arrested seven
of the eight accused. Mr Mittal said that swords, and
lathis were recovered from the accused. Gurdial Singh was
reportedly against the second marriage of Gurbaksh Kaur. |
||
Violence against journalists: CM
orders inquiry CHANDIGARH, June 24 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has ordered a time-bound enquiry into the incidents of violence against newspersons involving the police as reported in recent months. A delegation of the Journalists' Association, Chandigarh, today met Mr Badal to lodge a protest against the growing incidents of violence against journalists. The association said it was state agencies that were making journalists their target. A statement by the
association said that Mr Badal had directed Mr Anil
Sharma, DIG, to personally look into the incident outside
the residence of the Chief Minister and submit his report
within a week. The SSP Ropar has been directed to submit
a report regarding the manhandling of a photo grapher of
a Punjabi daily at SAS a few weeks ago. Mr Badal had also
promised to take action against those involved in the
registration of a false case against Mr Balbir Singh
Parmar, a Sardulgarh-based journalist of a Punjabi daily. |
||
Measles cases on rise in
Jalandhar JALANDHAR, June 24 — A few cases of measles have been reported in the district. A number of children have been admitted to various hospitals in the district suffering from the disease. Poor, illiterate and superstitious parents are turning to "babas" for curing the disease, which has afflicted their children with high fever and cough. Last week deaths of one-year-old Jyoti and four-year-old Ranjit took place. Villagers are keeping their fingers crossed as the condition of as many as 10 children is critical. They include Madhu, Chandani, Neeraj, Ranjit, Sweeta, Ajit, Ram Prakash, Radha and others. The parents of most of the sick children are in a dilemma as they don't have money to get treatment from private hospitals as government hospitals are indifferent towards their plight. The Pendu Mazdoor Union general secretary, Mr Tarsem Peter, has alleged that since the formation of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), the poor strata of society could not avail the facility of subsidised medical help as the hospitals extended aid to only those with yellow cards. These cards had not been renewed since March 31. Hepatitis B is also prevalent in the area. Six deaths have taken place due to this disease in Mehatpur during the past four months. Mr Peter demanded that
the state government should provide free vaccine to the
poor and the civil hospital authorities should organise a
camp to detect the disease in various areas. |
||
YC to "educate"
people on govt's failures FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 24 — The Youth Congress has decided to organise public rallies at District headquarters to educate people about the failures of Punjab government, said Mr Devinder Singh Babbu President, Punjab Youth Congress while addressing a Youth Congress workers' rally at Mandi Gobindgarh town today. He feared that in-fighting among various factions of the Akali Dal might revive terrorism. He cautioned people against designs of the Akalis. He said all Akalis were power hungry. They could put even the State and the people at stake for power. He said the state had become bankrupt corruption is at its peak in the State, job opportunities were not being created for youths. He demanded that the notification on the reduction of Sales Tax and withdrawal of octroi should be issued. Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo former Minister alleged that the government was being run by the family of the Badal not by Mr Badal. He said there was family rule in state and now his daughter had started demanding ticket. He said the farmers were committing suicide and no relief had been given to them. Mr Tej Parkash Singh, former Minister said the Congress was fully prepared to contest the Parliament elections and there was no groupism in party. He said the people were looking forward to the Congress to lead them. He said the Akalis could not be able to get even a single seat from the state. Mr Sadhu Singh, former Minister lashing out at the Akalis said they had betrayed the people. He also criticised Jathedar Tohra. Mr Harinder Singh
Bhambri, District President Youth Congress Dr Sikander
Singh President D.C.C., Vaid Hari Krishan former
President D.C.C., Surjit Singh Sahi, General Secretary,
D.C.C. also addressed the conference. |
||
Markfed staff hold rally CHANDIGARH, June 24 — Employees of Markfed held a rally here today in front of the head office of the organisation to protest against the management's decision to release Rs 4 crore for the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund. Mr Harbhajan Dass, general secretary of the Punjab State Cooperative Markfed Employees' Union, in a statement after the rally alleged Rs 4 crore had been released to the fund for furthering the political interests of the Chief Minister. Already Markfed had contributed Rs 4.66 crore for the home district of the Chief Minister, which had allegedly been misutilised. Employees had sought a CBI probe into this, he added. Union leaders said the
management had deferred the long-pending demands of
employees like extending pension benefit to them. Others
said the decision to give pension to the Markfed
employees was taken in 1990 but it had not been
implemented so far. |
||
Rai slams Oppn for seeking
RS session LUDHIANA, June 24 — Senior BJP leader and member of Rajya Sabha, Lala Lajpat Rai, today accused certain political parties of double standards for, first claiming to support the government on the Kargil issue and then raising the demand for convening of a Rajya Sabha session "so that they can indulge in mud slinging on he government." Lala Lajpat Rai was addressing a press conference here today. He said convening of the Rajya Sabha would serve no gainful purpose and that the government had been apprising other political parties of the situation in Kargil, during all party meetings. Attacking the parties,
which were demanding a national government to replace the
BJP led government, Lala Lajpat Rai said, in the present
critical situation, a homogeneous government would be
more effective than a heterogeneous one. |
||
Three-phase power supply
increased PATIALA, June 24 — The PSEB has increased three-phase power supply to tubewells running on night shift from eight hours to 10 hours per day. Instructions have also been issued to the field staff that whenever due to some local conditions, there is some shortfall in the period of three-phase supply on any particular feeder, the former may be compensated on the same day or as soon as possible. A PSEB press release said here yesterday that whenever voltage and frequency conditions of the grid were comfortable, the time of three phase supply to the tubewells would be further increased on day-to-day basis. The PSEB has also
increased three-phase supply to international border
areas beyond fence to 12 hours. |
||
Security beefed up in sensitive
areas PATIALA, June 24 — Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir yesterday ordered security deployment at sensitive places in the district which can be targeted by anti-social elements in the wake of the Kargil situation. Under the 1918 Act, Rule 3, the Deputy Commissioner, has directed the elders of towns and villages to impose "thikri pehras" in these sensitive places like railway lines, roads, bridges, transformers, electricity towers, religious places and government offices. The orders have been
enforced for two months. |
||
 |
||
 |
| Nation
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
