Monday, June 28, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Monday, June 28, 1999 |
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Vigil
over vital installations |
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Minister's
son-in-law kidnapped minor? VC orders probe into 'plagiarism' Monsoon delay shot in arm for
farmers Work on Shahpur Kandi dam starts Pak ready to repair temples Press has vital role: Capt
Kanwaljit Kargil creation of politicians :
Tohra Restrictions along border eased Route permits for martyrs’
kin? Gujral's plea to leaders Martyrs' bodies received |
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Vigil over vital installations AMRITSAR, June 27 — In the wake of the reports that the Pakistan's ISI is making efforts to revive terrorism in the state with a view to curtailing the movement of the Army, police and intelligence agencies have started keeping a strict vigil on railway tracks, bridges and communication centres. The arrest and interrogation of three smugglers having direct links with the Babbar Khalsa International has revealed that some militants have crossed over to Punjab with a specific mission in the wake of war-like situation in Kargil. Explosives recovered from them were to be used for blowing up army vehicles in the border belt. One of the arrested smugglers even tried to cross over to Pakistan while on parole. One of the smugglers, Gurdev Singh Happy, arrested by the Amritsar police, had crossed over to Pakistan from the Jammu and Kashmir border with the help of Kashmiri militants. However, he could not bring in eight kg of explosives due to a heavy deployment of the Indian Army in the Kargil sector. He had to sneak in through the Ferozepore border with the help of the ISI. It is pertinent to mention here that the SGPC has already stopped sending jathas to Pakistan due to "anti-India" propaganda being carried out in Sikh shrines at the behest of the pro-Khalistan leaders. A senior police officer
said the recent appeal of the former ISI chief to
separatist Sikh to wage war against India collectively
had revealed its designs. |
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"Ammonia leakage affects
crops" BATHINDA, June 27 — Standing crops, including paddy and cotton and vegetables in 100 acres of Sivian village in this district have been affected allegedly due to leakage of Ammonia gas from National Fertiliser factory. Nearly 30 families of farmers, already under heavy debt have suffered heavy losses to their crops due to leakage of Ammonia gas on the night of June 18. When a team of reporters visited the village, the residents showed them wilted crops due to the leakage of Ammonia gas. The villagers said that it had been happening continually for the past five years. Mr Bhadar Singh, Panchayat Member, told The Tribune that apart damage to crops it became difficult for the residents of the village to breath whenever the Ammonia leaked from the factory. Mr Sukhminder Singh, another resident said that had there been no rain on the very next day after the leakage of Ammonia, the loss to crops would have been more. The residents alleged that leakage of Ammonia had also been affecting health of the residents of the village which was located near the factory. The leakage of Ammonia caused irritation in eyes and breathing problem. On the complaint of the villagers, the Deputy Commissioner Mr S.R. Ladhar, had asked the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti to inquire into the incident and take appropriate measures to check repetition. Mr Bhatti when contacted said that he along with officials of agriculture and Revenue departments and National Fertiliser Limited would visit the village on June 29 to make on the spot inquiry and if the allegations of the villagers were found true, they would be suitable compensated. Mr Dhawan, Deputy
General Manager, NFL, when contacted claimed that so far,
villagers had not made any complaint to the NFL
authorities regarding the leakage of Ammonia from the
factory and consequent loss to crops. |
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A headache dept for Badal CHANDIGARH, June 27 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, faces a piquant situation when it comes to the functioning of the Department of Food and Supplies. The minister in charge is Mr Madan Mohan Mittal of the BJP, while the Minister of State is Mr Chiranaji Lal Garg of the SAD. The two ministers do not see eye to eye on any matter, which often hampers the smooth working of the department which, incidentally, has seen many changes of bureaucrats (as Secretary, Director and Punsup MD) since the present government assumed office in February, 1997. The things have come to such a pass that now the Chief Minister has ordered the Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, to "personally" look into the complaint made by the Rice Millers' Association, Baretta (Mansa) against Mr Mittal. It is alleged in the complaint that one of Mr Mittal's protege, Mr Bhagirath Lal, extorts money from millers in the state in the name of Mr Mittal. The complaint also alleges collusion of the Directorate of Food and Civil Supplies, particularly, field staff. The enquiry was ordered on June 20 when a deputation met the Chief Minister at Badal village. They are reportedly being backed by Mr Garg. In fact the rice millers had earlier submitted a detailed complaint of alleged harassment, extortion and threats if money was not paid. Incensed by that complaint (June 13) department officials allegedly stepped up their intimidation of the miller. So much so that even "physical verification" of the stock with the rice millers was ordered and individually and collectively they were asked to "withdraw" the complaint. The Principal Secretary, Food and Supplies, Mr P. Ram, when contacted told TNS that he too had received a complaint from the millers on similar lines on May 18. He had deputed one of the officers, Mr H.S. Grewal, Deputy Director, Headquarters, to look into the matter. He is yet to receive the report from Mr Grewal. But association spokesman, Mr M.R. Bansal, told TNS that Mr Grewal had visited Baretta and recorded the statements of all 10-odd complainants. Mr Bansal said even the police of Mansa at the behest of the powers that be was out to harass millers. The millers, in fact, he said, apprehended all this "mental torture" and had expressed the same in so many words to the Chief Minister also on June 20. Mr Bansal made available affidavits submitted by individual millers to the Chief Minister, alleging extortion of money by Mr Bhagirath Lal. These affidavits are attested. These openly allege that money was being collected in the name of the minister. Meanwhile, Mr Bhagirath Lal has in a written statement denied the allegations. The complaints against him and vis-a-vis Mr Mittal were baseless and being made since he, as president of the millers' association, did not endorse some "wrongs" the members were committing. "Mr Mittal and myself are being targeted because of political reasons", he added. Mr Bansal said the millers had even asked the IT department to conduct a raid on Mr Bhagirath Lal's premises. This was done and the IT department, alleges Mr Bansal, seized at least four diaries, Rs 20 lakh in cash and two fixed deposit receipts of Rs 10 lakh each. This is also mentioned in the June 20 complaint to the Chief Minister. The millers are ready for any probe. Even during the food procurement season, both kharif and rabi, the two ministers often worked at cross purposes, it is learnt. Reports reaching here
say that the entire issue is likely to snowball into a
controversy, politically speaking. It may even affect the
SAD-BJP relationship in the field. Both Mr Garg and Mr
Mittal have been apprising separately the Chief Minister
of what is happening, said sources. |
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Minister's son-in-law kidnapped
minor? LUDHIANA, June 27 — A case involving the abduction of a minor girl from Haibowal Khurd and the subsequent disappearance of eyewitnesses to the crime allegedly at the behest of a son of the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, has come to light. Though the parents of the Girl have alleged that their daughter, Gurpreet Sharma, 17, was kidnapped by Baljinder Gill brother-in-law of Mr Suba Singh, a son of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal in connivance with Rajinder Kaur alias Rani, Sham and Kishen, on April 24, the police claim that the case is one of elopement. The father of the victim, Mr Paramjit Sharma, said he had to resort to an agitation aided by other residents merely to get an FIR registered, which was not done upto May 2. An eyewitness to the alleged abduction, Rani, a tenant of the Sharma's had given an affidavit on oath to the effect that the accused, Baljinder Singh Gill, had kidnapped Gurpreet Sharma. Paramjit Sharma says Rani gave a similar statement to the SHO concerned of Haibowal Kalan police station on May 3 and also identified the accused, Baljinder Gill as the culprit. However, Baljinder's, brother-in-law Suba Singh, who was present at the police station, asked SHO Angrez Singh to ask the others present to go outside. Subsequently Rani, was beaten up by Baljinder while police officials looked on. Mr Sharma claims that Rani was then whisked away to the Sarabha Nagar police station, where she was illegally detained and tortured by the police, who wanted her to change her statement. After two days, Rani's husband and her child too were whisked away by the police. Their whereabouts are not known. The ASP, Haibowal Kalan, Mr Pawan Kumar, who recently took over charge, when contacted said Rani, in her statement to the police, had said she had overheard a conversation between Baljinder Gill and Rajinder Kaur in which they were discussing a plan to arrange a court marriage between Gurpreet and Krishan, her tenant with whom she was allegedly having an affair. Krishan's brother, Sham, is presently in police custody. A police party sent to his native village in Nainital district to look for Krishan and Gurpreet came back empty-handed. The SSP, Mr Kuldeep Singh when contacted denied there was any political interference in the case and said the law would take its own course. Meanwhile, Paramjit Sharma has demanded that the police step up its pace of investigation and he be told of the whereabouts of the girl. Mr Harish Khanna, Senior
Vice-President of the Janata Dal, Punjab, who arranged a
meeting with the Press for Sharma, threatened to gherao
the SSP office and stage a dharna on July 5, in case the
girl was not found till then. |
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VC orders probe into
'plagiarism' LUDHIANA, June 27 — The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr G.S. Kalkat, has ordered an inquiry into alleged acts of scientific corruption or plagiarism of two faculty members of the Department of Entomology following a preliminary inquiry conducted by the Head of the Department, Dr Darshan Singh. However, the two faculty members have termed the charges as "concocted" and vindictive on part of the Head of the Department. The preliminary inquiry report submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on June 2 said: "The senior faculty members are indulging in some serious acts of scientific corruption or plagiarism in the performance of their official duties, a fact put forth to me verbally by some senior, serving as well as retired faculty members." The report cited the cases of two entomologists, Dr Ramesh Arora and Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, who had taken the credit for the research work done by certain PG students under the guidance of former professors of the department or in cases where they had been external examiners for the viva voce of students, by luring them with getting their research papers published in journals patronised by them. The inquiry report charged Dr G.S. Dhaliwal with wrongfully co-authoring four research papers in the Journal of Entomological Research and the Indian Journal of Ecology. The report stated that Dr G.S. Dhaliwal coaxed Mr Jatinderpal Singh Bhattal, a Ph.D student of Prof Balraj Singh, into getting a research paper published in the Journal of Entomological Research along with his own name. After the retirement of Prof Balraj Singh in 1994, the research was, however, done alone by Mr Jatinderpal Singh under the guidance of Prof Balraj Singh, but the latter's name figured only in the acknowledgements "for giving useful suggestions." In another case, Dr G.S. Dhaliwal was said to have included his name as a co-author for a research paper published in the Indian Journal of Ecology. This research was done by Mr Gurnam Singh, now a Ph.D student of Dr Dhaliwal. This research was carried out by Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. The inquiry report alleged that Dr Dhaliwal being the president of the Ecological Society of India, PAU, lured Mr Gurnam Singh to include his name in the paper and then ensured its quick publication in the Indian Journal of Ecology. In yet another case, the report pointed out that Dr Dhaliwal also lured Mr V.K. Dwivedi of the Department of Zoology, University of Gorakhpur, with getting his research work published in the Indian Journal of Ecology, provided he agreed to include his name in the work. The report said that Dr Dhaliwal's only contribution to the research was that he was an external examiner of the student for evaluating his thesis and conducting the viva voce in 1994. In the case of Dr Ramesh Arora, the report cited the example of an M.Sc student, Mr Iswar Chander Chaddha, who was a student of Prof H.S. Sidhu. However, without informing Prof Sidhu, Dr Arora was said to have blackmailed Mr Chaddha and got his name published as a co-author. Meanwhile, Dr Dhaliwal when contacted, said that the enquiry was being conducted to malign him as he had filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the appointment of Dr Darshan Singh as Head of the Department. "The inquiry is unilateral as I have not been asked to give an explanation. The senior authors (the students) included my name in their research work on their own only after they felt that I had made a significant contribution to their research," he said. Dr Ramesh Arora, too,
termed the inquiry as baseless and said that he was being
falsely implicated because of his proximity to Dr
Dhaliwal and his differences with the Head of the
Department. |
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Monsoon delay shot in arm for
farmers CHANDIGARH, June 27 — Thankfully the advance of the monsoon to the region has been delayed for a couple of days. As per pre-monsoon predictions, the monsoon was to break over the region by June 25, at least a week earlier than its usual arrival time. But now it is expected to hit the region on a regular basis by June 29, which is considered its normal course. Delay in the arrival of the monsoon by a week or so has provided a good chance to fruit growers in the region, including Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, to quickly dispose of the fruit crops. There are several fruit crops grown in this part of the country which is very sensitive to rainfall. Washed by rainwater fruits like plum, khurmani, grapes, apricot and peaches, etc, perish quickly. Grapes are grown in the Malwa region of Punjab on a big scale. Grapes from the region start arriving in the markets in the last week of May and continue till the end of June. With the delay in the monsoon, farmers in the Bathinda belt quickly disposed of grapes. Otherwise, if the rain had started in the third week of June farmers would have suffered some loss. According to official sources, farmers got a very good return from grapes this time though the crop had suffered a setback following rain on May 21 and 22 when it damaged the crop to the extent of 25 per cent. Per-acre earning from grapes to farmers was between Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,00,000. Due to rain, the peach crop also suffered a setback in May. Even pre-monsoon showers in the past days hit the must-melon and water melon crops, short-cutting its harvesting period by two weeks or so. In fact changes in the climate, including advance of the monsoon and turning of arid zones as wet zones, have made horticulture experts to devise new strategies to protect the fruit crops from adverse effects of the climate. The experts told TNS that climatic changes like advance arrival of the monsoon could enforce major changes in the cropping pattern in the region. Take the case of Himachal Pradesh, plum, apricot, khurmani and peaches are among its major fruit crops after apple. Early arrival of rain could cause an irreparable loss to such fruit crops in the Himachal. In Punjab, districts like Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot were earlier considered arid zone but these have turned a wet zone. Asked what strategy the Punjab Horticulture department was adopting to cope with the challenge thrown up by steady changes in the pattern of climate, Mr Kuldip Singh Sandhu, director of the department said: "We are working on a strategy to get matured all fruit crops well before the arrival of pre-monsoon showers". For instance grapes crop should mature for harvesting around May 15 and it should be disposed of well before the arrival of the monsoon. Mr Sandhu said there were about 92,000 acres of land under fruit crops in Punjab. A resurvey had been ordered as some orchards in Muktsar belt had been ruined by water-logging. Citrus is major fruit crop of Punjab. With the introduction of new technology, Mr Sandhu said, the quality of grapes had improved tremendously and weight of a grape berry had gone up from 0.5 gm to 2 gm in average and up to 4 gm in particular cases. Apart from this, experts are working on growing vegetables under plastic cover in December to make these harvestable by February 15. Most vegetable crops are damaged by heat wave in April, May and June. Early harvesting of vegetables could supplement the income of farmers. Another experiment was being carried out with regard to onions. Bulbs of onions would be prepared in nurseries in February and March and it would be sown in August for harvesting the crop after maturity in November. The bulbs would be taken out from nurseries in March and these could be kept in natural conditions for transplantation purpose in August, experts said. Mr Sandhu said farmers
could earn several times more from fruit crops than other
crops. Even after substantial damage fruit crops provide
good return than other crops like wheat, paddy etc. |
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Work on Shahpur Kandi dam
starts GURDASPUR, June 27 — Construction on Shahpur Kandi dam project which is 11 km below Ranjit Sagar dam and 8 km upstream Madhopur was started on May 4,1990. The dam will be 54.4 metre high and have two power houses with power generation capacity of 168 MW. Power generation will take place from the overflow of power houses of Ranjit Sagar dam otherwise the water released by the power houses will flow to Pakistan. The estimated cost of the project on April 1995 was Rs 1030 crore which has increased to Rs 1412 crore as estimated in April 1999. The estimated overflow of RSD power houses will be approximately 20000 -24000 cusics. The total land to be acquired for the project will be 3176 acres including 1500 acres of Jammu and Kashmir and 1648 acres of Punjab, out of which 3136 acres of land both of J and K and Punjab has already been acquired. Machinery worth Rs 33 crore has been transferred from Ranjit Sagar dam to the project. Laboratories, workshops and buildings required for the project have been taken over out of the buildings of Ranjit Sagar dam. Ministries of Environment and Planning have cleared the project. So much so technical clearance of the project has also been secured. According to official sources Rs 63 crore has been spent so far for research, survey project report and land acquisition proceedings. As much as Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned to be spent during current year. At present one chief engineer, two SEs, nine XENs, 25 SDOs, 40 JEs and 500 workers are working on the project and the number is likely to be raised to 3000 to start effectively the work on the project. The project is targeted
to be completed by May 2004. According to Mr G.C. Loomba,
President RSD Unit INTUC, the project will be completed
in time only if the government allocates funds as per the
requirements of the project. Moreover works earmarked for
the PSEB and Irrigation Department should be undertaken
simultaneously. He demanded the appointment of
"honest" officials on the project within a
given target to execute the project in time. |
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Pak ready to repair temples ABOHAR: Pakistan Auqaf Board officials have offered to undertake repair of temples and other historic buildings at Katasraj in Chakwal district of West Punjab province. The offer was made when a 25-member Indian parliamentary delegation visited the temples during a recent visit to Pakistan to join a group of 74 Indian pilgrims. The delegation which included Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Mrs Sushma Swaraj, a former Chief Minister of Delhi, was equally sad to see that the place was in a state of utter neglect. Not only the roof of some buildings, including a dharmashala and haveli constructed by Late Maharaja Gulab Singh of Kashmir were completely removed but some walls had also collapsed or damaged. The pilgrims had drawn the attention of members of Parliament from India to the bad environment around the holy place. Some buildings were used by Pak nationals for easing out even. Only one 'Shivling' existed in one of the seven 'satghara' temples. No Shivling was found at Luxminarain temples raised with the efforts of Goswami Ganesh Dass before Partition. Katasraj is located at a distance of 320 km from Lahore. Besides organising Baisakhi fair Hindu pilgrims had been visiting this place in thousands on Shivratri before the creation of Pakistan. The area is overlooked by mountains and the Pakistan State Tourism Development Corporation had developed it as a tourist centre also. An engineering college for mining trainees had been set up with the help of Germany there. All nearby villages had families of armymen. As many as 400 soldiers of these villages had lost lives during the Second World War. Memorials existed to pay homage to them in the villages. The government of Punjab province had developed a waterworks at Amarkund to supply drinking water to 27 villages. The same 'kund' or sarovar was considered one of the top holy places, others being Pushkar and Prayag in India. This time the Indian pilgrims were led by Mr Shiv Pratap Bajaj of Yamunanagar to celebrate Maha- shivratri there. Members of the Indian troupe regretted that only 74 Indians could go on pilgrimage whereas there was provision for 200 pilgrims. Pak officials said the government was prepared to undertake the repair provided funds were made available by the Government of India or any religious organisation. The officials reiterated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had last year said the government won't mind if a committee was formed to look after the repair work. Tenders would be floated after receiving money from the Indian side. The board had appointed a priest also for the holy place but restrictions on the movement of the Indian pilgrims existed on the pretext of security measures. Many small places of worship were located near Katasraj but pilgrims were not allowed to visit them. The delegation of Indian
parliamentarians was requested by the pilgrims to
persuade Pakistan to allow them to visit more holy places
in Pakistan. |
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Press has vital role: Capt
Kanwaljit SANGRUR, June 27 — The Press has a vital role in the evolution of true and stable democracy in the country. Expressing these views while addressing a seminar on "The role of the Press in strengthening democracy", organised by the Punjab Union of Journalists of Sangrur, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, said unlike in the West democracy was still a distance dream in India. Capt. Kanwaljit Singh said Parliamentary democracy in India was in the throngs of a severe crisis with no stable government able to emerge at the Centre Addressing the gathering, Mr Gobind Thukral, bureau chief of The Tribune, said although we have modelled our democratic system on the model of Western countries, our democratic process was floundering for various reasons. In the past governments which ruled the country formed the government with just 35 per cent to 40 per cent votes, implying that the majority was left out from the decision making process. He emphasised that the right to information should be given to people so to ensure transparency. Mr G.S. Bhullar, Editor,
Punjabi Tribune, said the Press was like a double-edged
weapon. While some journalists put their hearts on their
jobs there were others who were in the profession to make
a quick buck through unethical means. He said that as per
the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) report nine
out of the 10 largest newspapers were in vernacular
languages. This was because vernacular papers sensed the
pulse of the common man better. |
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Restrictions along border eased JALANDHAR, June 26 — Gates in the over 400 km long security fence along the Punjab border with Pakistan would be opened daily to enable farmers to sow paddy. Stating this here today on return from an extensive tour of the border villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur district, Jalandhar Division Commissioner B K Srivastava said he had discussed the issue with the Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General who, had agreed to daily opening of the gates instead of on alternate days as was the practice now. Besides, Punjab State Electricity Board has been asked to ensure 12 hour supply of power for paddy growers and to undertake repair and replacement of faulty transformers. Claiming that there was no panic among border residents, the commissioner, however, assured them that they would be informed in time in the event of any apprehension of outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan. Mr Srivastava said border residents, had started trickling back in view of several confidence building measures taken up by the administration. He said that telecom authorities had been asked to keep village telephones functional and release new connections for an efficient communication network in the border belt. He said that cooperative banks had been asked to keep sufficient funds to allow withdrawals by farmers. These banks have also
been requested to allow villagers to open accounts,
particularly old age pension accounts, with reduced
minimum deposits. |
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Route permits for
martyrs’ kin? PHAGWARA, June 27 — The Punjab Government will consider extending transport benefits, including route permits to the kin of Kargil martyrs according to Punjab Transport Minister Raghbir Singh. He said here last night that a decision on this would be taken after discussions with the CM. In a chat with newsmen at the residence of Surinder Mittal, member district consumer court, he said under the restructured tax system a lump-sum two per cent registration tax will be charged on the value of vehicles against the earlier slab system. To shore up transport services a contract system on the Delhi and UP pattern will soon be introduced in Pepsu and Punjab Roadways. 200 private buses will be run on contract on one hundred routes. Bus drivers will also be recruited in PRTC on contract basis for two years. On the condition of the 3600 strong fleet of Punjab Roadways and PRTC, the two state-owned undertakings, the minister admitted that about 1000 buses currently on the roads were not roadworthy. The minister said that
there was no proposal to hike bus fare but replied that
there was no proposal to bring it down either. |
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Martyrs' bodies received CHANDIGARH, June 27 — The mortal remains of Lance Havildar Baldev Singh and Lance Naik Gurcharan Singh, of 3rd Punjab Regiment, were received at the N Area here today. While the former belonged to Bhullar village in Amritsar, the latter was a resident of Bholpur village, Ferozepore. Their bodies were received at 10.15 a.m. by Col Shakti Prashad, Commander, N Area and were despatched to their native places after a wreath laying ceremony. Wreaths were laid by Colonel Parshad and Col R.S. Shergill and Mr R.S. Ghai, on behalf of the Chief Minister and Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, respectively. The bodies, accompanied
by an escort party of 3rd Punjab Regiment, were sent to
the respective villages at 11a.m. |
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Ex-Army officer donates plot FARIDKOT, June 27 (PTI) — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has handed over documents of a 150-square-yard plot to parents of a martyr of Kargil Gurbhaij Singh at a function in Dhudi village here last evening. The plot was donated by retired army officer Col GS Sekhon to the family of Lance Naik Gurbhaij Singh, who attained martyrdom on June 5 while fighting Pakistani intruders in the Kargil sector. The Chief Minister lauded the bravery being shown by soldiers in defending their motherland and said the state government would pull out all stops to take care of their families. He also asked Faridkot
district officials to speed up development work in the
region. |
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Kargil creation of politicians : Tohra FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 27 — All India Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra yesterday said the Kashmir problem was the creation of politicians misdeeds resulting in loss of hundreds of army jawans and officers during the past 50 years. Addressing reporters here Mr Tohra, praised the role of the armed forces in the Kargil sector and paid rich tributes to the officers and jawans who laid down their lives for the cause of the country. The former SGPC told UNI that he would be visiting Canada on July four to participate in the "Miri-Piri" function at Toronto and two other religious functions at the invitation of Canadian Sikhs. He also announced the appointment of Mr Kartar Singh Takkar, an Akali leader from Haryana as his party' organising secretary. MALERKOTLA: Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal has said that the Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal have failed to honour election promises. Addressing a gathering at the residence of Chaudhry Mehar Din, executive committee member of SAD (Tohra), Mr Tohra criticised the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal for introducing India Gandhi culture in the SAD (B). Calling the Badal
cabinet as a (group of looters) Mr Tohra alleged that the
Punjab ministers were collecting huge amounts. He also
criticised Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab
for misleading the people by making false declarations
that Punjab has sufficient funds for development. Mr
Tohra alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal had made secret
pact with Mrs Sonia Gandhi for contesting coming Lok
Sabha elections. Mr Tohra also announced that a Muslim
wing of Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal. |
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Gujral's plea to leaders PHILLAUR, June 27 — Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has appealed to leaders of all parties to come forward to save the country. Addressing a gathering of prominent citizens and industrialists at Goraya in Phillaur subdivision, Mr Gujral urged the politicians not to politicise the Kargil issue. He said that people
should contribute and collect funds for Prime Minister's
Relief Fund. The former Prime Minister announced a grant
of Rs 19 lakh for the development of the area. |
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Seven die in accidents LUDHIANA, June 27 — At least seven persons have died in separate accidents in various parts of the district during the past 24 hours. The police today found the body of a 30-35-year old youth at Gahaur village, near Dakha. The body bore injury marks on the forehead. Another body of a youth was also found on the GT Road at Dhandari Kalan, who the police suspect, was crushed to death by a vehicle. In another case Sandeep Kumar, a migrant labourer working in a factory, was also run down by a Maruti car. He died on the spot. Baldev Singh of Doraha,
died in an accident today. Kamalluddin, who was
travelling in a trailer fell off and died on Rahon road
today. Jai Parkash 37 of New Shivaji Nagar died in
another accident. Gurcharan Singh received serious
injuries on his head after a branch of a tree that he was
cutting, fell on his head. He was taken to a hospital
where he succumbed to his injuries. |
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Muslims pray for Indian victory MOGA, June 27 (UNI) — About 300 Muslims of Moga district offered special prayers for the welfare and victory of Indian armed forces in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir after Friday prayers at Jama Masjid here yesterday. Later Haji Fazil Din,
president, Jama Masjid committee of the district said
that the Muslims of the district were angry at Pakistan's
infiltration. "We offer our whole-hearted support to
the government for flushing out the infiltrators"
said Haji Fazil Din. All the Muslims have offered to
donate blood for the wounded soldiers, he added. |
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Notice to PSEB management PATIALA, June 27 — The Retired PSEB and Other Employees Association has served a notice on the PSEB management regarding the staging of a dharna on July 6 in front of the board’s head office to press their demands. Releasing a copy of the notice to the press, Mr Ram Parkash, General Secretary of the association, said they had decided to stage a dharna as the PSEB management was constantly ducking the issue of providing free electricity concession the PSEB pensioners and other employees. He said after an
employee’s retirement, the electricity concession
was withdrawn. He added that the pensioners had sent many
reminders regarding this to the board management but of
no avail. |
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INTUC to launch agitation PATIALA, June 27 — The Punjab INTUC Action Committee today decided to launch an agitation in the state for the acceptance of demands of industrial workers and employees in the state government and semi-government sectors. In a press statement, Dr Subhash Chander, president of the committee, said in the first phase of the agitation, rallies would be organised at Patiala, Jalandhar and Ferozepore beginning with the rally at Patiala on July 6. INTUC workers from Patiala, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Sangrur districts would hold a rally in front of the railway station and later march to the office of the Divisional Commissioner to submit a memorandum. The demands included the
revision of minimum wages of industrial workers, end to
undue privatisation and contractualisation in government
and semi-government sectors, implementation of the
40-hour week in Punjab Roadways and the PRTC and 15 per
cent house rent allowance to state government employees
in Patiala city. |
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Railway booking time extended HOSHIARPUR, June 27 — The Railway authorities have accepted the demand of people of Hoshiarpur regarding the extension of time of Railway booking through the computer. The authorities now have extended the time of booking from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Previously booking was done through computer from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. only and now it would be done from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mr Harish Saini, member
of the Divisional Railway Consultative Committee,
Ferozepur Division of Northern Railway raised this issue
at a recent meeting of the consultative committee at
Amritsar and sought extension in time. Authorities have
also agreed to make alternative arrangements for booking
of tickets through computer in case of power failure. |
||
Power failure irks residents AMRITSAR, June 27 — Residents of the border areas have been facing frequent power failure. According to reports reaching here, notwithstanding claims of the Chief Minister and the Chairman, Punjab State Electricity Board, that adequate power supply would be given to the border areas, undeclared power cuts have become a routine and have hit agricultural operations in a big way. CPI leader Satya Pal
Dang said that the power situation had deteriorated in
the town. He also alleged that the residents of
Chheharta, which was on the Amritsar-Lahore road, had
been facing a lot of inconvenience due to the frequent
power failures. |
||
Roll numbers for JET
despatched AMRITSAR, June 27 — The roll numbers to all eligible candidates appearing in the joint entrance test (UG), Sciences - 99, on July 8 of Guru Nanak Dev University have been despatched. Dr Mangal Singh,
Coordinator of the test said if any candidate did not
receive the roll number by on July 6, he or she may
contact the coordinator before or on July 7 along with an
attested photograph in the Chemistry Department of the
university, he added. |
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