Tuesday, March 16, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, March 16, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Hearing
adjourned to March 18 Centre
'pressuring' Badal on SYL canal |
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Booths
allotted without auction College
teachers observe black day Consumer
awareness on the rise Widows
await pension Ramoowalia
launches political party
Notice
to Punjab on Lok Pal’s appointment |
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Gurdwara commission AMRITSAR, March 15 — The Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission today adjourned hearing till March 18 on the application of pro-Badal executive members for suspension and restraining from functioning of SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Senior Vice-President, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur on the charge of being guilty of grave acts of malfeasance, misfeasance, breach of trust, neglect of duty and abuse of power. The adjournment took place after the defence counsel pleaded that he was not able to contact his client, Mr Tohra, so far. He also submitted an application on behalf of the senior vice-president of the SGPC for adjournment of the case till such time as the Punjab and Haryana High Court decided his application for transfer of the present case pending before it. The counsels for the petitioners, opposing the adjournment, said that the rules did not provide for adjournment of the hearing on the application for over a month. The court has already given seven adjournments. They argued that the respondents, who are holding offices of the Sikh body, the only body in the world governed by an Act not be allowed to play havoc with the SGPC. In their support they said Mr Tohra had made certain appointments by issuing orders on February 22 with retrospective effect from January 1. They further argued that Mr Tohra had flouted the orders of the Gurdwara Judicial Commission for holding the executive committee meeting on February 10 and held a meeting of the executive at Jind yesterday, where he tried to get endorsement of the decision taken during the meeting of the executive held on December 16, including appointment of Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta as senior secretary although in the eyes of the law no actual meeting was held. They further said that Mr Tohra had for the first time in the history of SGPC closed its office from February 6 to 10 to prevent holding of the meeting of the executive committee directed by the commission. The executive members were thus forced to hold their meeting in a veranda. The counsel further
pointed out that the rules were not followed in calling
the meeting of the general house on the notice served by
103 members for taking up no confidence motion against Mr
Tohra as he had called a meeting for March 22 for which
no agenda was circulated. Instead he had issued a
supplementary agenda which was not in accordance with the
rules. As a result the members had to call a general
house meeting of their own for March 16. |
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Centre 'pressuring' Badal on SYL
canal FEROZEPORE, March 15 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has learnt from its sources that the BJP-led Centre is exercising pressure on the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to start work on SYL canal. This was stated by the party president, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann. Addressing mediapersons at Khalsa Gurdwara here today, Mr Mann added, he was confident that Mr Badal would again come under pressure from the Centre, which had earlier pressurised Mr Badal on the issues of Udham Singh Nagar and use of Article 356, he added. Mr Mann said that giving away Punjab river waters was against Article 246 of the Constitution which categorically stated that river waters were a state subject. But the Centre had been saying that it would treat river waters as national resources which was not only against the Constitution but against spirit of the Constitution too. He said that his party had taken its stand to expose Mr Badal and the Centre on issue of the SYL and around 46,000 party workers would pitch their resources for filling SYL canal between Doomcheri and Alampur villages on the Fatehgarh Sahib-Bassi Pathana Road on March 20. Mr Mann said he had toured the three border districts of Ferozepore, Amritsar and Gurdaspur during the past week and came to know of the difficulties being faced by farmers with land situated on the other side of the wire fence. He said BSF constables often frisked women themselves rather than use lady constables. Mr Mann said the party would send a memorandum to the government demanding permission for farmers to till land up to the very limit of Indian territory on the Indo-Pak boarder in Punjab. He accused Mr Badal of trying to create panic among Hindus in the name of terrorism and said he had lost control over the administration and the condition of departments especially of the police, education and health was miserable. He urged the Punjab Government to negotiate a settlement with the agitating teachers. Later, he addressed party
workers of Ferozepore district. |
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Paddy milling: What is Centre up
to? CHANDIGARH, March 15 — Is the Union Government determined to ruin the marketing and milling of paddy this season? The answer is a big yes. Ruling Akali Dal circles wonder why the Centre has adopted this approach when an Akali and a self-proclaimed friend of the farmers is at the helm of affairs in the Union Council of Ministers. It is about five months that the hard-pressed millers, backed by the Punjab Government, demanded relaxation in case of rice they were to provide to the government. "During the days of the Gujral Government, it took just one hour to decide this issue at Punjab Raj Bhavan but now has taken months," a minister here rued. About a week back, the Union Minister concerned, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, announced some relaxation but the letter is yet to reach the Punjab Government. The millers have squarely rejected these relaxations and demanded that at least last year's yardstick be applied. They assert this season's paddy is much more damaged than last year's There is another interesting off- shoot to the present messy problem. Some ministers here allege that millers in order to grease the palms collected a good amount. What finally happened no one knows. At least one minister sometime back raised hackles at a meeting where Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, too, was present. This noisy allegation is once again reverberating in the corridors of power in Punjab. Punjab had helped millers and other state agencies in buying 50 lakh tonne of paddy. It is worth Rs 3,000 crore. The state is paying a commercial interest of 13.5 per cent on this amount which has been advanced by banks under instructions from the Reserve Bank of India. Only 10.53 tonnes of paddy has been milled since October 27 last. There is also last year's backlog of 4 lakh tonnes of paddy. In fact, this was 10 lakh tonnes at the beginning of this season out of which six lakh tonnes has been milled, lessening some burden. But are there any takers for this discoloured rice? Will it be sold at last year's specifications. Millers demanding are that damaged rice up to 4.5 per cent should be accepted. In the case of discoloured rice they want 13 per cent relaxation and another 30 per cent in the case of broken one. Since milling has been delayed for long, there is every reason to believe that more broken rice would emerge. The Centre has so far agreed that 3.5 per cent relaxation in the case of damaged rice, 6 per cent in the case of discoloured and 25 per cent in the case of broken will be admitted by the FCI, the central procurement agency. Akali and BJP ministers wonder as to why the Centre has been extra kind to UP, ignoring the rice bowl, Punjab. UP has been allowed 4 per cent relaxation in the case of damaged rice , 6 per cent in the case of discoloured and 27 per cent in case of broken rice. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala,
who addressed millers at Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and
Amritsar without even informing his party's own
government, is the butt of much criticism by most Akali
ministers here. |
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Booths allotted without auction BATHINDA, March 15 — A scandal in the allotment of shop-cum-flats and booths in various schemes of the local improvement trust has come to light. Sources said that officials of the local improvement trust allotted the shop-cum-flats and booths in different schemes without holding a proper auction and by manipulating official records. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, Bathinda Improvement Trust, has suspended, Hari Om, a clerk for his ‘direct’ involvement in the scandal while action against other senior officials has been recommended by Mr G.K.Singh, Deputy Director, Local Bodies, Ferozepore, who held a probe into the scandal. Official sources said that Mr G.K.Singh in his report said that trust officials sold a booth in Ahtha Pritam Singh Scheme to Hardip Singh without holding any public auction. Official sources added that after this incident come to light a further inquiry into other allotments revealed that Hari Om, in connivance with other senior officials had allotted about nine shop-cum-flats and booths in four different schemes. These include booth numbers 13, 11, 19, 12 and 8, in Ahtha Pritam Singh Scheme, and shop-cum-flat number 98 in 25.21 acres scheme, shops number 26 and 71 in Kamla Nehru Nagar Scheme and shop-cum-flat number 49 and 56 in 16.44 acres scheme. Official sources said that some of the allottees who had been allotted shops at prices well below the market price in lieu of consideration were not even alive. Mr Mahender Kataria, Accountant, Improvement Trust told this correspondent that according to his information about 45 shop-cum-flats and booths had been allotted by certain officials in an illegal manner. Mr S.R.Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted said that all allotments in the different schemes implemented so far were being probed to detect more bungling. He added that Hari Om, had caused huge financial losses to the improvement trust by allotting the shop-cum-flats and booths by bypassing auctions. On the other hand, the Punjab Government has not taken any action against the senior officials of the trust found guilty in this scandal even though the Deputy Director, Local Bodies, Ferozepore sent his report almost five months ago. Official sources said that
Improvement Trust authorities were finding it difficult
to proceed further in this case as certain official
records were still with Hari Om. |
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College
teachers
observe black day AMRITSAR, March 15 — The local unit of the private college teachers employees (teaching and non-teaching) union observed a black day and held a massive rally at DAV College here today in protest against the lathi charge on teachers by the police in Chandigarh on March 12 and the death of Mr Romesh Chander Kohli, a teacher from Jalandhar, in police custody. In a resolution adopted at the rally, Dr V.K. Sharma, president of the local unit of the PCCTU, demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. Responding to a call given by the Coordination Committee of AIFUTA, PFUTA and the PCCTU, teachers of Guru Nanak Dev University boycotted work. A rally was held in front of the office of the Vice-Chancellor. PATIALA: The teachers of various colleges of the district as well as of Punjabi University boycotted classes and observed a black day to register their protest against the unprovoked lathi charge on the teachers. Punjab-Chandigarh College Teachers Union District Secretary Jaswant Singh said protest rallies were held on the campuses of various colleges in the district against the high-handedness of the police. He said the teachers affiliated with the union had decided to boycott examination duties till their demands were accepted. He also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to concede their demands. Meanwhile, on a call of the Coordination Committee, the Punjabi University Teachers Association observed a black day and boycotted work. Association President S.S. Khaira criticised the action of some teachers of the university who had performed examination duties on Sunday, in violation of the decision of the committee. Teachers of Multani Mal Modi College also observed a black day. Addressing a rally, Prof Balbir Singh, member of the central executive said the teachers would hold demonstrations and boycott all examination and evaluation work if their demands were not met. BATHINDA: Members of the local Punjab and Chandigarh Teachers Union on Monday observed a black day in protest against the lathi charge by the police on the teachers. Mr Y.R. Handa, President of the union, in a press note here alleged that Mr Kohli, who courted arrest during the agitation died in police custody due to the negligence of the authorities concerned in Burail jail. He added that the union had demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. The teachers held dharnas and gate rallies in front of their respective colleges. The teachers are demanding the implementation of revised UGC pay scales and the withdrawal of reduction in 95 per cent grant to aided private colleges. FEROZEPORE: The college teachers of Ferozepore, Dharamkot and Jalalabad observed a black day and took out a procession in protest against the lathi charge on teachers in Chandigarh. The district president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, Prof S.S. Sandhu, said the teachers had decided to boycott all board and university examinations. LUDHIANA: The teachers from private aided colleges of this district held a black flag march here in protest against the lathi charge on teachers in Chandigarh. As many as 500 teachers marched through district courts to Chaura Bazaar and raised anti-government slogans. Addressing a rally, Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, Secretary, PCCTU, claimed that there was complete boycott of Panjab University's practical examinations which were to begin from Monday. PHAGWARA: Teachers and non-teaching staff of the local Guru Nanak College Ramgarhia College of Education, GNBL College for Women, Ramgarhia Arts College, and those of Panshta, Domeli, Nadala, Benowal, Sultanpur Lodhi and Kapurthala observed a black day. The striking teachers boycotted plus I and II examinations. KAPURTHALA: Lecturers of the local Government College boycotted examination duty in protest against the lathi charge on the teachers at Chandigarh. However, the plus I and II examinations in the college were conducted with the help of clerical staff. Reports of rallies were also reported from Garhshankar, Abohar, Batala and Barnala. FATEHGARH SAHIB: The teaching and non-teaching staff of the local Mata Gujri College sat on a dharna in front of the college and wore black badges. Addressing the dharna, Prof Harshwinder Singh, president of local unit of the teachers' union, asked the government to accept their genuine demands. The teachers also observed a two-minute silence in memory of Mr Kohli and submitted a memorandum. Meanwhile, the management of Ashoka Institutions and the Ashoka Educational Trust expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased teacher. HOSHIARPUR: Mr Naresh Thakur, former minister and joint secretary of the PPCC has demanded a CBI inquiry into the death of Mr Kohli, a Hindi teacher of Devi Sahay Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar, who died in police custody. Mr Thakur said he supported the demands of the teachers and criticised the state government for adopting a "callous" attitude towards their demands. MOGA: Members of the district Congress at a meeting held here condemned the death of Mr Kohli and urged the state government to order an inquiry into the incident. MANSA: Members of the teaching and non-teaching staff boycotted work in protest against the lathi charge on the teachers in Chandigarh, according to Mr Amrinderpal Singh, district president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' union. Rallies were held at
National College Bhikhi and local S.D. Girls' College. |
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Consumer awareness on the rise LUDHIANA, March 15 — Gurbeen Kaur, a housewife living in Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here ran from pillar to post to get her telephone repaired. The telephone connection had been allotted to her only a few months back but had remained inoperative for the past two months. Then she received a bill from the Department of Telecommunications for two months during which her telephone had been out of order. She filed a complaint before the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum and got succour, with the court also awarding her a compensation of Rs 1500. "Not only was my telephone connection repaired, I also got a compensation and all within a time span of 90 days," says jubilant Gurbeen Kaur. The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 has been a landmark Act for the protection of consumers by making provision for the establishment of consumer council and other authorities for the settlement of consumer disputes. This Act, amended in 1993, applies to all goods and services, unless specifically exempted by the central government and covers the public, private and cooperative sectors. Consumer awareness in this mini metropolis is certainly on the rise, if figures collected from the District Forum are any indication. According to a senior office-bearer of the forum, 80 to 100 cases are filed in the forum on an average each month. Around 50 cases come up for hearing on each working day and as many as 745 cases were still pending with the forum till February. "The consumer awareness amongst the city residents has increased manifold over the past couple of years" he contends. Ever since the District Forum's institution almost a decade ago, 4,676 cases have been filed and 3930 cases disposal of. Since the law demands that the trial in these cases be speedy, most of the cases are disposed of either within 90 or 150 days. Of the 32 cases disposed of in the consumer courts last month, 20 were disposed of within 90 days and four after 150 days. The nature of cases filed here in the consumer courts vary from complaints against Telecom Department, the Punjab State Electricity Board to seeking redressal against services provided by doctors, shopkeepers, financiers, insurance companies, automobile dealers, transporters et al. However, the maximum number of cases are filed against the Telecom Department, followed by the PSEB" informs an official of the District Forum. Adds Mr Pradeep Sharma, President of the Young Lawyers Forum: "The cases filed against these two departments generally deal with excess billing, defective service and defective metering equipment". However, a number of lawyers and organisations dealing with consumer cases feel that although the constitution of the law is good, it lacks enforceability. "This leads to the consumers filing a case which should ordinarily have been filed in the consumer courts — which ensures a speedy action against the accused by the state machinery," informs a lawyer. He cites the example of a high-ranking government official, who had got a car booked and then got it cancelled. He got the refund money after a period of three years, but without the interest amount. The complainant, instead of going to the district forum, alleged fraud and breach of trust and filed a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC, which ensured him a quick action. In yet another case filed against a local doctor at the district forum the complainant had sought compensation from the doctor for being negligent during her operation by stitching cotton swabs in her stomach. The complainant had also initiated criminal proceedings against the doctor. However, when the district forum decided the case in the doctor's favour, he sought acquittal from the case on this account. Another discrepancy in the law, according to a senior lawyer, is that although the law is compensatory in nature, it does not have any provision for interim relief. Incidentally, all six
organisations have come up in the city that are engaged
in educating the masses about consumer rights and also
getting out of court settlements. Mr S. S. Jogi,
President of the Ludhiana Consumer Protection Forum,
says, "We are here to provide education to the
consumers and our main thrust is to help the consumer
fight for his rights as an aware consumer." |
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Widows await pension AMRITSAR, March 15 — The plight of thousands of women widowed during terrorism in the state is miserable as they have not been given pensions for the past few months. The worst hit are Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts as militants killed many in the border belt during heyday of terrorism. "The government should kill us too if it cannot clear our dues so that we should not face any sort of humiliation," said a number of widows who have been going from pillar to post to get pension. "It is very difficult to bear the burden of the family especially in the wake of inflation these days." The ruling party MLA, Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, in a hard-hitting letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has threatened to take all 10,000 widows to the official residence of Mr Badal, if the state government failed to release the pension within a week. Mrs Chawla claimed that there were more than 10,000 widows in the state who were leading very miserable life these days. "They are not beggars but belong to the families of martyrs", said Mrs Chawla. It may be mentioned here that persons widowed by terrorist have been getting a pension of Rs 2500 per month. Their school-going children are entitled for Rs 300 while the college-going wards for Rs 500 every month. However, in absence of the release of pensions by the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, the widows have been facing very tough time. Mrs Chawla said that she had raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly during the Governor's address also. Mr Surinder Kumar Billa,
President, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, alleged that many
widows were forced to "beg" due to compelling
circumstances. "They are being harassed, humiliated
and victimised due to alleged indifferent attitude of the
state government. He said the government should release
the pension to the widows on priority. He threatened to
launch an agitation if the state government failed to
concede the very "genuine" demand of the
widows. He added that the widows who had school-going
children were worried more about the future of their
wards. |
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Ramoowalia launches political party JALANDHAR, March 15 — A new political party was founded by the former Union Minister, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, here today which would work for a federal structure on the U.S. and Canadian pattern, for states in the country. Announcing that his Punjabi Bhalai Manch which has over one lakh members would automatically emerge into the new political outfit of the same name. Mr Ramoowalia said that, the need to found a political party arose, to redress the political upheaval in the state. Holding both the Congress and the BJP equally responsible for "terrorism", he alleged that while one party created terrorism, the other instigated it to gain political mileage. And now, the Akali leadership was "busy" in its "medieval war". Stressing that under his presidentship, the party, would break the monopoly of the other major parties. He said his party would work with responsibility for a federal structure. Other office-bearers of
the party are Bhola Singh Virk senior vice-president,
Avtar Singh Mullapuri — vice-president and
spokesperson, and Mr Paramjit Singh Sidwan — general
secretary. The first rally by the party will be held at
Raiya on March 26. |
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Lineman alleges harassment by cops BATHINDA, March 15 — Mr Manohar Singh, a lineman in the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), in an affidavit circulated to mediapersons here today alleged that he was being harassed by Punjab Police officials and that he apprehended a threat to his life and property. He said on March 2 a senior police official along with his father came to his home which was under construction at Hans Nagar Colony and threatened him, saying he (Manohar Singh) was encroaching land by erecting a wall. The officer also took out his revolver and forcibly stopped construction work. He further alleged that when he was leaving to report the incident to other residents of the colony, another police officer came and started beating him up without any provocation. He said the same officer also abused and threatened him in front of the DSP, Mr B.S. Romana, who was told to hold a probe into the matter by the SSP, Mr H.S. Sran. He said a deputation of residents of the Hans Nagar locality met the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. Mr Sran, when contacted, denied that Mr Manohar Singh was threatened or beaten up by any police official. He said Mr Manohar Singh was making "false" complaints against the police officials to cover the action of grabbing someone else's land by erecting a wall. He added that Mr Romana
had been asked to settle the issue by getting the
demarcation of the land done. |
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Notice to Punjab on Lok
Pal’s appointment CHANDIGARH, March 15 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Punjab Government for March 17 on a petition filed by Mr Lal Singh, former Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, questioning the appointment of Justice Harbans Singh Rai as Lok Pal of Punjab. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, who handed down this order, also directed the Deputy Advocate-General of Punjab to make sure that the record relating to the appointment of Justice Rai as Lok Pal was placed before the court on March 17 in a sealed cover. The petitioner prayed that the Bench issue the necessary directions to the state government to quash the appointment of Justice Rai as it was illegal and void ab initio. Mr Lal Singh also urged the Judges that the complaint filed against him by Mr Chaman Parkash Singh, a resident of Patiala district and subsequent proceedings before the Lok Pal be quashed. He alleged that the complaint against him was procured by one of his political opponents through Mr Chaman Parkash. The allegations levelled in the complaint were vague. The petitioner stated that
Justice Rai was appointed as Lok Pak at the instance of
the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as he was
his relative and family friend. |
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Project near Badal ready KALJHARANI (Bathinda): Kaljharani — the total rural self employment project — conceived and launched by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in July 1998 has been completed. The project has not been inaugurated as yet. Kaljharani, the last village of the most backward Sangat block of Bathinda district, was selected for equipping youth with tools and talent for gainful self employment for two reasons. First, about 80 acres panchayat land was lying unused and second, number of persons belonging to this village had already got training in various vocations at the neighbouring Badal village. A modern dairy complex, shopping complex, civil dispensary, veterinary hospital, milking parlour, community centre, handloom-cum-production centre, gobar gas plant, bank, cooperative society building and sheep sheds have been constructed on this piece of land under the direct supervision of residents and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar. The district administration also took the help of the Army for completing the project in time. Army personnel cleared bushes and shrubs on 80 acres in 10 days with the help of bulldozer which otherwise would have taken two months. Before launching the project, a survey was carried out in the village to identify the youth interested in self employment schemes. A list was prepared according to their choice. On August 22, 1998, Mr Badal distributed Rs 61.69 lakh as loan to 104 beneficiaries. Mr Ladhar said a sum of Rs 3.67 crore had been spent on creating an infrastructure in this village for the youths for setting up their own ventures in dairying, weaving, handloom operations, shopkeeping, tractor repair workshop and sheep rearing. The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) would make arrangements for marketing products of the youth. He added an institute of handloom technology would be set up in the village. About 10 acres had been allotted for this project. The case had been sent to government of India for necessary action. Mr Alok Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) and in charge, Kaljharani project, told TNS that two private entrepreneurs had also shown their interest to set up small scale industries in this village. He added that the Punjab Government would provide all the facilities to such industrialists. He said a case for setting
up a building construction centre in the village had been
sent to the Central Government for necessary sanction. He
added that in this centre, youth would be trained in
masonry, carpentry, plumbing and other construction
related jobs. |
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Special drive to curb traffic
violations BATHINDA: As many as 57 persons were killed in road accidents in Bathinda district in 1997 and 85 in 1998. As many as 12 persons have been killed in the first two months of the current year. According to official figures, 96 and 124 accidents were reported in 1997 and 1998, respectively, injuring 196 persons. Upto February this year, 19 persons have been injured in as many accidents that have taken place in the district. However, a number of accidents are not reported to the police as people generally avoid legal hassles. In most of the cases, the injured are shifted to private hospitals from the accident site by their relatives or others and such cases are also not registered with the police. Worried over a rise in the number of accidents, the district administration in association with the police has launched a special drive to check traffic violations who generally cause accidents. In a week-long drive from March 3 to March 9, the police challaned about 333 vehicles for violating various traffic rules. As many as 32 persons were challaned for driving vehicles under the influence of liquor. Four special teams comprising an Executive Magistrate, medical officer and gazetted police officers check vehicles at the entry points to this city daily. Some of the passenger buses belonging to political bigwigs have also been challaned for plying without valid permit. Accidents have become routine in this district due to a manifold increase in the population of all types of vehicles, inadequate road infrastructure and bad shape of roads. Besides, teenagers driving vehicles at great speeds on main roads cause several accidents. Stray animals roaming about in this district have also been causing accidents. A number of people have lost their lives in the accidents caused by stray animals. Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy
Commissioner, said two special teams had been constituted
to check traffic violations by teenagers. Special teams
would also check tourist buses plying in the district
without any permit. Such buses would be fined on the
spot. |
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Mohsina fears revival of terrorism FATEHGARH CHURIAN (Gurdaspur), March 15 — A Congress Working Committee member, Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, has said that the ongoing Akali feud could revive terrorism in this border state, which had taken heavy toll of innocent persons in the last decade. Normalcy was brought with a number of sacrifices made by the Congress leadership and hence our party would make all-out efforts to defeat the nefarious designs of the forces who were endeavouring to disturb the hard-won peace in the state. Ms Kidwai did not rule out the possibility of mid-term elections in the country due to the fragility of the Vajpayee government. She said Congress would not topple the government. However, it won't shirk the responsibility to take over from the Vajpayee government if it failed to govern anymore. The people of the country were really fed up with coalition governments. The Congress Party would take final decision whether to support the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar or not within a day or so. "We are not in dilemma over the Bihar affairs as alleged by the detractors". The CWC member, coming
down heavily on the state government, said that it had
failed on all fronts. She also criticised Badal
government for "spreading communalism" for
narrow political ends. |
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Ram temple still on agenda:
BJP FATEHGARH SAHIB, March 15 — Abolition of Article 370 and the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya are still on the agenda of the BJP and will be implemented whenever the party got absolute majority, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, state president of the BJP, said while talking to reporters here yesterday. He said the national agenda was a temporary document as they did not have a majority. He said the main aim of the party to form an alliance with the Akali Dal was to maintain peace in the state. He, however, refused to comment on the feud between the Akalis, saying it was their internal matter. Answering a query he said the government had to increase the octroi rates as all three municipal corporations of the state had passed a resolution in this regard. He said the BJP was in favour of increasing octroi on luxury items but not on essential commodities. Reacting to Mr Badal's statement on SYL canal, he said if the state had spare water, it should be given to neighbouring states. He said slab of sale tax
should be made uniform in the country. |
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BJP leader, 3 others hurt in
attack KHARAR, March 15 — Mr Khushwant Rai Giga, a prominent BJP leader and former sarpanch of nearby Nia Shehar village and three others, namely Mandeep Kumar, Shamsher Singh and Binoo, were seriously injured when they were attacked by a group of four persons in the village last night. Mr Giga got serious knife wounds on the neck. The injured have admitted
to the Civil Hospital. The police has registered a case
against Lovely, Monu, Inderjit Singh and Sippy. |
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GND varsity exams postponed AMRITSAR, March 15 —
Guru Nanak Dev University here today has postponed all
the examinations for private candidates of BA (part I, II
and III) scheduled for March 16 to March 23 due to
certain administrative reasons. Disclosing this, Dr R.S.
Bawa, Registrar, said the new dates for all the postponed
papers would be notified later on and the candidates are
advised to contact their examination centre
superintendents or the coordinators for getting
information on the new dates. |
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Anti-encroachment drive KAPURTHALA, March 15 — The staff of the local Municipal Council today removed encroachments on the roads in the bus stand area, Sabzi Mandi and Sultanpur road. Meanwhile, shopkeepers who had encroached upon the bus stand road have started demolishing unauthorised structures voluntarily after seeing the Deputy Commissioner removing the iron grills from her official residence. The staff of municipal
council and the PWD had demolished about six shops and
boundary walls of six houses in a special drive against
encroachments. |
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