Tuesday, March 23, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, March 23, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Salesman
shot dead by miscreants Centre
‘unable’ to solve problems |
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Punjab
reply on auction by March 26 Mann’s
threat to fill up Rajasthan feeder Tax
evaders face prosecution Babbar
Khalsa man among 3 held 18.29
cr project for Doaba Canal Executive
of SGPC to meet on March 29 National
seminar on chemical research Rival
claims on Singh Sabha chief's election |
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Salesman shot dead by miscreants AMRITSAR, March 22 — In a daring bid to loot a showroom fleeing assailants killed Rishi Kapoor, a salesman on Lawrence Road today. According to the proprietor of Woodland showroom, Mr Surinder Kumar, two youngmen walked into the shop at about 3.30 p.m., bought shoes, bags, garments and bags worth over Rs 6,600. When the manager at the counter asked for the payment one of them threatened to shoot him with a pistol. As they were trying to escape on an unnumbered scooter Rishi chased them. He was shot through his temple. Amidst confusion the assailants made good their escape on foot. The police sealed the city and pressed dog squad into service to nab the killers. The other salesman Ashok Jain told The Tribune that the killers in their mid-twenties were clean shaven and had bought a couple of pairs of shoes, a leather jacket, a pair of shirt and pants which they wore in the try room, asking Rishi to pack their old clothes. Rishi who asked them to pay the bill was told to shut up and hand over the items. They then dashed towards the door and when Rishi chased them, they shot him dead. The police picked up three empties, seized their old clothes lying in the showroom. The police claimed that both of them seemed to be locals as their clothes carried labels of city tailors. Parveen Sinha, SP (City),
said police spotter had been pressed into service with
the description of the assailants. Meanwhile, shopkeepers
in the area put up their shutters in protest against the
lawlessness in the area and urged the police to provide
better security. |
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Centre ‘unable’ to
solve problems BATHINDA, March 22 — The Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary and MP, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, today said the central government was not in a position to solve the problems of Punjab, transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to the state and exclusive rights on river waters according to riparian principles. Addressing a press conference here, he claimed the demands of Punjab, including waiving of Rs 8500 crore loan, the Ludhiana-Chandigarh rail link, an oil refinery, an international airport and power plants had been accepted by the BJP-led coalition government of the Centre. However, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government at the Centre was facing difficulties in solving the problems facing the state as it did not enjoy absolute majority, he added. He said the Rajiv-Longowal accord had become irrelevant as about 15 years had passed since it was signed by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. Mr Bhunder said the state government’s demand of Rs 300 crore from the Centre for compensating the rain-affected paddy and cotton growers was at an advanced stage and it would be sanctioned shortly. Mr Bhunder asked the Punjab Congress leaders to pressure their high command to accept the fact that Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas belonged to Punjab. When asked whether the Punjab Government would fight the case in the apex court instituted by the Rajasthan Government regarding the closure of the Sirhind canal and Rajasthan feeder by it, he replied in the affirmative. He declined to comment when asked whether action should be taken by the Punjab Government against Mr Simranjit Singh Mann for damaging the SYL canal. He also refused to comment on queries related to former SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He pointed out that it was the right time for the country to adopt a federal system in order to make it more strong and speed up the pace of development. He added that states should be given more financial and political autonomy. Mr Bhunder claimed that work for the eradication of waterlogging in certain pockets of Mansa district was going on a war footing and Rs 18 crore was being spent on the job under the NABARD scheme. Later, addressing a gathering of farmers at the kisan mela organised at the Regional Research Centre here, Mr Bhunder said close interaction of farmers and agriculture scientists was necessary to give new direction to farming in view of the changing climatic conditions. He said as the paddy-wheat rotation had created a number of problems for the farmers, the subsequent failure of the cotton crops repeatedly had broken the backbone of the farmers. He asked scientists of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to evolve cheaper and better technology for alternative crops, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, pulses and oilseeds. Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, advised the farmers not to use readymade mixture available in the market as it developed more resistance in heliothesis in the cotton crop. Dr Surjit Singh Gill,
Additional Director, Extension Education, Communication
Centre, PAU, said in the mela farm literature worth Rs
70,000 was sold. He added that literature on fruits,
vegetables, flowers, mushroom cultivation, dairy farming
and poultry farming attracted a large number of farmers. |
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News analysis CHANDIGARH, March 22 — People must indeed be wondering as to why politicians in the region are pushing the question of river waters to the fore. What axe have they to grind now? Strangely the complex issue, that despite many accords and awards, has defied an acceptable solution for the past three decades, was dormant till two weeks ago. Whenever the politicians have raised the pitch and involved people, exploiting them to the hilt, there often has been bloodshed. Whose blood is being demanded once again at the chess board of power? It was the present Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who at one time had vowed to fill up the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL). Now his rival and Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Simranjit Singh Mann collected a few hundred followers yesterday and gave a call to fill up the canal on the Morinda-Bassi Pathana road. It is another matter that an Akali Chief Minister had accepted money from Haryana and started the digging of the canal. In fact, some 10 days ago Mr Badal in a power game with former SGPC Chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra had declared and that too at Ambala, that he would never let Haryana take any water through the SYL. Haryana does not have any share and Punjab no water to spare, he had thundered. Haryana politicians led by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal were quick to react. They denounced his utterances. But Mr Badal kept up the chorus and repeated the same in the Assembly last week. In fact, this stand of his was opposite to what he had been stating earlier. Whenever any journalist brought up the issue, Mr Badal's stock reply was that his stand was well-known and there was no need for further statements. But then why now? Interestingly, Mr Badal's government in an affidavit before the Eradi Tribunal had sought time to make a formal reply on the pretext that the law and order situation was not conducive to make a final award regarding the waters of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The Tribunal referred the issue to the Union Government asking it to comment on the issue of law and order. The Centre obliged and despite vehement protests by Mr Bansi Lal and to a time bound question no reply has been sent to the Tribunal. The matter hangs there. On Saturday, Mr Bansi Lal spoke to the Prime Minister in Calcutta and urged him to take a serious note of what Mr Mann had done. The Haryana Chief Minister also alleged that this was being done with the connivance of Mr Badal. In fact, Mr Bansi Lal first protested to Mr Badal and reminded him about the dangers of such an approach. Some politicians in Haryana are saying if water will not flow from Punjab to Haryana, how would coal reach Punjab. The dangerous tit-for-tat politics is at play again. Mr Bansi Lal has also asked that the Eradi Tribunal Award that followed the Rajiv-Longowal accord in 1985 be implemented in full and immediately. He feels Haryana has a strong case for getting more power from Bhakra Nangal and other common hydroelectric projects, but wonders why Punjab, particularly the Akalis, have not accepted any decision. "Mr Badal will bask in the glory of martyrdom of Sant Harchand Singh and take political advantage out of the sant's sacrifice, but will not accept the accord signed by that leader, " he said Mr Badal, however, has refuted these arguments. Clearly, some competition
is bound to emerge among the Haryana politicians. Already
they have started raising accusing fingers at one
another. If Mr Bansi Lal finds Mr Devi Lal and Mr Om
Prakash Chautala in league with Mr Badal, the two leaders
have no kind words for him. They accuse of him of
bartering away the interests of the state. |
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Punjab reply on auction by March
26 CHANDIGARH, March 22 — The Punjab Deputy Advocate-General today gave an undertaking to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the state government would file its reply to the petition filed by Mr Satya Pal, a local contractor, contesting the auction of groups No 113 to 117, Ludhiana excise circle, by March 26. Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice K.N. Agrawal, before whom the petition came up for hearing, directed that the case be posted for final hearing on March 30. Earlier, the Deputy Advocate-General had sought four weeks' time to file a reply. However, the Judges turned down this request in view of the fact that the auction would be held on March 31. In his petition Mr Satya Pal had stated that he had made a bid higher than Rs 32.70 crore (Rs 33 crore). Yet his bid was not recorded and that the lower bid (Rs 32.70 crore) made by Mann Singh Garcha and Company was accepted. He had stated that he was willing to pay Rs 35 crore for these licences. After hearing detailed arguments, the Bench had directed that the auction be held as scheduled. "However, the petitioners before us shall be permitted to take a person with a video camera and to record the auction proceedings. Furthermore, this auction shall not be confirmed by the Excise and Taxation Commissioner till March 22, the next date of hearing. However, this shall not preclude the competent authority from accepting 10 per cent of the bid money by way of deposit at the fall of hammer in the auction." The Punjab Government had contested this order before the Supreme Court. Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice R.P. Sethi had granted leave on March 16 and passed the order: "Notice on the application for interim relief. Mr B.S. Chahar accepts notice on behalf of respondent No 1 and Mr L.N. Rao takes notice on behalf of respondent No 3. Pending further orders, the order under challenge shall remain stayed". Mr Satya Pal, however, engaged a counsel in the Supreme Court and contested the stand taken by the Punjab Government and Maan Singh Garcha and Co. After hearing arguments
the Supreme Court Bench held: "It shall not be open
to the High Court to proceed to hear and dispose of the
writ petition on merits after giving to the respondents
adequate opportunity of putting in affidavits in reply.
Counsel for the writ petitions states that no application
for any interim relief in the writ petition shall be made
to the High Court. The appeals are disposed of
accordingly, no order as to costs". |
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Mann’s threat to fill up
Rajasthan feeder AMRITSAR, March 22 — After the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has decided to fill up the Rajasthan feeder with earth which carries Punjab’s eight million acre feet water to Rajasthan if the state government (Rajasthan) did not allow the residents of Punjab, especially the Sikhs, to purchase agricultural land there. Talking to the Press here today, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD (Amritsar), said it was a matter of concern that the state of Rajasthan which had been getting eight million acre of water for decades at the cost of Punjabi farmers had imposed an undeclared ban on the purchase of land. The imposition of such a ban on Indian nationals was unconstitutional, he said. SAD (Amritsar) activists along with activists of the SAD (Democratic) led by Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala had resorted to the symbolic filling up of the SYL canal near Doomcheri (Ropar) on March 20. Mr Mann said the state government led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal should fill up the rest of the SYL canal as the SAD (Badal) had promised the electorate to fill up the controversial canal with earth if it was voted to power after the elections. This promise had not been fulfilled so far. "I appeal to Mr Badal to come to the expectations of Punjab and the Punjabis by fulfilling all promises. As per the riparian rule, non-riparian states had no right to claim the river waters", Mr Mann said. On the other hand the chances of floating a third front by the SAD (Amritsar), the SAD (Panthic), the SAD (Democratic) along with Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra have slimmed as Mr Mann dubbed Mr Tohra "anti-Sikh" and "anti-Punjabi". Mr Mann said Mr Tohra had been ‘hobnobbing’ with Mr Badal. Taking exception to the statement of Mr Tohra in which he had criticised Mr Mann for filling up the SYL canal, Mr Mann said that it showed that Mr Tohra had no love for the farmers in Punjab. The SAD (Amritsar) chief challenged the Haryana Government to arrest him for his stand on SYL. "I go to Delhi via Haryana, and hence the state government is free to arrest me any time", he said. Mr Mann, however, said he was neither anti-national nor a terrorist as dubbed by leaders of the Indian National Lok Dal, and the Haryana Congress Committee leaders. Taking exception to the remarks of Haryana leaders Mr Bansi Lal and Lok Dal leader Mr Om Parkash Chautala in which they had dubbed Akali Dal (A) president, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, as ‘anti-national’, the Dal Khalsa said the spirit of nationalism was not dependent on toeing the line of the Indian state. In a press-statement
issued here on Monday the organisation secretary-general
Kanwar Pal Singh said the moot question was not of
nationalism but was of respect for law. He said, whenever
the Sikhs had launched a struggle for their rights, they
were dubbed anti-national. |
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Tax evaders face prosecution PATIALA, March 22 — To garner funds for a cash starved municipal corporation, it has been decided to launch prosecution proceedings against 40 companies allegedly averting the payment of tax besides taking steps to increase octroi collections. Talking to The Tribune, here today Corporation Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu said it had been decided to launch prosecution proceedings against the companies as these had not bothered to reply to notices sent to them by the corporation. He said the corporation had launched a war against tax evasion as most of its income, since at was upgraded from a committee, was being spent on salaries. He said the corporation had met with success recently when it busted a racket in which a company took reimbursement of octroi which it never paid from electronic goods manufacturers. Mr Sidhu said subsequently the corporation had urged the Local Bodies Department to duly verify the vouchers of reimbursement of octroi. He said the District Transport Office had also been asked to verify if any octroi receipts were pending against vehicles submitted for registration. He said steps had resulted in an increase in octroi collections. He said octroi collections had increased by nearly one lakh per day. Mr Sidhu said while the octroi collections for January 1998 were Rs 7 lakh, the octroi collected during January this year was Rs 74 lakh. He said similarly the octroi collections had increased from Rs 7.60 lakh in February 1998, to Rs 85.57 lakh in February this year. He said Rs 42 lakh had already been collected till today this month. He said besides stricter management, the introduction of wireless sets to detect tax evasion had also helped in its increase. He said the wireless system, since its installation in January, had shown immediate results. A sum of Rs 3.50 lakh had been collected through fines in January after uncovering 149 cases of tax evasion compared to Rs 2 lakh collected in December last year. Mr Sidhu said Rs 5 lakh
spent of the system had already been recovered by the
corporation. He said the wireless system was also being
used to remove encroachments effectively besides ensuring
a tab on the officers themselves who could not misuse
officials vehicles now. |
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Babbar Khalsa man among 3 held ROPAR, March 22 — As part of its special 10-day campaign against proclaimed offenders, which began from March 15, the police has arrested three proclaimed offenders, including an activist of Babbar Khalsa Organisation, and seized a Maruti Zen car which was snatched on March 12 from Ms Seema Jain of Ambala Cantonment. According to information available here today, the police had arrested Sarbjit Singh, an activist of Babbar Khalsa Organisation and a resident of Diva Mander, police station Paya in Ludhiana district. He jumped bail from the court of Sessions Judge, here on August 7, 1992. He had been arrested under sections 382/34 of the IPC and Section 25, Arms Act, in a case registered at Sadar police station, Ropar, and under sections 307/34 of the IPC and Section 25, Arms Act in another case registered at Morinda. The Kurali police has also arrested Amarjit Singh, a resident of Makrana in Morinda, and a proclaimed offender in two cases, registered against him under Sections 307/148/149 of the IPC, 25 of the Arms Act, 3/4/5 of the TADA and 3/4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act on July 9, 1991 at Kurali, and in another case of the same date at Kurali under Section 25, Arms Act. Both these proclaimed offenders have now been sent to jail. Another proclaimed offender Darshan Singh, alias Darshi of Habbowal in Nawanshahr district, has also been arrested by the district police. He was proclaimed offender in a case registered against him under Section 379, IPC, at Nurpur Bedi on September 24, 1997, for the theft of Khair wood. He was also proclaimed offender in a case lodged against him under 397/34 of the IPC at Una (HP). During the campaign, the Nurpur Bedi police has also seized a Maruti Zen Car with fake registration number. It was snatched on March 12 from Ms Seema Jain, a resident of Tribune Colony at Ambala cantonment, allegedly by Jarnail Singh (Garhshankar), Jaswinder Singh (Garhshankar) and Ladi (Banga). A case was registered against them on March 12 under Section 379 of the IPC, at Mahesh Nagar police station in Ambala district. Jarnail Singh was arrested
on the spot. A case was also registered against them at
Nurpur Bedi under Sections 411 of the IPC on March 21. |
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18.29 cr project for Doaba Canal GURDASPUR, March 22 — The District Irrigation Department has launched a Rs 18.29 crore project involving the construction of an escape channel for the Upper Bari Doaba Canal (UBDC) hydroelectric channel by remodelling the silt ejector at the main line of the canal. The ejector had a total capacity of 1500 cusecs which had been widened to an escape channel with a total capacity of 7200 cusecs. Besides the construction of the escape channel, the project includes the installation of a cross regulator, a head regulator and the construction of a road bridge, a tall structure besides extensive protection and channelisation works of the Gulpur Chakki works. The Gulpur Chakki rivulet falls into Chakki river which joins the Beas. According to Mr Jagdish Singh, Executive Engineer, the project except the channelisation of the Gulpur Chakki rivulet was completed in 45 days. Work on the protection and channelisation of the Gurpur Chakki rivulet was in progress and was scheduled to be completed by the month end, he added. He further said that with
the completion of the project, the annual generation loss
estimated at 100-140 million units which approximately
cost Rs 25 crore to Rs 35 crore would be saved. |
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Executive of SGPC to meet on March
29 AMRITSAR, March 22 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has convened a crucial executive meeting here on March 29 in which the matter of suspended Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh may also be discussed. The proposed executive meeting will review the decisions taken at previous executives held since December 16 when Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta was appointed Senior Secretary of the SGPC apart from giving promotions and increments to some employees. While the executive meeting on December 16 last year was attended by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and other four members of his group, the 10 pro-Badal members stayed away from the meeting. The second executive meeting was held on February 10 by the 10 pro-Badal members out of the total 15 members in which Bhai Ranjit Singh was placed under suspension. Giani Puran Singh was appointed acting Jathedar in place of Bhai Ranjit Singh. The agenda of the Jind meetings will also be reviewed. Both the Tohra and Badal camps had taken separate decisions at the Jind meetings. Obviously, the proposed meeting of March 29 will reject all decisions taken by the Tohra camp and accept all decisions taken by the pro-Badal executive members at Jind. However, it is yet to be seen whether the executive meeting proposed to be held here on March 29 will take a final decision about sacking Bhai Ranjit Singh or not. After the March 19 meeting of the executive, Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC president, had announced the suspension of Bhai Ranjit Singh had been confirmed by the newly elected executive. The proposed meeting of
the executive will also take a final look at the Rs
125-crore budget of the SGPC. The budget session of the
committee will be held on March 30. |
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National seminar on chemical
research AMRITSAR, March 22 — Chemistry, through its recent researches and developments in the form of production of synthetic drugs, synthetic vaccines, application of magnetic resonance of ultrasound imaging in the medical diagnostics, is playing a major role in providing ways and means for the benefit of society. This was the crux of the presentations by internationally renowned chemical scientists gathered here to participate in the two-day national seminar on "Recent trends in chemical research". The seminar has been organised by the Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, at the Guru Nanak Bhavan auditorium. Dr Inder Pal Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor, presided over the inaugural session. The scientists said that recent researches in the field of chemistry had also helped the society in improving the "speed of life" by giving novel fuels, new materials of construction that could withstand high temperature and pressures. It had helped in designing and launching of the satellites which in turn had converted the world into a global village by providing fastest satellite links for modern means of communications, they added. Delivering his inaugural address, Dr Inder Pal Singh said today was the age of interaction and more and more scientists from various fields were coming forward for interaction with scholars from other fields. Earlier, Dr Rakesh
Mahajan, organising secretary, while giving details of
the seminar, said various aspects of the developments
which took place in the field of chemistry would be
presented by eminent scientists. More than 50 research
scholars are participating from various states of India. |
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Rival claims on Singh Sabha
chief's election ROPAR, March 22 — The election to the post of President of the local Gurdwara, Guru Singh Sabha has created confusion among the local Sikh sangat as two candidates for the post — Mr Gurmukh Singh Longia and Mr Tirath Singh Khalsa — were reportedly elected as President by their respective groups last night. Both candidates in two separate press conferences today made the claim of being elected by a majority of votes. It is reported that during the election process hot words were exchanged. According to a press note, distributed among mediapersons at the press conference of Mr Longia, the general house discussed the issue of election for the post of President, but no unanimous decision could be taken. The names of Mr Longia and Mr Khalsa were proposed. In the absence of unanimity on the basis of voice vote, Mr Harjit Singh Haweli, the outgoing President, declared, Mr Longia president. At another press
conference, Mr Khalsa claimed he was the president-elect
as most members were with him. He also announced that he
would constitute his executive body by March 31. He
charged, Mr Haweli with misusing his position by
declaring Mr Longia as President. He said he also
demanded the list of new members before the election for
their identification, which was denied to him. He also
claimed his demand for a secret ballot had also been
ignored. |
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Legal aid provided in 19,119
cases HOSHIARPUR, March 22 — A total of 24,250 cases for getting free legal aid were received by the state till January this year, of which assistance was provided in 19,119 cases. This was disclosed by Mr
Justice H.S. Brar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
and acting Chairman of Punjab Legal Aid Services
Authority at a meeting of the District Free Legal Aid
Authority, here last evening. He said 799 Lok Adalats had
been organised in Punjab at which 93,572 cases were taken
up. Of these, 68,542 had been cleared, he said. |
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2 police officers
transferred LUDHIANA, March 22 — Mr Kamaljit Singh, SP (Detective), and Mr Paramjit Singh Khaira, DSP (Detective), Ludhiana, have been transferred with immediate effect. According to official sources here today, the two police officers had been transferred because of their alleged inept handling of the situation arising out of the murder of Akali leader and former Municipal Councillor, Balraj Singh Gill last week. Mr Gill was shot dead while on his way back home in Fauji Mohalla in Abdullahpur on March 16. Balwinder Singh Bhapp
surrendered in the court of Judicial Magistratre, first
class, Ludhiana, on March 17. Informed sources here say
that the two officers had been given their marching
orders for their failure to arrest the accused before he
surrendered in the court. |
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Warning to YC leaders LUDHIANA, March 22 — The Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) chief, Mr Davinder Singh Baboo, yesterday warned those leaders who were issuing anti-party statements. Talking to reporters here, Mr Davinder Singh said the leaders did not enjoy public support and were trying to weaken the party. When questioned about the allegations made by the Youth Congress secretary, Mr Komal Khanna, in his resignation letter, the PYC chief, said he had not received any resignation letter so far. He said appointments of
office-bearers of the (PYC) were made according to the
set procedure and after consultations with the All-India
Youth Congress Chief, Mr Munish Tiwari. |
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2 killed in mishap KAPURTHALA, March 22 — Surinder Kumar Joshi, Principal, Shanti College, Ahmedgarh and Jagannath Sharma, lecturer, Government College, Ludhiana, were killed and two other injured in an accident near Hamira on GT Road yesterday. According to the police, the four were travelling in a Maruti car from Amritsar to Ludhiana when it collided with a Tata Sumo coming from the opposite direction. The injured have been identified as Mr Jagjivan Kumar and Mr Parmod Kumar and admitted to the Local Hospital. The police has arrested
the driver of the Tata Sumo and registered a case against
him. |
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Students get paper in different
medium PATIALA, March 22 — Students of Sant Baba Puran Dass Senior Secondary School at Rohdgarh village who took the mathematics paper of class VIII of the Punjab School Education Board at the examination centre at Lang village of this district have complained that they were given the question paper in Punjabi medium whereas they had opted for English medium. They have also sent letter addressed the Controller, Examinations, PSEB, in this regard. The students demanded
re-examination of the paper or grace marks of more than
50 per cent be given to them. |
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Kant to attend celebrations CHANDIGARH, March 22 — The Vice-President of India, Mr Krishan Kant, will also attend a function on the celebrations of the Birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on April 12. The Finance Minister of Punjab, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, in charge, tercentenary celebrations, said that on that day, a Fateh march would reach Anandpur Sahib and the function would be held in the main ground. The five Khalsa marches, emanating from birth places of "panj payaras" (five beloved ones) would reach Kiratpur Sahib on April 10. From there, on April 12, the Fateh march comprising all these five jathas and other contingents and devotees would reach Anandpur Sahib. A dhadi, kavishari and
kirtan darbar would be held in the main ground on the
same day — April 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
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Zira's charge against Badal MALLANWALA KHAS (Ferozepore), March 22 — An SAD MLA and former Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, has alleged that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had been running the party in a dictatorial manner. Talking to mediapersons at Government Senior Secondary School in the village, 22 km from Ferozepore yesterday, Mr Zira added that the SAD was not the personal property of any individual. Those who dared to talk, had been sidelined by Mr Badal, he alleged. He said none of the Akali leaders, who had resigned from Mr Badal's Cabinet a few months ago was going to form a separate party. "We shall remain in the SAD (B)", he added. He said Akal Takht was the
supreme religious body and those who had declined to
accept hukamnama of Bhai Ranjit Singh, suspended Jathedar
of Akal Takht, would not be excused by the Sikhs. |
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AIR, DD staff strike work JALANDHAR, March 22—
On the call given by its national council, all the
employees of administrative staff of All India Radio and
Doordarshan offices in Punjab and Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh went on
indefinite strike today against non-implementation of
their demands and pay parity with engineering and
programme staff. |
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