Thursday, May 6, 1999
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Thursday, May 6, 1999 |
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Tohra camp to
‘impeach’ Badal AMRITSAR, May 5 — The Tohra camp has decided to organise 'mock Parliaments' in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state to 'impeach' Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, for his alleged anti-panthic activities and non-performance. Tohra loyalists form struggle committee JALANDHAR, May 5 — The Tohra loyalists today set up 51-member struggle committee against those who had allegedly undermined the dignity and honour of Akal Takht by removing its Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh. |
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Cotton belt rejects ‘white gold’ BATHINDA, May 5 — Is cotton crop disappearing from Punjab, once the largest producer of the cotton in India? The answer is in the affirmative going by the declining per acre yield of and area under the crop in the past and the fact that farmers seem to be in no mood to sow cotton this year, preferring to leave their fields vacant. Punjab
plans forest protection force Cooperative
funds fraud: ASI held Punjab
to ‘roll back’ ST hike
Branding
case: jail official denies charges
Cong's
'defeat to be on SAD agenda' Forcible
abortion case: husband, in-laws convicted Medicos
decide not to pay hiked fee Badal
lauds local govt authorities Tribune
employee succumbs to injuries I.O.
restrained on final report in Pinki case Children’s
workshop concludes |
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Tohra camp to
‘impeach’ Badal AMRITSAR, May 5 — The Tohra camp has decided to organise 'mock Parliaments' in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state to 'impeach' Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, for his alleged anti-panthic activities and non-performance. These 'mock Parliaments' would be held after May 20 — the deadline fixed by the sacked Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh for Mr Badal to surrender before the Akal Takht. Serving an ultimatum to Mr Badal, Bhai Ranjit Singh had said that he would announce his programme to finish Mr Badal religiously and politically if he failed to surrender before the Akal Takht. However, the Badal camp has already rejected the appeal of Bhai Ranjit Singh on the plea that he had no locus standi to summon the SAD chief to the Akal Takht as he was no longer a Jathedar. The 'mock Parliaments' are likely to be organised before the forthcoming mid-term Lok Sabha elections scheduled for September/October. Talking to TNS, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, former Akali Minister and close confident of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra alleged that Mr Badal had brought a bad name to the Panth all over the world due to his anti-panthic activities. Apart from encouraging infighting for vested interests especially at the time of tercentenary celebrations, the performance of SAD in Punjab assembly and Parliament was dismal, he said. The main idea of organising 'mock Parliaments' was that Sikhs must know about the performance of SAD in Parliament. The SAD had failed to get the genuine demands of the Punjab and Punjabis conceded. Giving examples, Mr Calcutta said that in spite of the ultimatum to the Vajpayee government, Mr Badal did not withdraw support on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar. The burning issues like fair adjudication of the river waters issue, transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, increase of recruitment to the Army on the basis of merit instead of population percentage etc. could not be conceded by the Central Government as the party had extended blind and unconditional support to the Vajpayee-led coalition government. The 'mock Parliaments' would 'expose' Mr Badal for his alleged misuse of authority for removing Jathedar of the Akal Takht. He had tried to 'finish' the source of strength of the Panth due to his anti-Akal Takht acts, Mr Calcutta further alleged. Mr Calcutta said that Mr Badal and most of his colleagues had no right to hold posts in the party apart from being ministers as they were not baptised Sikhs — a requirement for becoming an Akali. The constitution of the Shiromani Akali Dal clearly mentions that one has to be 'amritdhari' for becoming the member of the party. The proforma to be filled up for applying for a party ticket for assembly and Parliament etc reads that the candidate and his entire family should be 'amritdhari'. He alleged that the pronouncement of Giani Puran Singh that all Akali leaders and their family members would be baptised on May 14 had made it clear that most of them were 'patit Sikhs' (not practising Sikhism). The former Akali minister alleged that Mr Badal had been promoting his family at the cost of senior Akali leaders. This would ultimately ruin the party, he said. He further said that the 'rule of a family' had been rejected by the Sikhs from time to time in the past. He said that Sikhism always respected a democratic set-up. Mr Calcutta said that Mr
Badal had failed to give corruption-free governance. The
SAD had also failed to implement the promises made in the
election manifesto, he alleged. |
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Tohra loyalists form struggle
committee JALANDHAR, May 5 — The Tohra loyalists today set up 51-member struggle committee against those who had allegedly undermined the dignity and honour of Akal Takht by removing its Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh. Mr Surjit Singh Cheema, committee convener, and an SGPC member said at a press conference here today that the committee had decided to hold a meeting at a city gurdwara on May 12 to plan the modalities of the struggle. The meeting would be addressed among others by Bhai Ranjit Singh and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. He declined to commit if the struggle committee would form nucleus of the parallel Akali Dal allegedly being organised by Mr Tohra. He said the committee would launch a movement to mobilise Panthic forces to reject in the mid-term Lok Sabha elections all those who challenged the supremacy of the Sikh community. All Tohra loyalists said the party must be rescued from the dictatorial functioning of Mr Badal, alleging that the Chief Minister was using the party for promoting his family rule in Punjab. Pro-Tohra sources said similar struggle committee would be formed in all districts of Punjab to prepare the ground for the parallel Akali Dal to challenge the hegemony of Mr Badal in the party. Significantly, district (Urban) president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar). Mr Jagjit Singh Gauba, is also a member of the struggle committee, indicating polarisation in the Akali polity. The party sources said that Mr Gauba might quit the party headed by Mr Simaranjit Singh Maan and join hands with the pro-Tohra faction within the ruling Akali Dal. Mr Gauba and Mr Sarbjit
Singh Wariana, a staunch Tohra loyalist, would get
important responsibility in the parallel Akali Dal which
was likely to be formed after the expiry of May 20
deadline fixed by Bhai Ranjit Singh for Mr Parkash Singh
Badal to atone for his sin of confronting the authority
of Akal Takht. |
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Decision deferred on subsidies'
cut CHANDIGARH, May 5 — The Punjab Cabinet today deferred its much-touted decision to cut subsidies that could have saved Rs 450 crore this year alone. The message at the Cabinet meeting where some departments had put forth proposals to introduce user charges and a cut on subsidies was "after the elections". The Cabinet meeting was to consider proposals which, in fact, had been already cleared by the assembly as part of the budget proposals and were meant to introduce fiscal reforms. The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was in fact, more keen on some sops in view of the elections than take any hard measures. And, the cabinet went with him on the issue. Mr Badal was also for a rollback of user charges in some government hospitals, but then had to be content with only a reduction of the 'parchi fee' from Rs 10 to Rs 2. Other charges stand. This too has been done as the World Bank had clearly told the Punjab Government to raise enough funds to deserve any further aid. The whole plan to modernise the health services was being threatened. The fiscal position, according to official sources, would be very bad henceforth. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister had promised to raise Rs 540 crore additionally this year. Of this, Rs 165 crore was to be in the shape of new taxes. Some of these taxes on rubber goods, automobile parts, ball bearings, motor vehicles and two -wheelers have been rolled back. Perhaps the only decision which the government now sticks to is to sell land belonging to revenue and transport departments and net some Rs 400 crore. The year 1998-99 which was to end with a deficit of Rs 241.30 crore actually ended with a deficit of Rs 1,620.40 crore. In order the meet this extraordinary deficit, the Finance minister had proposed to save Rs 450 crore by cutting down on subsidies, which never reach the people, as they are meant for, and another Rs 540 crore by sale of land and higher taxes. Now with today's decision, the government will have to start its borrowing from all sorts of sources. The Centre has often come to its rescue and only recently Rs 850 crore was provided to help the state in the purchase of wheat. This was in addition to the normal lending allowed by the Reserve Bank of India. The Cabinet initially was divided over the issue and certain Akali ministers said the taxes should not be rolled back, and the BJP minister took an opposite stand. But finally the ghost of popularism had total control, and the Cabinet accepted its supremacy. How Punjab will meet its
expenses is anyone's guess as there is an increased
burden of Rs 450 crore, taking the total figure to over
Rs 1200 crore. |
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Cotton belt rejects ‘white
gold’ BATHINDA, May 5 — Is cotton crop disappearing from Punjab, once the largest producer of the cotton in India? The answer is in the affirmative going by the declining per acre yield of and area under the crop in the past and the fact that farmers seem to be in no mood to sow cotton this year, preferring to leave their fields vacant. Farmers of the cotton belt of Punjab comprising Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Sangrur, Moga, Muktsar and Ferozepore districts suffered a big jolt this year when the yield per acre averaged just 60 kg. Official sources said cotton production touched an all time low of under five lakh bales from more than 14 lakh acres this year. Due to very low yield farmers incurred heavy losses as they could not recoup their costs. About seven lakh bales of cotton were produced from more than 16 lakh acres last year. In the past two years the area under cotton crop has dropped by around 30 per cent or 5.5 lakh acres. Agriculture department sources said in the current year the target for cotton is 12.5 lakh acres. However, the department is finding it difficult to meet even this reduced target as farmers are showing little interest in cultivation of the farmer "white gold". Officials sources said though the optimum time recommended by the Punjab Agricultural University for sowing cotton is from April 15 to May 15, cotton had been sown in only a few thousands acres thus far. In part this may be because farmers are facing an acute shortage of certified seeds. Punseed and the National Seed Corporation had only 6000 quintal of certified seeds with it against its requirement of more than 50,000 quintal. Mr Ashok Kapur, Vice -President, Northern India Cotton Association, said cotton was disappearing due to these combination of factors. He pointed out that cotton traders were also feeling the pinch with more than 200 cotton ginning mills closing in Punjab in the past two years. Mr Kattar Singh Jeeda, President, North India Cotton Growers Association, said that cotton was disappearing as it was not getting any support from the government and because agriculture scientists had failed to find a mechanism for control of bollworm which has ravaged the cotton crop year after year. He said in 1989-90, Punjab produced 26.82 lakh bales of cotton which had come down to 4.90 lakh bales this year despite the area under cotton not having dropped proportionately. He said cotton yields could revert to the level of 1989-90 if the Punjab Government gave the growers good know how pest resistant seeds original pesticides and fertilisers and insured them against natural calamities. A survey of the cotton
belt revealed that farmers prefer to keep their fields
vacant rather than cultivate an up profitable crop. Last
year, more than 100 farmers suicides were reported from
the cotton belt alone. |
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Punjab plans forest protection
force NURPUR BEDI (Ropar) — May 5 — Punjab has no long-term fire-fighting plans or means to tackle forest fires in the state. Admitting this here this afternoon, Mr Mohan Lal, Forest Minister, Punjab, disclosed that he would be convening a meeting soon for setting up a forest protection force in the state on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir to tackle forest fires and thefts of timber. The force would be raised on the lines of paramilitary forces and would function under the overall command of divisional forest officers, he added. The minister was here to take stock of the situation, arising out of the spread of forest fire in 18 villages of the Nurpur Bedi forest range. He also visited some areas badly affected by fire. He said the state had been appealing to the Centre year after year for fire fighting force, without success. He also announced that those who had contributed in extinguishing forest fires would be honoured with a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each on Independence Day. He said the state government had not taken any decision so far on grant of compensation to owners of affected private forests. However, he added that the matter relating to compensation would be considered after receiving detailed reports from deputy commissioners. The minister also disclosed that under the Japan Project new equipment to control fires would be introduced. He said there were four forest divisions in the Shivalik range, of which two divisions — Dasuya and Hoshiarpur had no live fire at present. In Ropar and Garhshankar divisions, two villages in each division were still engulfed by forest fire. The Forest Minister said
forest fires had broken out in 37 villages of this
district in the recent past which included 18 in Nurpur
Bedi range with 2360 acres affected, 11 in Siswan range
with 4255 acres affected, and eight in Ropar range with
384 acres affected. Fire was still raging in Kalwan and
Naloti villages in Nurpur Bedi range. |
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Cooperative funds fraud : ASI held GURDASPUR, May 5 — Recovery staff of local Central Cooperative Bank yesterday apprehended Parkash Singh, who was allegedly involved in a fraud totalling to more than Rs 2.5 crore while he was the secretary of Mannan and Mirpur Cooperative Society in 1991. The accused is at present an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Police District Batala and has been wanted by the Cooperative Department since 1995. The official sources said that since the accused was with the police, he allegedly wielded influence on high ranking police officials. The recovery staff then bypassing the police channel obtained arrest warrants against the accused from Assistant Registrar, Cooperative, Batala. On the basis of which they apprehended the accused and produced him before the said Assistant Registrar at Batala, who, then by using his powers as Assistant Collector sent the accused to central jail here. According to official sources the accused with the connivance of certain officials of Cooperative Bank, Achal Sahib in Batala subdivision, a branch of Central Cooperative bank, Gurdaspur, raised loans from the bank to the tune of Rs 1.51 crore against 233 fictitious persons. Later the accused with the connivance of bank officials withdrew the said amount. Meanwhile, a loan-waiver scheme by the central government was launched according to which all cooperative loans amounting to Rs 5000 were waived. The accused again with the connivance of bank officials withdrew Rs 23.69 lakh under this scheme. The official sources said that the fraud came to light in 1993 when departmental audit team audited the bank accounts. The formalities for advancing loans had not been fulfilled therefore the bank was asked to complete the formalities. When the department insisted on the completion of records of persons against whose names the loans were raised, the persons concerned could not be produced by the bank because the persons against whose names the loans were raised and the amount was withdrawn were all fictitious. The officials sources said that a case was then registered against Parkash Singh and Kashmir Singh, Bank Manager, Lakha Singh and Balraj Singh both, clerks of the bank in 1995, under Rangarh Nangal police station. All accused accept Parkash Singh were arrested and later released on bail. Later the Cooperative Department after holding inquiry against the bank officials involved in fraud dismissed them from service. Meanwhile, Parkash Singh had joined the Punjab Police as constable and was at present an ASI in police district Batala. The official sources
said that Parkash Singh was leading a lavish life which
was beyond his sources of income. |
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Punjab to ‘roll back’ ST hike JALANDHAR, May 5 (UNI) — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lajpat Rai today claimed that the Punjab Government has agreed to a summary settlement of about four lakh pending sales tax cases, withdrawing hike in sales tax on medicines and hosiery and to tax halwais and bakers on a slab basis. Addressing a news conference here today the BJP rajya Sabha Member, who had been negotiating on behalf of the business community, claimed that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had agreed, in principle to the demands of various sections of trade and industry at a meeting held at the residence of Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balramji Das Tandon at Chandigarh yesterday. Besides Mr Badal, Mr Tandon and himself BJP state president Daya Singh Sodhi and Punjab Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal attended the meeting, he added. Mr Lajpat Rai said that the modalities for providing relief to halwais and bakers will be worked out tomorrow at a meeting with the Chief Minister at Chandigarh. He said that various bodies representing halwais, bakers and bread-makers had agreed to the slab system of an annual tax varying from Rs 2,000 to Rs 20,000. The government promised to issue the necessary notifications regarding all the four demands in the next ten days, he added. Mr Rai disclosed that instead of doubling sales tax from two to four per cent on hosiery and charging four per cent on readymade garments, the government had agreed to club both items and charge a common rate of three per cent. The government had also agreed to withdraw the tax hike of two percent on medicines which will continue be taxed at the rate of six per cent, he added. The BJP leader further said that four lakh sales tax cases pending on account of disputes over ST-22 form will be summarily settled in the next six months with traders agreeing to pay tax at the rate of Rs 100 per Rs one lakh annual turnover without any upper limit on turnover. Earlier, the government had pegged a settlement limit to a maximum turnover of Rs fifty lakh, he added. Mr Lajpat Rai denied
that the government had agreed to traders demands in view
of forthcoming snap poll. He also refuted charge of money
having exchanged hands in clinching the proposed
agreement. |
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Lady Luck smiles on Sachin's
lookalike NAWANSHAHR: Balbir Chand, a resident of Sahlon village in Nawanshahr district and ward boy of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, has become a major attraction among cricket lovers throughout the country. He steals the limelight wherever he goes, thanks to his uncanny resemblance with the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Balbir's height, smile, hairdo and physique resembled the world's best batsman so much that not only common people, even cricket players of different countries get taken in and believe he is Sachin Tendulkar. With this natural gift, Balbir has not only been getting love and affection from people, it seems, that Lady Luck too has started smiling on him. Though he belongs to a poor family and is doing the petty job of a ward boy in a hospital, he is all set to be a star model of advertisement movies. A number of companies are contacting him to model for their products. He has recently signed an agreement for an advertisement campaign with the Hero Group. The company will sponsor Balbir and his friend-turned-secretary Vijesh's tour to the World Cup in England. So Balbir is now gearing himself up for a meeting with Sachin Tendulkar and giving a boost to his career as a model. He says though he has met Sachin in person, he considers his meeting incomplete as at that time Sachin did not have much time to spare. He wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with him. Balbir says, "A few years ago, my three-year-old daughter while watching TV yelled "Pappa" when Sachin appeared on the screen. Some friends too used to comment that I looklike Sachin. Then I decided to do some labour. I changed my hairstyle to look like Sachin and started using spectacles and wearing clothes like him. I also got a photograph taken in Sachin's style. I showed that photograph to a number of persons and everyone said it was Sachin's photo only then I was convinced that I really look like Sachin." Balbir came into the limelight when he visited Delhi where a one-day cricket match was going on. He somehow managed to get in to the stadium. And when Tendulkar was cracking fours and sixes in the middle of the field. cricket lovers present in the stadium were stunned to have "Sachin" among themselves. Sunil Gavaskar even brought him in the commentary box and talked to him. Interestingly, Balbir
says Sachin and not he looks like him as he is four years
older. However, he is proud of his resemblance with
Sachin and recites his own couplet: "Yeh to kudrat
ka karishma hai ki Sachin jaisi surat banai hai, meri yeh
khushkismati hai ki mere chehre pe khusi aayee hai." |
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Branding case: jail official
denies charges LUDHIANA, May 5- Mr Amarjit Singh, Superintendent, Central Jail here, today refuted the allegation by undertrial Swaran Singh that he had been branded on his back by the jail staff. In a statement issued here today, he said, undertrial Swaran is a habitual and a criminal type of offender. Before this he remained confined to Security Jail, Nabha under different TADA cases. Now again he is confined to the jail in seven different cases. He is in the habit of filing baseless complaints against the jail authorities from every jail where he ever remained confined. All his misdeeds committed in the jail have already been reported to the District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, the CJM, Chandigarh, the Punjab Human Rights Commission, Chandigarh and the Principal Secretary Home, Chandigarh. "Another undertrial prisoner Amarjit Redu has written "daku" on Swaran Singh's back while Swaran Singh wrote the "chor" on back of Redu. This is his last trick
to defame the jail authorities. The prisoners, who were
present at the time of this incident, have supported this
version in writing. The statements are enclosed. Copies
of two letters addressed to the Human Rights Commission,
Chandigarh and the CJM Chandigarh are a also enclosed.
Swaran Singh is an addict and takes intoxicant tablets.
His wife never came to this jail during the month of
April, 1999. Therefore question of misbehaviour or
harassment to her does not arise," the
superintendent said. |
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Varsity bends rules for
VIPs’ kids AMRITSAR, May 5 — In contravention of Guru Nanak Dev University rules, about forty undergraduate students of Sri Guru Ram Dass Dental College here, who were earlier stopped from taking the examination as they were or short of attendance or in 'send of' examinations were allowed to take the examinations. This 'un-precedented' step was taken under pressure from top Akali leaders with close links to the Chief Minister. Sources in Sri Guru Ram Das Dental College said that the wards of some very influential persons were among those stopped by the college as they did not meet the requirement of 75 per cent attendance and 33 per cent marks in 'send of' examinations. However, it was later found that more than 50 per cent of students i.e. 31 of 58 students of final year and 22 out of fifty of second year did not meet this condition. Subsequently the principal had to use his discretion reducing the condition of attendance from 75 per cent to 60 per cent and the house test condition from 33 per cent to 28 per cent. However, when it was found that the daughter of influential person still could not make the grade the percentage of attendance was further reduced to fifty per cent — which is unprecedented in the history of Guru Nanak Dev University. The examinations were held under tight security as some 40 students who could not take the university examination today (even under the 50 per cent relaxation) had been insisting that the authorities to postpone the examinations. A joint representation submitted by the detained students to the vice-chancellor of the university urged that they also be given the chance to 'improve their attendance'. Interestingly, with a
view to accommodate the wards of the influential persons
the principal of the Government Dental College also
directed the university authorities to postpone the
examinations scheduled for April 30, so that the
examination of both colleges could be held
simultaneously. |
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Cong's 'defeat to be on SAD
agenda' PATIALA, May 5 — Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh yesterday said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would fight the coming Lok Sabha poll on the agenda of defeating the Congress for creating instability in the country by bringing down the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government. Talking to reporters here, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the party would make people aware that the Congress had brought about fresh elections in the country by bringing down the BJP-led government despite knowing it could not form a government on its own. He said the Lok Sabha poll in Punjab would witness a direct fight between the SAD and the Congress. He said those leaders who were thinking contesting independently of the SAD should bear in mind the fact that they would only be helping the Congress indirectly. He said the camp of former SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra did not have any agenda and was only fighting for its personal ends. Referring to
organisational elections, the Finance Minister said there
were held last year after following proper procedure. |
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Forcible abortion case: husband, in-laws convicted HOSHIARPUR, May 5 (UNI) — A woman's husband, her father-in-law and mother-in-law and a nurse have been convicted, in a case of forcible abortion by District and Sessions Judge R.N. Gupta here. According to the prosecution, Mrs Narinder Kaur of Ahrana Khurd village near here, had alleged that her husband Surjit Singh and in-laws had forced her to abort her pregnancy on June 29, 1995. She had registered a case against her husband and others with Sadar police here. The Judge, besides Surjit Singh, has also convicted Narinder Kaur's father-in-law Harbhajan Singh, mother-in-law Gurmej Kaur and nurse Sarabjit Kaur of Jagirpur village under Sections 315/120, IPC, and sentenced each of them to two years' rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 500. Surjit Singh as also
convicted under Section 498-A and fined Rs 500. |
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Medicos decide not to pay hiked
fee AMRITSAR, May 5 — Even as the Medical Students Association has decided not to pay their hiked fee scheduled for May, the state government is under tremendous pressure to reduce the hospitalisation charges lest it should adversely affect the prospects of the ruling party in the forthcoming mid-term Lok Sabha election. A press release issued by the Medical Students Association (MSA), said that a rally was held by the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Government Medical Colleges and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in protest against hike in charges. Though the agitation
students have alleged that there was decrease in number
of patients to the tune of about 10 per cent due to hike
in hospitalisation charges from May 1, yet Dr H.S. Gill,
Medical Superintendent, has claimed that the inflow of
patients had increased instead. |
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Badal lauds local govt
authorities CHANDIGARH, May 5 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has "complimented" the Local Government authorities for improving the financial position of urban local bodies by increasing the total income to the tune of Rs 523.40 crore in 1998-99 as against an income of Rs 389.87 crore in 1997-98. This impressive increase of 34.25 per cent was on account of "efficient" civic administration and better managements of recoveries of octroi and other local taxes. An official spokesman of the Local Government said that the increase in case of municipal corporations had been 27.78 per cent while in case of municipal councils it had been 41.07 per cent, which is the highest-ever in a single year. The previous best of 19 per cent rise in a year was in 1992-93. The spokesman also said in the current year the target of income was Rs 700 crore. Effective steps were being taken to achieve the target. The Chief Minister directed the Local Government authorities to spend 90 per cent of the increase for development projects in the cities. The press note, however,
makes no mention of insanitation and unhygienic
conditions in the cities or towns or lack of civic
amenities. |
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Tribune employee succumbs to
injuries LUDHIANA, May 5 — Arun Rishi (32), a senior clerk in the Business Department of The Tribune, died here today. He was injured in a road accident near Neelon bridge, about 25 km from here, on April 28. He was under treatment at Mohan Dai Cancer Hospital here and was operated upon for the removal of blood clots in the brain. His wife, Renu Rishi and son Anshu Rishi, who were also injured in the accident and were under treatment at the same hospital, were discharged three days ago. His father, Mr K.C. Rishi, who retired from The Tribune in 1986, took his body to Chandigarh in the afternoon after a post-mortem. Arun Rishi was the last of six children. Others had died quite some time ago. His cremation in Chandigarh was largely attended. Wreaths were placed on
the body by the Deputy General Manager, Mr O.P. Arora, on
behalf of The Tribune Trust and Mr B.S. Jandu, President
of The Tribune Employees Union. |
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I.O. restrained on final
report in CHANDIGARH, May 5 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today restrained the investigating officer from filing the final report on the murder of Mrs Sneh Goyal, alias Pinki, wife of Subhas Goyal, a resident of Bathinda. Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava, who handed down this order on an application filed by Mr S.L. Gupta, a resident of Sector 18 and father of the deceased, also issued notice to Punjab's Director General of Police for May 20. Mr Gupta has questioned the change of investigating officer contrary to the directions of the High Court. In his application Mr Gupta stated that a case was registered against Subhash Goyal and one Bhinder Kumar, alias Pistol Singh, on February 22 under the High Court orders. The court had directed that investigation of the case be done by the ADGP (Crime), Punjab, and be carried out by an IPS officer under his supervision as the petitioner had expressed apprehension about the fair investigation of the case by the Bathinda police. The ADGP (Crime) had entrusted the investigation of the case to Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Crime). He got Bhinder Kumar arrested, while Subhash Goyal absconded. He also obtained warrants of arrest of the accused (Subhash Goyal) and got him declare a proclaimed offender. While the investigation
was midway the DGP changed the investigating officer
without assigning any reason. The investigation was then
given to Mr Jagdish Kumar Mittal, another AIGP (Crime).
It was this order of the DGP which was questioned by Mr
Gupta in court. |
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Children’s workshop
concludes PATIALA, May 5 — For children the buzz-word is plan for yourself and administer a learning habit, while for parents it is better not to impose career choices on children, besides shifting focus from the negative to the positive. Children as well as their parents were the focus of a unique three-day career counselling workshop which concluded here yesterday at Blossoms School in which Mr Amitabh Mohan, an expert from Human Learning System Institute, Lucknow, interacted with them. "The workshop opened our minds", children said while talking to TNS. "We never knew there were so many available opportunities with 60 possibilities being discussed". Besides this, the children were given mental exercises, including looking into their own personality, discussing strengths and weaknesses and learning to plan for the future. Mr Mohan said students ended up writing their own career plan. He added that the workshop would also help them understand themselves better. While interacting with parents, Mr Amitabh Mohan said parents should try to reinforce the positive activities of the child instead of focusing on the negative ones. He further said parents commonly suffered from a "I know" syndrome when it concerned their children and were not ready to listen to the child's views. He added that parents should not have the feeling that their children would not do well in life without getting distinction in studies. Principal Ravi B.M.
Singh said the school was starting a book club on its
premises to inculcate reading habits in children. She
also stressed that the learning process involved a
collective effort by teachers and parents for which
better coordination was being ensured. |
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PAU manages model village LUDHIANA, May 5 — In view of the deteriorating economic conditions of farmers due to decrease in size of holdings, stress will have to be laid on production of high value crops like vegetables, fruits, oilseeds and pulses instead of the rice-wheat cycle. For getting a steady and continuous income, farmers will also have to adopt subsidiary enterprises like dairy farming, poultry, bee-keeping, fishery etc. These views were expressed by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU while addressing farmers of Padherikalan village in Amritsar district. The village has been selected by the government of Punjab as a rural demonstration and training centre. Under this project farmers are imparted technical knowhow and the provision of necessary inputs and finances by the concerned agencies. The PAU is providing technical guidance while the physical facilities will be provided by the concerned departments under the overall coordination of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh. Dr Mukhtiar Singh Gill,
who is coordinating the project on behalf of PAU said
that in order to demonstrate the feasibility of
diversified farming on establishing 5 community fish
ponds, 16 modern dairy farms, one poultry unit, and 10
bee-keeping units had already been started. Besides
vegetables had been grown successfully on 150 acres
covering 100 farmers. Drip irrigation was also being
demonstrated on 5 acre land on which the vegetables like
tomato, hybrid chillies, seedless water melon, bhindi etc
were being grown. |
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Youth wing of SAD suffers
setback PHAGWARA, May 5 — The youth wing of the Tohra group today got a shot in its arm when it roped in senior leaders of the Badal group's district youth unit with Mr Rajwant Singh Jhikka as its President. Giving a setback to the Bakal faction, Mr Harbel Singh Pahwa, President, Phagwara block, Mr Avtar Singh Bhungrani and Mr Baldev Singh Pahwa, Senior Vice-Presidents, Kapurthala district, Mr Ranjit Singh Sandal, District General Secretary of the youth wing of the SAD joined the Tohra faction's youth wing. Office-bearers of
Hadiabad unit, Mr S.S. Kamboj, Mr Gurdev Singh, Mr Manjit
Singh also joined the new wing at a function addressed by
Mr Karnail Singh, President, SGPC, here. |
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Teenaged sisters gang raped FAZILKA, May 5 — Two teenaged sisters of Jodha Singh village of Jalalabad subdivision were raped by 5 persons on May 10. According to the FIR lodged at sadar police station the five persons entered their house late in the evening of May 1 when their parents had gone out harvesting wheat and the two sisters were alone. The accused gagged them and took them out to near by sugarcane fields where they were raped repeatedly until both of them fell unconscious. On regaining consciousness both sisters returned home in the early hours and narrated the incident to their parents. Following this report
was lodged with the Jalalabad police of rape and
kidnapping under Sections 376-363-506-148 and 149 IPC.
All the accused are absconding. |
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Baba's condition still critical LUDHIANA, May 5 (PTI) — The condition of Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi, President Gurmat Sidhant Pracharak Sant Samaj, continues to serious. The Baba was badly injured in a road accident near Hoshiarpur. He was taken to the local Dayananad Medical College and Hospital. On Sunday night he developed breathing problems and was shifted to the local Christian Medical College and Hospital. Since then he has been in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Dr Mohan Verghese, chief
of the Surgery Department, told PTI today that his
condition continued to be critical. He had been put on a
ventilator. |
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Punjab doctors resent UT
decision CHANDIGARH, May 5 — The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association today expressed resentment among 5000 in service doctors of the state of Punjab over the decision of the UT Administration in rejecting a panel of senior doctors (Deputy Directors) sent by the Punjab Government for filling the post of Director, Health Services-cum-Principal Medical Officer, UT Chandigarh. The post of Director, Health Services, in seniority is equivalent to that of the Deputy Director, Health Services, Punjab Government. It has been filled from among the Deputy Directors of Punjab Health department since the creation of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The current panel of Deputy Directors has been rejected on the pretext that a Senior Medical Officer of UT cadre belongs to 78 batch whereas the Punjab panel does not have any. The association said it was unjust to compare interstate seniority and post of SMO, Union Territory, with that of already promoted Deputy Directors in Punjab. The statement is signed by the association patron, Dr M.S, Randhawa, president Dr D.S. Gill, and general secretary, Dr Manjit Singh. A representation has
been sent to the Governor as well. |
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Foundation stone laid PATIALA, May 5 — Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr J S Puar laid the foundation stone of a residential complex and teaching blocks at Guru Kashi campus, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district yesterday. A university release here today said the approximate cost of residential complex would be Rs 85 lakh whereas Rs 1.5 crore would be spent on the completion of teaching blocks. It said the residential
complex would comprise 6-Q type flats for teachers. 6-E
type quarters for non-teaching employees and 6-F type
quarters for class four employees. |
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Panel formed to manage temple NABHA (Patiala), May 5 — The district administration today constituted a nine member committee to manage the Shiv Durga temple in the Punjab Public School premises which has been in the midst of controversy since the last month. A self-styled committee had taken over the management of temple after a mob demolished the boundary wall around it on April 3. The committee was
constituted today following a meeting of local leaders
and social organisations presided over by Additional
Deputy Commissioner R.S. Randhawa. The committee members
are Cabinet Minister Raja Narinder Singh, Congress
general secretary Ramesh Singla, Mr Randeep Singh. |
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