Friday, May 14, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, May 14, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Vajpayee
calls for debate Pensioners' team meets Vajpayee |
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Contempt
notice to Minister, Chief Secy Punjab accepts PCMS demands BJP not to change candidates Pursuit of glamour lands them in
lock-up
PSEB stenos 'denied benefits' PPS officers want parity with PCS Fine on Principal Secy: Judge
recalls order Dal (Amritsar) to contest all
seats
Badal
pleads for rural students Rs 2,500 cr set as savings target Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan for Ropar Medical students stage dharna |
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PM of foreign origin JALANDHAR, May 13 — In a veiled attack on the Congress President, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, said a "debate be initiated" on effecting a Constitution amendment, to stall persons of foreigin orign becoming executive head of the country. Interacting with Editors of Jalandhar-based newspapers, here yesterday said that, after the mid-term elections, Parliament should deliberate on this amendment. However, he clarified that at present the Constitution did not bar, anyone from becoming Prime Minister. To a question whether he would make the foreign origin of Ms Sonia Gandhi, a poll plank he said, "Personally, this will not be issue during campaigning, although if any party or individual raised this issue, it would be their prerogative and democratic right under the Constitution. Meanwhile, he said his party would appeal to the electorate that the BJP, be given another chance to complete the pending work and fulfil the promise of providing a better future to the nation. The Prime Minister, when asked on the nations stand on NATO bombings on Kosova said air strikes against Yugoslavia were arbitrary. To a question by the Managing Editor of Ajit and Rajya Sabha MP Mr Barjinder Singh, on the launching of Agni II and its ramifications on the Indo-Pak relations, the Prime Minister said: "We exchange appropriate information on our missile programme. There is no question of strained relations between the two nations." When asked by a Editor, "if the BJP would support the former Prime Minister, Mr I.K. Gujral for his candidature from Jalandhar, he said it was yet not clear whether he would contest or not. The Editors who
participated in the interaction included Mr Vijay Chopra,
Managing Editor of the Hind Samachar Group of Newspapers
Mr Barjinder Singh of Ajit, Mr Erwin Khanna of Uttam
Hindu, Mr Jagjit Singh Dardi of Chardi Kala, Mr H.S.
Sodhi of Akali Patrika and Mr Virinder Sharma of Aaj Ka
Jalandhar. |
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Pensioners' team meets Vajpayee JALANDHAR, May 13 — A four-member delegation of the All-India Central Government Pensioners Association (North Zone) comprising Mr H.S. Bawa, Mr D.N. Bajaj, Mr O.P. Saini and Mr V.S. Jolly met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, here yesterday and submitted to him a memorandum of demands based on the recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission. The deputation demanded
pensioners' representation in Parliament and immediate
implementation of those recommendations of the pay panel
which did not involve any financial burden on the Union
Government. |
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Candidates' selection LUDHIANA, May 13 — Claims by the leadership of complete cohesion and unity in the party notwithstanding, a cold war is on in the Punjab Congress over the selection of candidates for the parliamentary elections. Punjab has 13 seats in the Lok Sabha. The Congress failed to win any of the seats in the parliamentary poll held in February,1998. This time, the Congress hopes to put in a much better performance, thanks to a variety of factors, not the least of which is the intense infighting in the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal. Hence, the scramble among Congressmen in all 13 parliamentary constituencies to secure the party ticket. The occasion is also being utilised to push unwilling party leaders to contest the poll. The PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, has indicated that he will prefer not to contest the elections so as to keep himself free for campaigning for other candidates in the state. But his detractors in the party say that he must contest the poll from Patiala because he is a sure winner from there this time. In the last elections, he lost by about 18,000 votes to Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra of the Akali Dal. This time, the situation is different because Mr Chandumajra, who has aligned with the former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, may soon find himself out of the Akali Dal. So with the Akali Dal in disarray, there is no reason why Capt Amarinder Singh will not win. The PCC chief has, however, floated the name of his wife, Ms Parneet Kaur, pouring cold water on the hopes of several other ticket aspirants, including Mr Brahm Mohindra, Mr Surinder Singla, Mr Sant Ram Singla and Mr Birdevinder Singh, to name only a few. All of them have reportedly begun to lobby against Ms Parneet Kaur in their own way. It is being pointed out that the move runs counter to the resolution adopted at Pachmarhi forbidding "nepotism" in the allotment of the party ticket. The PCC chief has also reportedly indicated that he would want his predecessor and the former Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, to contest from the Sangrur constituency. The seat is held by the Union Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, and indications are that it will be a tough contest. Informed sources in the Congress allege that Capt Amarinder Singh wants to push an unwilling Ms Bhattal into a contest which she may not win in order to further humiliate her. Not to be outdone, Ms Bhattal has reportedly said that the assembly constituency of Lehragaga, which she represents, forms part of Patiala and not the Sangrur constituency. Therefore, if the party wants her to contest the parliamentary elections, she should be put up from Patiala. Other candidates for the Sangrur constituency include Mr Arvind Khanna, a party office-bearer, and Mr Kewal Dhillon, an industrial magnate. The Congress candidates for Amritsar (Mr Raghunandan Lal Bhatia) and Gurdaspur (Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder) are more or less settled. In Ferozepore, the party may adopt someone from the Bal Ram Jakhar family although several others, includi ng Mr Mohinder Singh Gill and Mr Varinder Kataria are also in the race. In Hoshiarpur, the party may field Ms Ambika Soni, while Ms Santosh Chaudhary is certain to be fielded in Phillaur. In Faridkot, the party choice may finally fall on Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar while Jalandhar has several contenders, including Mr Umrao Singh, Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Iqbal Singh. As regards Ludhiana, Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib and Ms Gurkanwal Kaur, daughter of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh, are among those in the run for the ticket. The ticket aspirants for Tarn Taran include a fomer Punjab Minister, Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, and a former Punjab Youth Congress Chief, Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa. There are reports that a former Congress MP, Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, is also trying to rejoin the Congress to contest the poll from there. The Congress is still in
the process of tying up its poll arrangements with other
parties. If it reaches an electoral alliance with parties
like the BSP, the CPI and the CPM, it may well have to
sacrifice seats like Ropar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur and
Phillaur. |
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Contempt notice to Minister,
Chief Secy CHANDIGARH, May 13 — Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to show cause against Punjab Public Relations Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Chief Secretary R.S. Maan, Health Secretary G.P.S. Sahi, on a contempt petition, for alleged wilful disobedience of High Court orders by allowing self-styled doctors and quacks to practice. The contempt petition was filed by Dr Inderjit Singh, president of the Ludhiana Medical Welfare Association. The petitioner submitted that on a writ petition the High Court vide its orders of November 4, 1997 and October 13, 1998, a civil writ petition directed the states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh to take action against quacks under Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. But the respondents had not taken steps to comply with the directions of the court and these self-styled doctors were still practising. It was further alleged that the respondents, who were aware of the orders, deliberately chose not to implement them. Owing to the pressure of vested interests operating in the state of Punjab, the unqualified licence quacks had been allowed to play havoc with the lives of the people at large. This action of the respondents was intentional and deliberate, the petitioner contended. The contempt notice has
been issued for July 22. |
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Punjab accepts PCMS demands CHANDIGARH, May 13 — The Punjab Government has accepted all major demands of the PCMS Association at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Punjab Bhavan here today. Dr M.S. Randhawa, Dr D.S. Gill and Dr Manjit Singh, Patron, President and general secretary, respectively, of the PCMSA in a joint statement while welcoming the decision said with this decision injustice done to Punjab doctors for the past 10 years had been undone. The meeting was also attended by the Health Minister Mr Manoranjan Kalia, and officers concerned. The government agreed to implement forthwith the recommendations of Fourth Pay Commission in totality regarding time scale promotion after 4, 9 and 14 years of service, conveyance allowance, academic allowance and higher qualification allowance to the PCMS doctors. Dr J.S. Gill, state press secretary, said the government also agreed to favourably decide the grant of one additional increment and designation of Deputy Civil Surgeon to Senior Medical Officers working on administrative posts. Regarding considering of non-practicing allowance as part of the pay for all intents and purposes and for giving the NPA on revised rates from 1.1.1996, the government decided to hold another meeting with the association soon. The Chief Minister expressed concern over deterioration in rural medicare and over absenteeism of doctors and other health staff in rural areas. He invited suggestions from the association to improve the rural medicare. The association while
suggesting some practical steps to improve the working
condition of rural doctors assured the Chief Minister
that the PCMS doctors would leave no stone unturned to
bring perceptible improvement in rural health care within
three months. |
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BJP not to change candidates
AMRITSAR, May 13 — State BJP chief Daya Singh Sodhi has claimed that the party high command has decided to allot Lok Sabha seats to the sitting MPs from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Talking to TNS, Mr Sodhi said there was no truth in the propaganda that the BJP was going to change its candidates in Punjab. While Mr Sodhi had won the Lok Sabha poll from Amritsar, cine star Vinod Khanna and Mr Kamal Choudhary were declared elected from Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, respectively, during the previous parliamentary elections. In yet another significant development, Mr Sodhi said his party would ask the Shiromani Akal Dal to allot the Jalandhar seat to the BJP. He claimed the BJP had a strong base in the Jalandhar constituency. Mr Sodhi said the SAD had made a "blunder" in the previous Lok Sabha elections by accommodating Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, a former Prime Minister, in the Jalandhar constituency. He said had the SAD not accommodated Mr Gujral, the Vajpayee government would have won the confidence vote. When asked what the reaction of the BJP would be if the SAD refused to oblige his party by allotting the Jalandhar seat, Mr Sodhi said: "We won't mind". The SAD was a political ally of the BJP and the alliance was permanent, he said. To a question, he claimed that the BJP would repeat its previous Lok Sabha performance in Punjab. Mr Sodhi, however, agreed that the ongoing feud of the Akalis might have "some effect" on certain constituencies in Punjab. However, the electorate would vote for the BJP-SAD candidates in a big way, he observed. Mr Sodhi said there was
no division in the party's rank and file. However, minor
differences, if any, would be sorted out shortly. |
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Pursuit of glamour lands them in lock-up AMRITSAR, May 13 (UNI) — The glamour of fashion shows and beauty contests has landed three youngsters in police custody on the charge of murdering a local jeweller, while their fourth accomplice, the brain behind organising "catwalks" to promote his fashion journal, has absconded. The arrested youths, identified as Ravinder Singh alias Lali, Gurvinder Singh Joga and Munishi Kumar Manu, all residents of Gopal Nagar area confessed that their accomplice, Satwinder Singh alias Kalsi had lured them into organising "catwalks" to rub shoulders with young female models. "Orbit Glamour Contest" were to be organised for promoting a Jalandhar-based monthly fashion magazine "Orbital". The three confessed that after having failed in collecting funds for their shows, they along with Kalsi decided to collect money through extortions. They confessed before the police that their first target was jeweller Satish Kumar, who was known to one of them. On March 8 they waylaid him while he was returning home after closing his establishment near Tunda Talab in Shakti Nagar locality of the walled city. After robbing him of gold ornaments and jewellery, they stabbed him to death. The police claimed that
on the basis of certain clues collected from the site and
investigations eventually led to the arrest of the three
youths. |
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Egg as big as cricket ball RAJPURA, May 13 — Was a hen that laid an egg of the size of a cricket ball weighing 178 gm inspired by the World Cup? Mr Rajan Mittal of Punjab Breeders claims he has this "freak egg" laid at his poultry farm here a couple of days ago. "I have been in the poultry business since 1973 but never seen such an egg before. Until 1996, I was in the Middle-East working in the poultry industry. In 1996, I started this breeding farm here. "One often hears of double yolk eggs but not an egg of the size of a cricket or hockey ball and weighing almost three times than the normal egg. The normal weight of an egg is between 52 gm and 65 gm. Rarely, one finds an egg weighing around 100 gm. The rarest of the rare eggs do not weigh more than 120 gm," explains Mr Mittal. He claims that he has talked to some of the country's top poultry experts. Even for them it is "unbelievable. I have talked to Dr Srivasatava of Venkatesh hatcheries, the biggest hatchery in the country, and also to Mr Keith Rosario of IPF, Bangalore. Both want to see the egg to believe it." A visiting Tribune team was shown the egg laid by a normal "avin" breeding hen. The "freak egg" is expected to be "multi-yolked egg". The normal shelf life of an egg is 15 days. "But since I want to write to the Guinness Book of World Records about my 'rare possession', I may go for waxing of the egg so as to preserve it in a museum. Once an egg is waxed, its colour, shape, size and weight remain unchanged," he says. Poulty experts to whom Mr Mittal has talked are perplexed by the phenomenon. "They do not know
whether it is because of high technology or exceptional
nutrition or because of the climate. Except for its giant
size and weight, it is like any other egg. We do not
hatch the eggs which weigh beyond 65 gm," says Mr
Mittal. |
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PSEB stenos 'denied benefits' BATHINDA, May 13 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Stenographers Union today alleged that the authorities had denied certain benefits to stenographers on "unjustified" grounds for the past many months. In a press note issued here, Mr M.P. Jain, Senior vice-president of the union, alleged that the PSEB had been denying promotional scales to stenographers after five, nine and 16 years of service. He pointed out that a stenographer, who was recruited in 1985, got her first increment after a decade when she won a case against the PSEB in a civil court. But she was being denied subsequent scale on the pertext that she had not qualified the Punjabi stenography test. Mr Jain further pointed out that the authorities were trying to impose service conditions on stenographers laid down by the board after their recruitment. Mr D.P. Ghambir, Chief Engineer, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, when contacted, said the PSEB authorities had laid down certain conditions for awarding special pay scales to the stenographers. The stenographers could get these only after fulfilling these conditions. He pointed out that he
had referred the case to the finance wing of the PSEB
which refused to entertain it. Due to inbuilt conditions
in the implementation of the new pay scales, the
stenographers could not get these without fulfilling the
conditions, he explained . |
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PPS officers want parity
with PCS FATEHGARH SAHIB: Our neighbouring country is trying its best to revive militancy in the state. The police is getting regular intelligence reports in this regard so it is the duty of the force to remain vigilant to face the challenge and to make all-out efforts to maintain peace and harmony in the state. The police officers should perform their duty efficiently and energetically, said Mr Sarabjit Singh, Director General of Police, Punjab while addressing a meeting of Punjab Police Services Association here. He said it was also the moral duty of all of us to boost the morale of the police, because it had to perform a very difficult task and had suffered a heavy loss of life and property in the past. Earlier, Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SSP, and President of the PPS Officers, Association highlighted the various problems being faced by the police officers. He demanded that the interests of all those police officers facing writ petitions, enquiries and investigations in the High Court and the CBI should be looked after as whatever they did was in the interest of the nation. Demanded parity between PCS and PPS officers, he said: A PCS officer is promoted Deputy Secretary after completion of eight years of service and even if PCS officer is not promoted to the I.A.S. He is promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary after completion of 12 years of service. Likewise a PPS officer should also be elevated to rank of DIG after completion of 12 years of service even if he is not inducted into the I.P.S. The PPS officers should be given selection grade after 10 years of service. The PPS officers should be posted against ex-cadre posts as PCS officers are posted like DTO, G.M., Roadways A.E.T.C. etc. The time-grade scale of four, nine and 14 years should be given as per the recommendation of the 4th pay commission. The rank of superintendent Police should be sanctioned and 156 posts of SP be notified as the Chief Minister also declared in the Assembly on June 30 that the rank of SP will be confirmed". The association also demanded that the ratio of PPS officers nominated to the IPS should be 50:50 instead of 67:33. All the para-military officers posted in the state should be repatriated to their parent units so that PPS officers could be posted on these posts. All the PPS officers should be provided the basic facilities like government houses, vehicles and telephones. Besides these demands the Association urged the DGP to implement all those demands already conceded. Mr Sarabjit Singh, DGP, assured the union that all their genuine problems would be sorted out at police as well as government level. He called upon the officers to work dedicatedly and to maintain the high traditions of Punjab Police. He said the force should be ready to face any challenge from antisocial elements. Mr R.S. Gill, I.G., Zonal, Mr Sanjeev Gupta DIG, Patiala Range, Mr Harinder Chahal, Narinder Bhargav, Gurkirpal Singh SP, Mohinder Singh Chahal, all members, also addressed the gathering. Later while talking to
the media persons, the DGP said due to the alertness of
the police RDX and bombs were being recovered and the
continuous raids on hideouts had forced the militants to
surrender. He said throughout the state Nakas would be
erected only where needed and it would be headed by an
NGO. |
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Fine on Principal Secy: Judge
recalls order CHANDIGARH, May 13 — Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today recalled his May 10 order imposing a fine of Rs 1000 on Mr Bikramjit Singh, Punjab's Principal Secretary, for issuing an order giving current duty charge to seven superintending Engineers of the post of Chief Engineer, in violation of the High Court orders of November 11,1998. The Judge in view of the submission made by the Advocate-General directed that the amount ( Rs 1000), which had already been paid, should be treated as his contribution to the legal aid fund. The fine was imposed for alleged contempt of the High Court by "cleverly using the word 'current duty charge' instead of the word 'promoted' in his order of April 27, the intention of the government being to promote them to the post of the Chief Engineer". In the application moved by the state, it was emphasised that Mr Bikramjit Singh had the greatest regard for court orders and that he had already tendered an unqualified apology. The Judge observed that
the order was immediately withdrawn by the respondent on
May 10, and it had been assured that such a thing would
not be repeated. He then recalled the earlier order. |
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Dal (Amritsar) to contest all seats FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 13 (UNI) — Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjeet Singh Mann said that his party would contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Talking to UNI here on Tuesday, he said that his party was, however, ready to have an alliance with like minded parties, except the BJP and the Congress for coming Lok Sabha poll. Predicting a hung-parliament again after the September-October Lok Sabha poll, he said neither the BJP nor the Congress would be able to get a majority and again regional parties would play an important role in the formation of the government at the Centre. He said his party was deadly against a two party system government in the country, as minorities would be completely ignored in it. He alleged that the BJP had been trying to establish a "Hindu rashtra". He said that formation of the gurdwara committee in Pakistan to manage Sikh shrines there was a positive step to free it from the clutches of intelligence agencies. Mr Mann assailed Punjab
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC chief Bibi
Jagir Kaur for their statements that pilgrims would not
be sent to Pakistan in protest against the formation of
the gurdwara committee in that country. |
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Tohra, Thekedar invited to SAD
meeting CHANDIGARH, May 13 — Invitation letters have been sent to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Surjan Singh Thekedar to attend the meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (APC) of the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The meeting is to be held here at Punjab Bhavan tomorrow at 5 p.m. Earlier in the morning a baptism ceremony will be held at Anandpur Sahib where all senior Akali leaders, including the Chief Minister, will participate. Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, Secretary of the SAD, told TNS here today that as Mr Tohra and Mr Thekedar were members of the PAC so far, they had been invited to attend the meeting. The agenda of the meeting is to discuss the latest political developments in the country and in the state and coming Lok Sabha elections. There are 12 members of the PAC. There is also the possibility that the PAC may decide to call a delegate session of the SAD to repose faith in the leadership of Mr Badal as head of the SAD. It may be recalled that the Tohra camp has already started making statements that Mr Badal would be removed from the presidentship of the SAD. The issue of violation
of party discipline by certain senior leaders is also
expected to be taken up at the meeting. |
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Demand to set up development
authority AMRITSAR, May 13 — The Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) has demanded the setting up of an Amritsar development authority (ADA) on the pattern of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation and observation of 2000 AD as "Amritsar year" for the overall development of this holy city. In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the manch general secretary, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, said all worthwhile projects, whether state or central, had been deliberately kept away from "Guru ki Nagri". He said political heavyweights of the Akalis and the Congress had been drawing their strength and inspiration from the Golden Temple, but the moment they attained power, they changed their priorities. Not long ago, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab, promised to set up the ADA. Recently, Mr Badal had declared that Rs 50 crore would be spent on Amritsar before the tercentenary celebrations, but this had not been done. The manch secretary
lamented that Amritsar had become a city of slums with no
master plan. Heaps of garbage had become a defining
feature of the city. |
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Illumination now till May 31 ROPAR, May 13 — The Punjab Government has allowed illumination of gurdwaras, houses and main roads at Anandpur Sahib till May 31. Mr K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, said on the demand of the public and in view of the heavy rush of pilgrims to the city, he had made a request to the Punjab Government to extend the illumination period. Mr Sidhu said he had today received a fax message from the Punjab Chief Secretary regarding the extension of illumination period up to May 31. Besides the illumination
of four historic gurdwaras — Takht Sri Kesgarh
Sahib, Sri Anandgarh Sahib,Sees Ganj Sahib and Mata Jito
Ji at a cost of Rs 1.24 crore, the entire town has been
lit up. |
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Plea to extend illumination CHANDIGARH, May 13 — Mr Hardam Singh Gill, a member of the SGPC, has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to extend the illumination of Anandpur Sahib till July-end. He said most people from Haryana and other states wanted to come to Anandpur Sahib in June and July as schools would remain closed for summer vacation in these months and it would be possible for them to come along with their families. The illumination of
Anandpur Sahib is scheduled to end on May 15. |
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Badal pleads for rural
students CHANDIGARH, May 13 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, while presiding over a meeting of the Board of Governors of Sri Dasmesh Academy, Anandpur Sahib, here today urged the management of the academy to evolve a system through which students with rural background could be given quality education. The Chief Minister said nearly 75 per cent people lived in villages where proper education facilities were not available and the rural youth could not compete for various professional courses. He was surprised to know that not a single student passing from rural education institutions could get admission in Punjab Agriculture University courses in past years. He directed the Health
Department to set up a hospital in the premises of the
academy to provide health cover to students and also
ordered the release of Rs 20 lakh for setting up a
swimming pool there. |
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Rs 2,500 cr set as savings
target FARIDKOT, May 13 — The Punjab Government has fixed a target of Rs 2,500 crore under small saving schemes during the current financial year. To achieve this objective, panchayat sewa dak ghars would be opened in rural areas. Priority would be given to women in appointing agents under the scheme, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, while presiding over a states level Small saving function here today. Last year, an amount of Rs 2049.89 crore was collected against the target of Rs 1200 crore exceeding the target by 41.61 per cent over the target. The minister said 75 per cent of the net collection was diverted to soft- term loans returnable in 25 years. He said Punjab remained
at the top in the country in small savings collections
for the past seven years. |
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Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan for
Ropar ROPAR, May 13 — The Punjab Government has decided to construct a Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan, dedicated to the Khalsa tercentenary celebrations, at a cost of Rs 1 crore here. Mr K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, said here today that apart from Guru Gobind Singh Bhavan, the state government had also planned to construct a youth hostel at a cost of Rs 60 lakh at Anandpur Sahib. Land for the purpose had already been acquired. He claimed that the
construction work at the local Ranjit Singh Bagh would be
completed before the next death anniversary of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh. |
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Medical students stage dharna PATIALA, May 13 — Students of Government Medical and Dental College, here held a dharna at Rajindra Hospital in continuation of their struggle against the hike in medical and educational expenses. The students, numbering more than 400, boycotted classes and observed a token for an hour. Patients and there relatives also supported the dharna. The Medicos' Action
Committee has called upon all sections of society to join
the stir. |
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Three killed in road accident ABOHAR, May 13 — Three persons well killed when their car dashed against a tree near Rupana village on the Abohar-Muktsar road yesterday. Sources said Ravinder Kumar Bansal was returning to Muktsar along with his family members after attending a function at his relative place at Sriganganagar while trying to save a child be lost control of the car which hit tree Ravinder Kumar was
injured while his mother died on the spot. Two more
occupants reportedly died on way to hospital.
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Meeting called on Dal demand CHANDIGARH, May 13
— The Punjab Raj Mulajam Dal (secretariat wing)
headed by Mr Dal Singh Sandhu in a statement here today
said the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh,
has called a meeting of Dal representative on May 19 to
discuss the house rent issue . The Dal is demanding a
decrease in house rent to 2 per cent from the existing 10
per cent in case of employees allotted houses from the
Punjab quota in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. It
also wanted the release of an instalment of DA and
special allowance to senior assitants and clerks working
in the secretariat. |
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Sales tax on gold jewellery is
2 p.c. CHANDIGARH, May 13
— The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh,
said here today that the sales tax on gold jewellery was
to be retained at 2 per cent. |
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Cong worker alleges police
torture SANGRUR, May 13 — Resentment prevails among Congress workers of the Sunam area over the alleged torture of a Party worker by the police. Jagpal Singh, an ex-serviceman and a Congress worker of Fatehgarh village, alleged before Capt Amarinder Singh, President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, that he was first tortured by the SHO Lehra sometimes ago and later by Mr Vijay Kumar ASI posted at Daska police post. Jagpal Singh has a property dispute with his brothers. Jagpal Singh further alleged that fearing danger to his life he and his family members had left the village. A large number of Congress workers of the Sunam area led by Mr Bhagwan Dass Arora, Congress MLA met Capt Amarinder Singh here yesterday in this regard. Capt Amarinder Singh later visited Fatehgarh village. Talking to mediapersons in the village the PPCC chief termed the incident as unfortunate. The Sangrur district
police chief has assured protection to the life and
property of Jagpal Singh. |
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Solidarity march by residents LUDHIANA, May 13 — Residents of urban estate, Dugri, organised a march here today to show solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved family of nine-year-old Harman, who has kidnapped and later killed by three teenagers of the same locality. The march was led by Ms Harpreet Kaur, councillor of the area and Mr B.R. Kaushal, chief patron, Urban Estate Residents' Welfare Society. The residents of the
area have also formed an 11-member action committee to
oversee and monitor the progress of the court case
against the three accused. |
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Cholera case up in Ludhiana LUDHIANA, May 13 — The Community Health Department of Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, has expressed concern over the growing cases of cholera, gastro-enteritis, jaundice, typhoid and heatstroke in the city. According to Dr (Mrs)
Prema Zachariah of CMC and Hospital, the fast-expanding
slums and other satellite colonies around the city are
especially disease-prone due to insanitary conditions. |
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Asstt Registrar arrested JALANDHAR, May 13 —
The Vigilance Bureau has arrested Mr Karnail Singh,
Assistant Registrar, PCS-II, Co-Operative Societies,
Nawanshahr for allegedly accepting Rs 5,000 from Mr Tara
Singh yesterday. This was stated by Mr P.S. Bajwa SP
police, Vigilance Bureau, here today. A case has been
registered against the accused, he said. |
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Reschedule exams, demand students PATIALA, May 13 — Students of B.Sc (Final) of Punjabi University today demanded rescheduling of the general Punjabi examination scheduled for May 27 and practical examinations on June 8 and 9 as these clashed with the dates of two entrance tests for postgraduate courses. While the Punjabi paper clashed with the entrance test for Master Of Computer Application (MCA) and Bachelor's in Journalism courses of Shimla University, the dates of practical examinations clashed with the MCA entrance test of Panjab University, Chandigarh, scheduled for June 8. The students said they would also miss the entrance test for Computer Applications by INU scheduled for May 14. They said due to repeated postponement of examinations, a majority of final-year graduation students had lost the opportunity to appear for the Combined Defence Services examination held on May 6. The students have
appealed to the university to change the clashing
examination dates for the benefit of students. |
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Shiv Sena flays SAD PHILLAUR, May 13 — The Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena president, Mr Surinder Dogra, the general secretary, Mr Pawan Prabhakar, and the press secretary, Mr Jagdish Kataria, have announced that the sena would not participate in the coming elections Talking to reporters here today, the leaders said the party would support only those candidates who were determined to raise voice against corruption and unemployment. They denied the reports that the Sena would support the SAD-BJP alliance. They alleged that the Akalis were responsible for black days in Punjab. Meanwhile, the Punjab Hindu Shiv Sena patron, Mr Pushpinder Swaroop, has reconstituted the state unit. Mr Surinder Dogra, announced here today that Mr Sanjeev Kant (Hoshiarpur) has been appointed acting president while Mr Ravinder Arora (Ludhiana) appointed vice-president. The other office-bearers
of the unit are: general secretary — Mr Pawan
Prabhakar; assistant secretaries — Mr Varinder Bajaj
(Chandigarh), Mr Pawan Sharma (Ludhiana) and Mr Anil
Bitta (Amritsar); and cashier — Mr Ashok Kakkar
(Ludhiana). |
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