Wednesday, May 26, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, May 26, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Badal
blamed for SAD crisis |
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Mann:
withdraw hike in hospital charges Schools without teachers
Furnaces that billow prosperity Livestock development board soon Scribes threaten to begin stir An ordinary fence marks border Brar, others hail Sonia's decision 35 injured as buses collide University sought at Talwandi Sabo Alarm by child prevents theft Case against father for abetting
suicide 70 pc pear crop damaged in Patti Woman LIC official shot by robbers Two killed in accidents |
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Badal blamed for SAD crisis JALANDHAR, May 25 — A senior Akali leader of the Tohra camp, Mr Sukhjinder Singh, claimed here today that the crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal was the direct result of mishandling and mismanagement by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. At a meeting of the Tohra camp held at Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Mr Sukhjinder Singh spoke in strong terms against Mr Badal and said the SAD was formed as a result of the sacrifices of thousands of Sikhs and it was not the the "jagir" of Mr Badal or his family. Mr Sukhjinder Singh asserted that Mr Badal had used his position as President of the SAD for personal gains. Mr Badal had functioned as a dictator, he alleged. Mr Darshan Singh Thekedar vowed to put an end to the corruption indulged in by the Badal government. The next course of action by the Tohra group will be finalised at a meeting in Ludhiana on May 30. Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, a former minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, a former acting President, Mr Surjit Singh Cheema, Mr Harbans Singh Sanghpura, Mr Jagjit Singh Gabba and Mr Amrik Singh were among those who attended the meeting. PTI adds: The Tohra camp said it had placed its services at the disposal of Bhai Ranjit Singh and pledged to function in the political arena as per his instructions. "All leaders pledged to accept anyone chosen by Bhai Ranjit Singh as their leader and swore to follow any directive given by him," Mr Surjit Singh Dhesi, SGPC member and close lieutenant of Mr Tohra, told PTI following the meeting of the Tohra camp. Mr Dhesi said while Bhai Ranjit Singh had been given supreme powers to choose a new leader of the Akali Dal, the obvious choice for the top job was Mr Tohra. "Only Mr Tohra, who has decades of experience in the Akali Dal and was at the helm of the SGPC for nearly a quarter of a century, will be able to guide the destiny of the Panth at a time when Chief Minister Badal is bent on violating Sikh tenets," Mr Dhesi said. The Tohra camp got a shot in the arm with the district presidents of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Akali Dal (Democratic), Mr Jagjit Singh Gaba and Mr Gurdip Singh, respectively, joining it in pledging their services to Bhai Ranjit Singh. Mr Gaba said he resigned
from Akali Dal (Amritsar) as he believed that only Akal
Takht could give the right direction to the community. |
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SAD not averse to pact with
Pawar KHEMKARAN (Amritsar), May 25 — Even as the DGP, Mr Sarbjit Singh, has said the pro-"Khalistan" elements have been making appeals to the electorate on websites to vote for candidates who had supported "Khalistan", Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, said today there was no chance of terrorism being revived in the state. He however, did not rule out sporadic incidents. After inaugurating a 66 KV grid station at Narli village and laying the foundation stone of the new grain market at Khemkaran, Mr Badal said Punjabis were fed up with terrorists and would not support their cult of violence. In a significant statement, Mr Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal was ready to have seat adjustment with like-minded parties with a view to defeating the Congress which was "enemy number one" of Punjabis. He, however, said that such decisions would be taken only after consulting the BJP. When asked whether the SAD could have seat adjustment with the breakaway group of the Congress, Mr Badal replied in the affirmative. He said Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr Tariq Anwar and Mr P.A. Sangma had made Indians proud by questioning the candidature of Ms Sonia Gandhi for the office of Prime Minister. Mr Badal said the curtain fell on the "political drama" after the withdrawal of her resignation by Ms Sonia Gandhi as President of the Congress. He ridiculed the submission of resignation letters by four Congress Chief Ministers to Ms Sonia Gandhi. Had they been serious, they would have submitted their resignation to either the Governors concerned or the President of India. Mr Badal announced that farmers of the border belt who had their land across the border fencing would get a total of Rs 2.87 crore as compensation by the first week of next month. Mr Badal also launched
an offensive against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former
SGPC President, who in all probability will announce the
formation of a breakaway SAD in Ludhiana on May 30. |
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Promises & more promises FARIDKOT, May 25 — The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has launched its poll campaign by announcing various concessions and development schemes to seek support for Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal Union Minister of State for Industries, and son of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal who is likely to be the party nominee from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency in the ensuing mid-term Lok Sabha poll. Addressing party’s fourth poll conference at Kotkapura recently, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal declared that the flyover at the railway crossing in the town which had not been completed for the past four years would be completed soon. The foundation stone of a sugar mill would be laid at Malout on May 27 to boost the economy of the farmers in the area. Going a step further, the Union Industry Minister stated that the Punjab Government would soon release Rs 10 crore to start work on Baba Farid Health Sciences University at Faridkot. The announcement has surprised people, about the credibility of the SAD which has failed even to fulfil promises made during the last assembly and Lok Sabha election. Expressing doubts over the credentials of the SAD, Comrade Sukhinder Singh president, U.C.P.I., Punjab, Mr Joginder Singh, Senior Janata Dal leader, Mr Surinder Gupta and Mr Satish Baghi president and press secretary, DCC, respectively, and Mr Avtar Singh Brar local M.L.A. alleged yesterday that the announcements were just a poll gimmick to win over the electorate. They alleged that the foundation stone of Baba Farid Health University which was laid by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal on October 5, 1997, had made little progress. Despite 30 deaths due to
diarrhoea and jaundice about eight months ago at Faridkot
and Kotkapura, the ruling party had failed to augment the
sewerage and water supply system and improve the hygienic
conditions in these towns, although Mr Sukhbir Singh
Badal had repeatedly announced during the last Lok Sabha
poll that he would improve the conditions of the
constituency. |
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Mann: withdraw hike in
hospital charges FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 25 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, SAD (A), has threatened that if the Punjab Government does not withdraw the hike in the rates of different treatments at civil hospitals, the party will launch an agitation and file a petition in the High Court. Talking to TNS today, he said the government had deprived the middle class as well as the weaker sections of society of their rights. He said doctors would charge Rs 50 for every visit to civil hospital. Earlier it was their duty. The rates of OPD slips had been increased from Rs 2 to Rs 10. For a minor operation, Rs 500 were being charged and the admission fees in general wards had been increased to Rs 25 from Rs 5. Security had been increased to Rs 300 from Rs 50, charges for X-ray, CT scan and ultra sound had been fixed at Rs 50, Rs 1000, and Rs 200, respectively. Earlier, these tests were done free of cost. The daily diet for one time had been fixed at Rs 20, where as one could get better food outside for such an amount, he said. He alleged that the government was introducing a contract system in almost all departments and a similar system had been made in the health department. He also criticised the
government for not allowing Mr G.S. Tohra to hold
meetings at gurdwaras. He said though his party had a
difference of opinion with Mr Tohra, it was a matter of
principles and the liberty of Sikhs. He said a meeting of
office bearers of his party would be held on May 31 at
his native village, Talania, to chalk out a strategy for
the coming elections. |
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Schools without teachers GURDASPUR, May 25---Lack of infrastructure and teachers has adversely affected education in this district. The post of Deputy Education Officer has been lying vacant and of 7 posts of senior assistants, 6 are lying vacant while all 23 posts of block primary education officers are also vacant. According to official sources as many as 109 posts of head teachers out of a total of 181 and 282 posts of head teachers and 60 posts of JBT teachers are vacant. Seven primary schools are functioning without buildings and as many as 207 buildings are in need of immediate repair. The condition of secondary schools and high schools is little better. As many as 34 government senior secondary schools of a total of 74 and 30 high schools of a total of 128 are headless. Similarly there are large number of vacancies of lecturers. Official sources said that the Education Department both at the secondary and primary level had not received any grant for construction of new building and repair of old buildings for the past 2 years. Most schools have no
bathrooms affecting female teachers and girl students.
Many schools functions without boundary walls. |
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Teenager kills friend LUDHIANA, May 25 (PTI) — In a rare case of juvenile delinquency, a young boy murdered his "friend" here late last evening. District police chief Kuldip Singh said today that three young boys (schoolgoing) Gaurav (14), Bunty (16) and Ravi (12), residents of Gopal Nagar in Haibowal, were neighbours and good friends. Reportedly an altercation took place between Gaurav and Bunty some days ago on a trivial issue. Last evening as part of a thought-out plan, Bunty asked Ravi and Gaurav to go out with him for a swim in a nearby rivulet flowing past Ayali village. Bunty and Ravi on their return reportedly told the parents of Gaurav that he had been drowned in the rivulet while taking bath. They even brought his bicycle and clothes back home. The police, after a search, spotted the body and retrieved it early this morning. The district police chief said the police smelt foul play and apprehended Bunty and Ravi. During preliminary police questioning, Bunty confessed that he had killed Gaurav as he wanted to "settle old scores" with him. He said he had caught Gaurav by the hair and drowned. The police has
registered a case. |
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Furnaces that billow prosperity NURPUR BEDI (Ropar): For the past several years, charcoal making has been proving a boon for the economically backward families in this part of the district. It has brought them prosperity. In Nurpur Bedi block, there are about 180 charcoal making furnaces in villages such as Samirwal, Jhajj, Hirpur, Kalwan, Nurpur Bedi, Kahanpur Khoohi, Simble Majra, Goacher, Makari, Haripur, Karooran, Bagguwal, Rajgiri, Abiana and Garhbagaha. Charcoal making, a self-employment scheme under the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), was introduced by the District Rural Development agency (DRDA), Ropar, in 1992. The scheme is meant for the families holding yellow cards. They are given a loan of Rs 20,000. In addition to the loan a subsidy of Rs 6000 for scheduled caste card holders are given Rs 6000 and other Rs 4000 as subsidy to set up a unit of two furnaces and purchase material for making charcoal. Charcoal making has proved such a profitable business that now a number of persons in this area are coming forward to set up their own units. A unit of two furnaces yields an income of about Rs 7500 per month. According to a beneficiary of the scheme, a furnace is fed with 10 quintals wood worth Rs 600 and in return, he gets four-quintal charcoal worth Rs 2400 in 10 days. In a month, he is able to sell charcoal worth Rs 14,000 and earn about Rs 7500 after making allowance for the cost of wood and labour. Buyers, he says, come from Patiala, Ludhiana and Mandi Gobindgarh areas. Charcoal is made from the wood of kikar, mango, eucalyptus and other easily available trees in nearby forests. The charcoal makers purchase trees and waste wood from the farmers. Sometimes labour is hired to help the family in the production of charcoal. Besides Nurpur Bedi block, charcoal making has also been flourishing in Anandpur Sahib, Majri and Chamkaur Sahib areas of the district. At present, about 300 furnaces are functioning in the district. The makers of charcoal have their own problems. Some of them have to sell their product to contractors on credit who make payments after two months. Sometimes they face shortage of the right kind of helps. Besides, the furnaces remain closed for about three months during the rains. According to Mr Raj
Kumar Kapoor, Assistant Project Officer, DRDA, Ropar, the
beneficiaries are identified and motivated by gram sewaks
who help them in getting the loan. The DRDA sponsors the
cases to banks and releases the subsidy to the banks. |
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Livestock development board soon CHANDIGARH, May 25 — A livestock development board will be set up in Punjab soon. Disclosing this here today to TNS, Mr Rattan Singh, Punjab Animal Husbandry Minister, said a proposal in this connection was being prepared by the department. He said the Central Government had offered to give Rs 40 crore for improving the breed of milch cattle, especially buffaloes and cows. He added that the stress under the breed improvement project would to increase the milk yield. Mr Rattan Singh said only one state Kerala had a livestock board earlier. But the board proposed to be set up in Punjab would be different from that as its focus would be to adopt the latest techniques. He said experts from all parts of the country had been contacted by the Punjab Government to finalise its breeding policy. There would be a cold chain system in all veterinary hospitals and dispensaries to provide infrastructure for the proper keeping of medicines. There would also be a supply of frozen semen to all such institutions by mobile vans. The existing infrastructure in the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries would be upgraded. After Kaljharani another project of milch cattle had been started at Padhri village in Amritsar district. He said the Kaljharani project was a success and it had provided jobs to a number of youths. Asked whether there was a proposal to set up a veterinary university in the state, he said the proposal had been dropped for the time being. Now the emphasis would be on the setting up a livestock board, he added. Questioned about the fate of the other much-talked dairy development board Mr Rattan Singh said that the proposal had not been dropped so far but there was no progress on this front except by holding some meetings with experts in the past few months. But it appeared that the Punjab Government would ultimately drop the proposal of setting up the dairy development board. At the initial stage it turned out to be a political issue but later the Punjab Milk Vendors' Association had withdrawn its objection with regard to its setting up. The minister said
another areas about which the Punjab Government was
concerned pertained to feed and fodder. The need was to
improve the quality of feed. Under the Central Government
assisted breed improvement project, animal husbandry
experts would lay emphasis on improving the quality of
feed and fodder. |
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Scribes threaten to begin stir BATHINDA, May 25 — Activists of the Punjab Chandigarh Patarkar Parishad have threatened to launch an agitation from May 31 if the Punjab Government does not withdrew a criminal case registered against a reporter of a Punjabi daily published from Chandigarh. In a press note issued yesterday, Mr Balbir Singh Dhillon, Vice-President of the state unit of the parishad, alleged that the Mansa police which had allegedly registered the case against the reporter Balbir Singh Parmar was deliberately delaying the withdrawal of the case. He said Parmar, who belongs to Sardulgarh, was arrested by the police there and sent to jail. However, the criminal case registered against him was found to be false by the district administration and police authorities. He added that the police had so far not withdrawn the case though it had promised that Parmar would be freed from jail on May 24. He pointed out that the police authorities had moved an application in the court for withdrawing the criminal case against Parmar without having any authorisation in this regard. He added that they acted in this manner to keep Parmar in jail. Mr Dhillon said a
delegation led by him also met the Deputy Commissioner,
Mr Sanjay Kumar, for seeking justice for Parmar and he
had assured them the prompt action in this regard. |
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An ordinary fence marks
border CHANDIGARH, May 25 — Mr Jagjit Puri, Chief Executive, Punjab Energy Development Authority and Director, Information and Public Relations, Punjab, who is just back from Israel after taking part in a study course on environment management, says he was deeply impressed by the cordial relations he noticed on the international land border at Mentula checkpost separating Israel and Lebanon. Along with 23 officers from 20 countries, Mr Puri says, he went to Mentula, nearly 250 km off Tel Aviv, the commercial capital of Israel. Mentuala is an ordinary village like Wagha on the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. Whereas in Punjab the two neighbours are separated by a gate and fence, in Mentuala there exists just an ordinary fence. " There is no army, no botheration for travellers. When we visited this border village, a large number of Lebanese were entering Israel. They took barely 20 minutes to cross over." Near the gate on Israeli side, under Israel-Lebanon flags, three metal plates attract your attention. They contain the following quotation from the Bible inscribed on these metal plates in Arabic, Hebrew and English: " And they shall beat their swords into plough shares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift-up swords against nation; Neither shall they learn
war any more." |
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Brar, others hail Sonia's
decision CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The decision of Ms Sonia Gandhi, to withdraw her resignation from the presidentship of the Congress has been welcomed by the Punjab Congress party and leaders. The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has welcomed the decision of Ms Gandhi to withdraw her resignation and continue to hold the office of President of the Indian National Congress. The PPCC under the presidentship of Mr Amarinder Singh feels that her decision will galvanise the Congress. In a joint statement Mr Lal Singh, vice-president, Ms Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, Rana Gurmeet Sodhi and Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, general secretaries; Mr Brij Lal Goel, ex-vice-president, have also welcomed her decision. Mr Harcharan Singh Brar,
a former Chief Minister and his wife, Gurbrinder Kaur, a
former MP, have said in a statement that by acceding to
the popular demand of thousands of Congress workers and
leaders, Ms Sonia Gandhi had risen to the occasion to
fulfil her responsibilities to lead the party and provide
the country with a secular and stable government after
the poll. The Congress under her charismatic leadership,
was the only option for the country, the two said. |
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35 injured as buses collide MOGA, May 25 (PTI) — As many as 35 passengers of both Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus and mini-bus were injured, two of them seriously, in an accident when the buses collided head-on today, the police said. The accident took place at the Moga-Kotkapura bypass across the railway level crossing. The Bathinda-bound PRTC bus driver lost control when he was negotiating a turn and the bus collided head-on with a mini-bus coming from the opposite direction, the police said. The seriously injured
were referred to Ludhiana and the remaining admitted in a
nearby hospital and other private hospitals. A case has
been registered against the driver of the PRTC bus. |
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University sought at Talwandi Sabo BATHINDA, May 25 — Dr Surjeet Singh Bhatti, Director, Guru Kashi Regional Centre, Punjabi University, today said that main demand of residents of the district was the development of educational facilities in the region. Talking to TNS, he said at a meeting of heads of various colleges of the district, the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, was requested to make arrangements for opening up a university at Talwandi Sabo on the tercentenary occasion of birth of Khalsa. He pointed out heads of various colleges, while welcoming the appointment of Dr Ahluwalia, as Vice-Chancellor of the university, demanded that Bathinda and its surrounding areas should be developed as educational centres on a priority basis. He added that Dr
Ahluwalia had also been requested to urge the Punjab
Government to release Rs 25 lakh as grant for Guru Kashi
Regional Centre as announced by the Chief Minister, Mr
Parkash Singh Badal, about a year ago. He added that
suitable land should also be arranged by the Punjab
Government, for the building of the regional centre. |
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Alarm by child prevents theft LUDHIANA, May 25 — An alarm raised by a child foiled an attempt by a domestic servant to commit theft by administering a drug to all seven members of the family of Mr Balbir Singh, Vice-President, Guru Nanak Educational Trust, and a local industrialist here last night. According to information available today, Mr Balbir Singh, a resident of Model Town, was served dinner laced with a drug which he consumed unsuspectingly. His son, daughter-in-law and their four children were also served the same dinner. While most ate it, one of the children complained that the food tasted bitter. The servant, who had been employed only two days ago, panicked and fled. All seven members of the
family are receiving treatment in a private hospital. |
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Case against father for
abetting suicide ROPAR, May 25 — Following investigations into the reported murder of Sarmukh Singh of Mianpur village a few days ago, the local police has registered a case against the complainant Nasib Singh father of the deceased, along with his two sons, Pawittar Singh and Mohan Singh under Section 306, 201, 120-B and 34 of the IPC. Earlier, Nasib Singh had lodged a complaint with the police that his son was allegedly strangled by Sikandar Singh of Thona village and some others when he was going to irrigate his fields in Mianpur village on the night of May 20. On the basis of this complaint, the police registered a case against Sikandar Singh and others under Section 302 and 34 of the IPC. The police said here today, that during investigations it was found that Nasib Singh had lodged a false complaint against Sikandar Singh and others. They were innocent and had no hand in the death of Sarmukh Singh. On this ground, the police dropped the murder case against them and lodged a case against Nasib Singh for providing wrong information to the police. The police alleged that
during investigations, it was found that following a
quarrel with his family members Sarmukh Singh committed
suicide by hanging himself from a tree. |
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70 pc pear crop damaged in
Patti AMRITSAR, May 25 — There was more than 70 per cent loss to the pear crop (orchards) in the border town of Patti in the district which has badly affected the economy of horticulturists in the area. In Patti town itself, there are more than 2,500 acres under pear crop. The loss to the orchard is varied from 60 per cent to 80 per cent, according to official sources. The farmers said it was for the second consecutive year that their crop was damaged due to some "unknown" reasons and officials concerned had failed to take preventive measures. During the past season, there was loss to pear and peach crops. However, this time the loss was to the pear crop only. However, the government
officials claimed that the loss to pear crop this time
was due to inclement weather during winter. |
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Woman LIC official shot by
robbers AMRITSAR, May 25 — Two scooter-borne youths today shot at an LIC official (Assistant Administrative Officer) Ms Ranju Mehra (38) and took away her bag containing Rs 2.90 lakh in cash. Ms Mehra was rushed to the emergency wing of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in serious condition. According to the police, Ms Mehra was going to deposit the cash in an auto-rickshaw when she was stopped by the assailants who asked her to hand over the cash bag. On her refusal the assailants shot at. The police has cordoned off the area. In yet another incident,
three Maruti van borne youths looted Rs 1.10 lakh from a
person near the bus stop. |
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Drop cases, say rice millers PATIALA, May 25 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association today appealed to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to immediately withdraw arbitration cases initiated against rice millers by Markfed and Punsup on account of losses suffered due to the sale of paddy crop of the 1994-95 season. In a statement here, association president Tarsem Saini said though the Chief Minister had repeatedly assured them that the arbitration cases would be withdrawn, this was not done. He also appealed to the
Chief Minister to intervene with the Centre to ensure
movement of rice so as to accommodate rice from the paddy
stock of 1998-99. |
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Bhai Ranjit is supreme, says Tohra JALANDHAR, May 25 (PTI) — Ousted SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who plans to form a new political party next Sunday, pledged the services of his faction to Bhai Ranjit Singh, saying the latter was best placed to guide the destiny of the Panth. "Our services are at the disposal of Bhai Ranjit Singh, whom we consider the Jathedar of Akal Takht. I am prepared to play whatever role he gives me in the new party to be formed," Mr Tohra told reporters here. He said Bhai Ranjit Singh was the "supreme leader" for whom there was "no line dividing religion and politics." He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was guilty of violating the maryada of Akal Takht. "As far as we are
concerned, Badal is as good as excommunicated from the
Panth since he has turned away from Akal Takht. Any Sikh
who turns away from this supreme Takht cannot be a part
of the Panth," Mr Tohra said. |
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Regiment ex-officers plan meeting CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Punjab Regiment Ex-Officers Association will organise a former officers annual meeting at Jalandhar Cantonment on May 29. According to Col J.M.S.
Hattar, secretary of the association, Lt Gen J S Aurora,
a former Colonel of the Regiment, who is also known as
the liberator of Bangladesh, will also be present.
Retired officers of the regiment should contact the
Commanding Officer of the Laungewala Battalion for
confirming their attendance. |
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Indefinite fast by Punjab RMPs CHANDIGARH, May 25 — Members of the Punjab Medical Practitioners Association today started an indefinite fast to protest against the non- acceptance of their demands by the Punjab Government and criticised the cane charge on them yesterday by the local police. According to Dr Surjit
Singh, president of the association, every day registered
medical practitioners from a particular district would
sit on the fast. |
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Check declining watertable:
expert LUDHIANA, May 25 — In case immediate remedial measures are not taken to check the declining water table in the state, the state will not be in a position to sustain even the present level of production. This was stated by Dr S.D. Khepar, National Professor and former Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, PAU, during a lecture delivered at the Institute of Engineers (Ludhiana Chapter). An integrated approach to control the declining watertable would be to reduce ground water draft and increase ground water recharge. Research had revealed that the ground water draft could be reduced by decreasing irrigation requirements of crops through crop diversification, avoiding early transplantation of paddy, minimising the gap between demand and supply of canal water and recycling of waste waters. A network of surface drains using surplus canal water was a must, besides percolation tanks, water harvesting structures and watershed management in the kandi region. Surplus water from
rivers and streams should be diverted to the declining
water table areas and recharged through basins, wells,
shafts and pits Dr Khepar explained. |
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Eye bank opened at Faridkot
hospital FARIDKOT, May 25 — The District Health Department in collaboration with the Bharat Vikas Parishad and financially assisted by the Central Government has set up an eye bank at the local Government Medical College and Hospital with the objective that no person be left blind for want of cornea. It will cover the entire area of Bathinda, Ferozepore, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot districts. To monitor the plan, ophthalmic technicians and other staff have been engaged, besides acquiring the necessary equipment. According to Mr Gurinder
Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, and Mr Lalit Mohan
Gupta, Chairman of the voluntary organisation, special
teams have been deployed to propagate the scheme
effectively by identifying blind persons and registering
eye donors. Eye collection centres are being opened in
Bagha Purana, Moga, Talwandi, Fazilka, Ferozepore,
Jalalabad, Guruharsahai, Muktsar, Kotkapura, Jaitu,
Gidderbaha and Malout. Two such eye banks are also
functioning at Amritsar and Patiala. |
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Two killed in accidents FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 25 (UNI) — Two persons were killed and two others, including a minor girl, injured in separate accidents today. Ashok Kumar was killed when a vehicle hit his scooter at Madhopur chowk near Sirhind. Malkiat Singh was also killed in a similar accident near the Court Complex here. Mohinder, a migrant labourer, was seriously injured after a fall from a running train, near Sadhugarh. 10 km from here. He has been admitted to Civil Hospital here with serious head injuries. Manpreet Kaur (4), a
student of Mata Sundri High School was injured when a
scooter hit her. She suffered severe head injuries and
has been admitted to the Civil Hospital. |
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Three arrested on robbery
charge HOSHIARPUR, May 25 — The district police has arrested Subeg Singh of Mannan village and Jaswinder Kumar, a resident of Pur Hiran, in connection with robbing Rs 5000, on pistol point, from Rajesh Sud, resident of Krishan Nagar and injuring him with their accomplice Balwinder Singh alias Bittu of Falahi on May 18. In a press release today the SSP, Mr R.P. Mittal, said Balwinder was arrested on May 20. During interrogation it was found that Subeg Singh was the brain behind the looting. The police had recovered
the looted amount and the pistol from the accused. |
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Pensioners resent change in policy JALANDHAR, May 25 — A government notification of the Pension Department dated April 23, 1999, has taken one month to reach the pension disbursing offices in the region. This has delayed the payment of enhanced dearness relief of 32 per cent to 33 lakh central government pensioners and family pensioners. According to para VIII of the notification, the government has decided to "dispense with the issue of enclosing ready reckoner along with the dearness relief orders". The notification further says: "It will now be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authority, including the nationalised banks etc. to calculate the quantum of dearness relief payable in each individual case." This change in the
policy, has put pensioners to inconvenience. Several
pensioners' organisations have criticised the govt move. |
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