Wednesday, November 3, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, November 3, 1999 |
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A trying
period for Badal SGPC stops aid to orphanage |
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Decision
on SGPC chief on Nov 6: Badal Kanwaljit for more fiscal autonomy
Fiscal emergency plea dismissed Govt colleges sans principals Rise in diesel, LPG prices flayed PDS sugar quota to be raised
Probe soon against Giani Kewal
Singh SGPC’s volte face on jatha to
Pakistan New DC takes charge Plea to affiliate PGPC with SGPC ‘Wrong’ policies caused
price rise: Parneet Cong MPs to seek aid for Punjab |
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A trying period for Badal CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is sharpening all his skills to meet the challenge thrown up by the political and fiscal crises. "This is his worst time and he is trying hard to make it as his best time," his supporters assert. At one level Mr Badal is openly offering positions of power and influence to whosoever from among the Akali legislators meets him. There are seven vacancies available in the ministry. Five ministers belonging to the Tohra group had quit and two other vacancies fell as Bibi Jagir Kaur had to leave to take over the presidentship of the SGPC. Another minister had died. In some way he is offering chairman positions of boards and corporations. But not many are vacant. In fact, just four to five could be accommodated. This would still leave more than half of the 74 Akali MLAs without any position of power. Also, the BJP would surely press its claim to have at least two of the seven vacant places. And in case Mr Badal goes in for a larger ministry , the BJP would surely seek a better share. And given the present weak position of Mr Badal, he may not be able to resist the coalition party. And a larger ministry would invite criticism as the state is virtually living from hand to mouth. Mr Badal has always been sensitive to such public criticism. Those analysts who had watched his previous two unfinished terms say that the task would be difficult. But Mr Badal is confident of steering clear of this. He feels that not every MLA is desperate to get a ministerial berth, though most desire to become ministers. He would, therefore, depend upon their largeness of heart. His detractors, including former Speaker, Ravi Inder Singh, and his main rival, the former SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, swear that once the cabinet expansion is over, it would be easy to corner the Chief Minister. The real fight would begin only then, they assert. They are, indeed, right now sharpening their knives. To meet the other more serious crisis of empty coffers, Mr Badal has tried to work out some way. One, he has, despite criticism levied those taxes where leakage is minimum. Sales tax on diesel is up from 4 per cent to 8 per cent — the same way on LPG, kerosene and petrol. This has invited criticism from the public. Mr Badal who had demanded the rollback of the hike on price of diesel which the union government has increased by a record 40 per cent, back home he has doubled sales tax. His demand looked a mere eyewash. Also, the government calculations may not prove ultimately correct as the sale of petrol and diesel in the neighbouring states has gone up. All in all this would give some respite. Mr Badal is also tightening the noose around the neck of sales tax evaders. 'Nakas' at the border are back, although under a different name and sales tax laws have been provided with some teeth. But the enforcement is weak due to political interference. Officials are either corrupt or dare not touch tax evaders. Mr Badal as he caught some corrupt officials and forced them to return the money, may have to raid traders himself. His ministers oppose any more tax increases and seek better enforcement and collection. Mr Badal himself holds the portfolio, and can provide an answer. But all these measures would not fully bail him out as there would be much less money for development. Here, he has rushed to Delhi twice and met everyone from the Prime Minister to the Secretary, Planning Commission. He has suggested that a fund of Rs 10,000 crore be created to bail out the states which are in dire straits. What he got was sympathy only. It is clear no money would come for freebies. The Badal Government has also tried to tap the World Bank. The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, was rushed to Delhi to meet senior officials of the bank. He urged that the World Bank must provide Rs 800 crore to implement the much-agreed rural drinking water scheme. But here, the question again raised was how about the payment. Unless Punjab rolls back free power and water to the farmers, no fresh funds could come from any source. Here the Cabinet subcommittee has okayed the rollback, but Mr Badal is yet to go by the decision. Some officials assert that the World Bank could provide up to Rs 1,300 crore for different schemes and push the state on to the road of development. But then the political decision has to come from the Chief Minister. It is here that Mr Badal would be tested. Capt Kanwaljit Singh was hopeful of tapping this important source. But no clear policy decision has yet been taken. Clearly, it is the
second challenge of collecting taxes, offering a better
cleaner government which Mr Badal finds arduous. |
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Decision on SGPC chief on Nov 6:
Badal HOSHIARPUR, Nov 2 — A high-level team will soon be sent to the Kandi area of this district to study the drinking water problems there and find ways to solve them. This stated by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting at Boothgarh village, 7 km from here, today. He said the government would construct bridges on all choes in this district on a priority basis. The Chief Minister said his government had got sanctioned industrial projects amounting to Rs 40,000 crore for Punjab during its regime. He said he had recently met Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Ms Mamta Banerjee, Union Railway Minister, and urged them to get the railway projects completed in Punjab. He appealed to the public to provide him information against corrupt officers so that stern action could be taken against them. Mr Mohinder Singh of Parsowal village made a complaint against a revenue officer of the district who took Rs 5000 as gratification from him for doing his work. The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the case. Mr Badal said the final decision for electing the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would be taken at a meeting of the political affairs committee on November 6. Talking to media persons at Bajwa farm at Dada Mara village, 12 km from here, he said there was no pressure on him by any one to favour a particular person for the post. GURDASPUR: Mr Badal addressing a meeting on the concluding day function of Baba Bhoora Mal Sports Mela at Joura Chhattran, 15 km from here, said the Chief Ministers who were part of the National Democratic Alliance would impress upon the Central Government to grant the states 100 per cent collection of excise and income tax. He announced a grant of
Rs 5 lakh for the development of the village and Rs
50,000 for the management of the village mela committee. |
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Unique forest to come up in CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — A unique forest dedicated to spiritual souls and freedom fighters will soon become a reality. It will be first of its kind in the world. The forest will be set up at Anandpur Sahib, at a short distance from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the birth place of Khalsa. It will be spread over an area of 10 acres and the land for it will be provided by the Punjab Forest department. The forest has been conceptualised by Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib; Mr S.N. Suba Rao, Director, National Youth Project, Delhi; Master Mohan Lal, Punjab Minister for Forest; Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Vice-Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board; and Mr Gurmeet Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The work on creating the forest, which will be named as "Sarab Sanjha" forest, will begin on November 18. Youth from all over the country will take part in its creation. As many as 4,500 young men and women aged between 15 and 35 will converge on Anandpur Sahib on November 18. They will stay there till November 25. Youth from 28 states and union territories and Nepal and Bangladesh have already confirmed their participation, according to Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu. Even youth from Thailand are expected. Students from abroad studying in various educational institutions in the country may also have a symbolic participation in this novel endeavour. The SGPC will play host to them during their stay at Anandpur Sahib. Board and lodging will be provided by Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. The concept of creating the "Sarab Sanjha" forest took birth keeping in view the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. Mr Rao, who was associated with Jaya Prakash Narain (the J.P. movement) in getting the dacoits of Chambal valley reformed and making them respected citizens of the country, is the brain behind the involvement of youth in this task. He has done the ground work as far as motivating the states for participation of youth in this work. Mr Gurmeet Singh said already 10 acres of land for the forest had been earmarked. Master Mohan Lal himself has visited the Anandpur Sahib as he is much interested in the creation of such a forest. Each youth coming to Anandpur Sahib will bring a sapling popular in his area for plantation in the "Sarab Sanjha" forest. He will also bring a history of popular saint or freedom fighter of his area. The saplings brought by him will be dedicated to that saint or the freedom fighter, whatever the case may be. Along with the plant a plate will be installed on which brief life sketch of the saint or the freedom fighter will be recorded. During the stay of youth at Anandpur Sahib, they will be made familiar with various folkdances like bhangra, giddha, garba jhumar, etc. There will be experts from states concerned to impart lessons about such dances to youth, if anyone is interested. There will also be language classes to make youth familiar with languages of various states. If some one wanted to learn Telugu he will be welcome to have preliminary lessons. And likewise in other languages. Mr Sidhu said spiritual souls like Baba Farid, Saint Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev, Bhagat Namdev and so many others have remained very close to the nature. In fact many of them spent a part of their lives to have a dialogue with nature in the forests and all this reflected in their teachings and writing. This is an attempt to remember them by establishing a forest in their memory. Youth during their stay
will also prepare a zig-zag kutcha path in Guru Gobind
Singh Nature Reserve at Anandpur Sahib. |
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SGPC stops aid to orphanage CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 (UNI) — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has stopped financial aid to the ‘Gur Asra’ trust — a shelter for children of slain militants. The patrons of trust were told by a gurdwara committee this month that the instructions for discontinuing Rs 16,000 a month aid had come from SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, the trust’s patron Kulbir Kaur Dhami claimed at a press conference here today. The orphanage looked after by a former militant Kanwal Singh Dhami and his wife, Kulbir Kaur, had been receiving the assistance from the SGPC for the past three years. Ms Dhami said the aid had been stopped with effect from October 1 without any prior intimation. She warned that if the matter was not looked into immediately by the SGPC, all the 103 orphan children would sit in dharna outside the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar on November 10, the day on which SGPC chief’s poll was scheduled. The couple, along with a handful widows of Punjab militants, were taking care of these orphans who lost their parents either during militancy or in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Ms Dhami claimed that when they sought reasons from the SGPC chief for stopping the aid, the latter told them that the SGPC had changed its several policies and, thus, the aid could not be continued. Ms Dhami said the Gur
Asra trust had to face a tough time in June as well when
the office of Akali Dal (Amritsar), where the
trust’s key documents and clothes and books of the
children was demolished allegedly by the SGPC task force
and men of the Punjab Police. |
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Kanwaljit for more fiscal autonomy BATHINDA, Nov 2 — Punjab Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh today said financial crisis in the state could be solved effectively by getting more financial autonomy from the Centre. He said no permanent solution of the financial crisis could be evolved unless the Centre gave more financial autonomy and administrative powers to the state. He said financial position of the state would be stabilised within six months by improving revenue generations and taking strict decisions in the financial matters. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who was here to preside over the draw of lucky coupon scheme of the Small Savings Department, claimed that tax collection which was negative 1 per cent during the previous Congress government had gone up to positive 9.8 per cent in the last two and half years. He pointed out that due to lack of resources almost all states of the country were facing financial crunch. The Punjab government had urged the Centre to extend more financial autonomy to Punjab to tide over the crisis. When asked that certain senior ministers of the state had raised objections over his style of functioning, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said he was not aware of any such thing. When asked why ministers and MLAs of the Punjab Government had not declared their assets so far despite the fact that it was promised in the party manifesto released on the eve of assembly elections in 1997 that all MLAs and ministers, including the Chief Minister, would do so within 90 days of formation of the government he said that he had declared his assets and MLAs and ministers should be asked individually for answering this question. He pointed out that main factors of the defeat of party candidates in the recently held Lok Sabha elections included irresponsible bureaucracy, corruption in administration, lack of accountability of officers and privatisation of octroi post. He announced Rs 15 lakh
grant for the Mahant Gurbanta Dass Deaf and Dumb
Institute. |
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Son innocent, claims BJP
councillor LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — Even as the district police is carrying out a search for the two main accused, Kamal Sharma and Gurcharan Singh Malwa, in the Mamta Kulkarni abduction bid, the BJP councillor and mother of Kamal Sharma, Mrs Rekha Sharma, has claimed that her son is innocent. In a statement given to the press, Mrs Rekha Sharma has stated that her son is being falsely implicated in order to malign her and her family. "My political opponents have hatched this conspiracy to bring a bad name to my party, myself and my family," she added. The district police had registered an FIR against Kamal Sharma and Gurcharan Singh, a petrol pump owner, on October 31 on charges of impersonation, attempt to kidnap and sexually harass cinestar Mamta Kulkarni, who had come to perform during a star nite here. Mrs Rekha Sharma said Kamal had recently been in touch with one of his friends over the telephone and denied the charges levelled against him. She express her surprise that the police had registered a case against to the two without any proper inquiry. The BJP councillor has demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and alleged that the entire story had been concocted by the actress to gain cheap publicity. Meanwhile, sources in
the police have disclosed that Kamal Sharma had been in
touch with certain police officials over the telephone
and had offered to surrender to the police today.
However, it seemed a futile wait for the police as he did
not turn up. |
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Fiscal emergency plea dismissed CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — A writ petition asking the President of India to impose financial emergency in Punjab (Proclamation by President under Article 360 of the Constitution) "to save Punjab from economic bankruptcy and alienation of public property" was dismissed today by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in limine. The petition was filed by Mr Karam Chand, Barrister-at-Law, who described himself as a progressive farmer of Ropar. The petitioner had also sought direction to the State of Punjab to prevent it from undertaking a Cabinet expansion and other wasteful expenditure. The Division Bench comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice Amar Datt while dismissing the writ petition observed that the size of the Cabinet was the discretion of the Chief Minister and imposition of financial emergency depended on the satisfaction of the President. Both these questions were of political nature and court had no jurisdiction. The petitioner submitted that the Punjab Government failed to pay salaries to the staff of Ayurvedic Department for the past seven months and the Punjab State Electricity Board sold assets to pay salaries. The high court sought a specific statement from the government on the question of non-payment of salaries. It was further pointed out by the petitioner that as per reports Union Finance Secretary Montek Singh Ahluwalia had advised the government to cut all subsidies. It was contended by the
petitioner that it seemed that the government had neither
the will nor the capacity to enforce correct policies in
view of the adverse reaction. It was further averred that
when politicians had made a mess, the citizens looked up
to the courts. |
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Govt colleges sans principals CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — Increasing dependence of universities and private educational institutions in Punjab on the government without making any effort of their own in raising resources has put a strain on the state exchequer. The government feels that indiscriminate grants-in-aid to such institutions is unwarranted. While the management rests in private hands, it is the government which bears the financial burden, including pension to the staff. Estimates show grants to universities alone have risen from Rs 13 crore (1984-85) to Rs 59.18 crore (1998-99). In respect of private colleges, the increase is from Rs 8.79 crore to Rs 55.79 crore in the same period. The financial crunch has now cast its shadow on the functioning of even government colleges. One school of thought is why not stop grants-in-aid to universities and private institutions, asking them instead to raise fees. The money, thus saved, could be invested in improving the infrastructure, equipment and educational aids in the government colleges. The state has 45-odd government colleges, several of which are in the rural area or in backward, Kandi and border belt. Such colleges, in ways more than one, are the ones worst affected when it comes to infrastructure, posting and transfer of staff or admissions in certain academic streams. As principals and lecturers enjoy a degree of political clout these days, more often than not, they manage to stay put in urban or good colleges. Consequently, a distortion has cropped up in the government colleges. At present, according to informed sources, at least a score of colleges are without a principal. Some lecturers, at least in half a dozen colleges, hold "current-duty charge" of principal. At least six principals retired on October 31. The vacancies thus created are at Dhudike, Zira, Ludhiana, Patiala, Kotkapura, Faridkot (Education College). Recently three women were appointed principals, who did not join. Their places of posting were Tanda (Ms Shoba Kesar), Nangal (Ms Amar Shoba) and Sangrur (Ms Narinder alias K.Tawa alias Ms Vasudeva). Due to financial crisis new appointments are barred. This year due to Lok Sabha elections and the model code of conduct, even part-time lecturers could not be recruited. What has happened is that even after the election is over new lecturers, either full time or part-time, are not being appointed. The Director, Public Instructions, Colleges, is reported to have told colleges to hold interviews and select lecturers. But colleges will have to wait for a green signal from the government, which has not made up its mind, before appointments are made. A part-time lecturer gets Rs 3,500 per month. Reports available with The Tribune indicate that in some colleges there is just one lecturer and no principal; this is so in Zira. Take the case of a college at Dhudike; against 18 posts of lecturer, there are 13 vacancies. In some colleges there are only subjects, no subject teachers. At a Rode college there has been no principal for the past two years or so. In Ludhiana, neither Government College for Men nor Women has a principal at present. The same is true of SAS Nagar college. An interesting information is that one lecturer in English, whose husband till recently held an ambassadorial post, is back in Chandigarh after more than three years. Just because of her husband's influence she has had her leave duly sanctioned. She has also been posted as Deputy Director in the office of the DPI (Colleges), whereas, a person much senior to her (Mr K.S. Kang) as lecturer, is working at a junior post that of the Assistant Director. A cross-section of
college teachers told TNS, unless vacancies were filled
academic schedule in almost all colleges will be
adversely affected, much to the disadvantage of the
students. Should money infringe on academics? |
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Rise in diesel, LPG prices
flayed SANGRUR, Nov 2 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, former member of the Lok Sabha and a General Secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), while talking to mediapersons here today ruled out any chance of unity between Akali factions led by former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal without replacing Mr Badal as the party chief. The survival of the Punjab Government could be saved and the interests of the people of the state protected only if Mr Badal was removed as the party chief, he said. Mr Chandumajra categorically blamed Mr Badal for causing the split in the party. He stated the party would oppose any move by the Punjab Government to withdraw the facility of free power and water supply to farmers. Later, members of the SHSAD, Akali Dal (A) and the Samajwadi Party staged a joint dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here in protest against the hike in the sales tax on diesel and kerosene and other items and also against the distress sale of paddy in the state. GURDASPUR: Activists of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) under the aegis of the district unit of the party in response to a directive from the party organised a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Tuesday to protest against the price rise of diesel LPG, petrol and other commodities due to the enhancement of sales tax by the state government. Prominent among those who participated were Mr Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Mr Jasbir Singh Ghuman, both General Secretaries, SHSAD, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, President, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann) and district Presidents Gurnam Singh, Sham Singh and Mugrala. HOSHIARPUR: Mr Balwant Singh Khera and Mr Raj Kumar Niddar both senior leaders of Punjab Janata Dal (S) condemned the anti-people decisions of the Centre to raise the prices of LPG, petrol, diesel and kerosene. In a press note here on Tuesday both leaders said the increase would lead to further rise in the prices of essential commodities. They appealed to all progressive and democratic parties to launch a stir against these policies. AMRITSAR: Imposition of financial emergency and dismissal of the Badal government were demanded by members of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal which staged a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner. They also submitted a memorandum to him. The dharna was led by party’s senior vice president Bhai Manjit Singh, Mr Major Singh Uboke, former MP, Mr Prem Singh Lalpura, MLA, Mrs Paramjit Kaur Khalra, wife of the slain human rights leader Jaswant Singh Khalra, and the President of the All India Sikh Students Federation were also present. NAWANSHAHR:
Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, secretary general, Sarb Hind
Shiromani Akali Dal while addressing a district-level
dharna organised by activists of the SHSAD, BSP and other
allied parties in front of the office of the Deputy
Commissioner here on Tuesday criticised Badal government
for increasing sales tax on diesel, cooking gas, petrol
and kerosene. |
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PDS sugar quota to be raised NANGAL, Nov 2 — The per unit sugar quota under the PDS in Punjab will be increased to 450 gm per head on account of Divali, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab, said here today. He denied the apprehensions that the sugar under the PDS would be stopped. There was some problem in the procurement of sugar from the sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh, which had now been solved, he said. Mr Mittal stated that this year a record procurement of 1.04 crore metric tonnes of paddy had been done. Payments of about Rs 3,500 crore had already been made to farmers and this could reach to about Rs 4,500 crore against a target of Rs 3,600 crore at the closure of procurement, he added. When asked if the BJP would continue it’s support to the SAD even if it’s leader changes, he said it was a hypothetical projection and he didn’t want to comment on it. The state unit of the BJP would continue supporting Mr Badal and there was no move to change the leadership, he said. On the query that if the BJP would get any ministerial berth in the proposed expansion of the state, he said, "I hope Mr Badal will do justice to the BJP." Mr Mittal was here to
attend a block-level meeting of the BJP to decide the
strategy of the party for the zila parishad elections.
Later while giving details of the meeting, Mr Mittal said
it had been decided at the meeting that the workers at
the local level would decide the candidates for these
elections. |
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Staff rendered idle NAWANSHAHR: Fifty buses are standing in the Punjab Roadways Depot here for want of diesel, tyres and spare parts. As a result many roadways’ employees are sitting idle. Public has been put to inconvenience. Roadways buses on local routes have been suspended for the past couple of weeks. The employees fear the government might hand over the roadways to a private body. Mr Dilbagh Singh, Mr Surinder Singh Soeta, President and Secretary, respectively, of the Conductors Union, Punjab, Mr Hari Singh, Joint Secretary, Karamchari Dal, Punjab, Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Ramesh Kumar, Mr Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Nirmal Singh, local leaders of INTUC and AITUC blamed the politician, bureaucracy nexus for such a state of affairs of the Roadways Department, a profit-earning organisation. The unions have been demanding strict action against the plying of unauthorised buses, a major cause of losses to the roadways. Following action against certain transport companies engaged in such operations, the route receipt of the roadways had increased, said Mr Dilbagh Singh with this the issue raised by the union had been amply proved, he added. He lamented that while the transporter, politician and bureaucrat nexus, wrong policy of purchasing spare parts and free bus travel facility to 14 categories of passengers were among the reasons for the losses, the conductors and other employees were being made ‘scapegoats’. Instead of taking action against errant high officials, the conductors were being suspended for showing low route receipts, he alleged. He said having launched a drive against the illegal operation of buses, the government should have known the truth and reinstated the suspended conductors. The union leaders further demanded that the action against the illegal operation of buses should be intensified. The government should arrange to get the buses standing at the roadways depots repaired, they demanded. The leaders also said that a heap of worn-out tyres, about 2,000, in the workshop had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, snakes and other insects. They demanded its immediate disposal. the union leaders have
also urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, to hold an inquiry to ascertain the cause of
losses to the Punjab Roadways. |
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Probe soon against Giani Kewal
Singh TALWANDI SABO, Nov 2 — The district police will soon start investigations into the case registered against the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, his son Baljinder Singh and a relative, Joginder Kaur at the local police station on November 6 in connection with the death of the daughter-in-law of the Jathedar. Police sources said the police would record the statements of complainants, including Mr Amarjit Singh Sandhu, brother of the deceased, Sharanjit Kaur. The district police has
entrusted further investigations to the DSP, Mr B.S.
Romana on the directive of the Punjab and Haryana High
Court. |
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SGPC’s volte face on jatha to
Pakistan AMRITSAR, Nov 2 — In a volte face, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to send a jatha of 3,000 Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Earlier, Bibi Jagir Kaur President, SGPC, had announced that the jatha would not be sent to Pakistan in protest against the formation of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC). The SGPC did not send two jathas in the past. Bibi Jagir Kaur had said jathas could be sent after the PGPC was disbanded. The SGPC has asked the Sikh sangat to send names along with passports to the SGPC by November 5 in this regard. It is pertinent to
mention here that the SGPC wanted to send an 11-member
jatha to Pakistan for taking up the issue of disbanding
the PGPC. However, the Government of India had not
granted permission. |
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Plea to affiliate PGPC with
SGPC FEROZEPORE, Nov 2 — The International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society, head office of which is situated here, has urged Pakistan's military ruler Gen Parvesh Musharraf to reconstitute the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC) and affiliate it with the SGPC, Amritsar, as it was in the past. The society president, Mr Harpal Singh Bhullar, in a fax message sent to General Musharraf has said that last year the then Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, had dissolved the PGPC, which was affiliated with the SGPC, and constituted a new PGPC under Muslim ex-chief of the ISI. Mr Bhullar further demanded that a jatha of 3,000 Sikh men and women be permitted to visit Nankana Sahib (Pakistan), which was the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, on his birth anniversary falling on November 23. He apprised the Chief
Executive of Pakistan that the society had been
celebrating the birth anniversary of Bhai Mardana here
every year. Bhai Mardana was a devoted Sikh and an
associate of Guru Nanak. As he also belonged to Nankana
Sahib, the society should be allowed to celebrate his
birth anniversary in Pakistan too, he said. |
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‘Wrong’ policies caused price
rise: Parneet PATIALA, Nov 2 — A Patiala Parliamentary constituency member, Mrs Parneet Kaur, yesterday held the "wrong" policies of the SAD-BJP government in the state responsible for the rising prices. In a press statement, she said middle and lower classes had been severely hit by the hike in the prices of diesel, petrol and other items. She said the common man had hardly come to terms with this price rise, when the state government gave them a rude shock by increasing the sales tax, which again led to further rise in costs. Demanding the roll back of the hike in prices Mrs Parneet Kaur said the "wrong" policy would affect traders and revenue collection as well. She also announced a
thanksgiving programme for the voters of this
constituency for electing her. Under the programme she
would visit Ghanaur and Banur towns. She said had she
already met voters of Rajpura and Sunam constituencies. |
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Cong MPs to seek aid for
Punjab FARIDKOT, Nov 2 — All eight Punjab Congress members of Parliament would urge the central government to give aid of Rs 10,000 crore to the state to revamp its economy. The matter would be raised in Parliament shortly, said party MP Jagmeet Singh Brar while talking to newsmen here today. Due to unbalanced policies of the SAD-BJP government, the state had to bear a loss of Rs 24,000 crore, he said. He also criticised for the state government for enhancing sales taxes on essential commodities like kerosene and LPG. Mr Brar accused the
state government of registering false police cases
against Congress leaders and party workers in Moga,
Faridkot and Muktsar districts, which fall in the
Faridkot Parliamentary constituency. He said the
Director-General of Police had already been informed
about it. He warned that if the government failed to
withdraw the cases, the party might launch a stir in this
regard. |
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New Deputy Commissioner
takes charge ROPAR, Nov 2 — Mr Gurinder Singh Grewal has taken over as the new Deputy Commissioner of the district. He replaced Mr K.S. Sidhu who had been transferred to Ferozepore in the same capacity. Mr Grewal was earlier
the Deputy Commissioner of Faridkot district. |
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‘No groupism’ in Punjab
BJP PHILLAUR, Nov 2 — The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, yesterday said that there was no groupism in the state unit of the BJP and its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) headed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was intact. Mr Mittal said this while talking to reporters here. He said the party always took collective decisions and reports about differences in the state unit were baseless. The BJP leader claimed that the party was solidly behind Mr Badal. He asserted that the
alliance was symbolic of unity and brotherhood and was
based on certain principles. |
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Prisoner escapes from hospital JALANDHAR, Nov 2 (UNI) — An inmate of the local Central Jail escaped from police custody from the Civil Hospital today, police sources said. Fateh Singh of Sahota village in Nawanshahr district gave the slip to constable Dalip Singh when he went for urination at the hospital, the sources added. Admitted on court’s order at a room of ward no. 11, known as TB Ward, on October 15, the accused managed to escape and remained untraced, forcing the police to register a case against him under Sections 223/224 of IPC on the statement of the Head Constable, Mr Jawahar Singh, Inchage of the four police guards deployed to keep the accused in judicial detention on the court’s order. Fateh Singh was arrested
under the NDPS Act. Earlier he had moved an application
to the court of an Additional Sessions Judge who ordered
his medical examination, sources added. |
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Punjab launches website on jobs CHANDIGARH, Nov 2 — Punjab today launched a website for online placements on overseas employment. The web site http://www.overseasPunjab.com formally inaugurated by Mr R. Venkatratnam, Director, Employment, Punjab at its employment cyber cell at the Sector 17 office. Mr Venkatratnam claimed that Punjab was the first state to launch a web site. He said the website would offer placement services to the jobless youth of Punjab by placing their qualifications on Internet. The date of the manpower available could be picked up by any employment agency or employer across the world. The website offers forms which could be filled and submitted online or downloaded and can be placed on Internet. The director said the overseas employment cell has invited applications in a specific format from those interested in overseas employment. The cell will charge a
fee of Rs 200 a form posted on Internet. |
||
Resignation of Jathedar sought MOGA, Nov 2 — The President of the PPCC (farmers wing) Mr Satnam Singh Sandeshi, the district President Mr Mahesh Inder Singh and Mr Vijay Sathi, a former President of the Janata Dal and MLA, today demanded the resignation of Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Damdama Sahib, after a case under Section 304-B of the IPC was registered against him. They said under these
circumstances Giani Kewal Singh had no right to remain in
the office and his resignation was must. It was for the
first time in the history of the state that a Jathedar of
the Akal Takht was involved in a dowry death case, they
added. |
||
Dearness relief for pensioners LUDHIANA, Nov 2 —
The Punjab Government has sanctioned one more instalment
of dearness relief at the rate of 5 per cent for its
pensioners with effect from July. The relief, thus, has
been raised from 32 per cent to 37 per cent of the basic
pension, Mr Yash Pal Ghai, Additional General Secretary
of the Government Pensioners Association, said. |
||
Non-supply of water resented MOGA, Nov 2 — Residents of Bambhiabhai village under Baghapurana police station in the district today complained that they had not received any drinking water for the past three months. They told mediapersons here that the water works installed near here several years ago was lying idle as no repair had been carried out. They further said they had met the officials concerned regarding this who reportedly stated that there were no funds for this purpose and unless funds were provided to them it would not be possible for them to redress their grievances. Similar reports have
also been received from certain other villages in the
district. |
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