Monday, November 15, 1999
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Monday, November 15, 1999 |
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Meeting party MLAs no
revolt: Ravi Inder CHANDIGARH, Nov 14 — A former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and a senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Ravi Inder Singh, feels that economic crisis facing the state was far more serious than the political crisis following the debacle of the ruling alliance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Sukhbir not to run for RS |
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Warrants against 6 in medicine scam LUDHIANA, Nov 14 — The police has procured arrest warrants for six prime accused in the Rs 1.5 crore medicine scam. The arrest warrants were obtained from the court of Mrs Sukhwinder Kaur, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), here yesterday. Officers told to declare assets Indo-Pak
mela vows to foster ties Giani
Kewal Singh not to quit Ramoowalia’s
charges "baseless" Major
fire averted Case
registered against doctor Sant
Samaj cautions CM CM
orders probe Dentistry
conference inaugurated |
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Meeting party MLAs no revolt:
Ravi Inder CHANDIGARH, Nov 14 — A former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and a senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Mr Ravi Inder Singh, feels that economic crisis facing the state was far more serious than the political crisis following the debacle of the ruling alliance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The expansion of the Council of Ministers would add problems to the already shattered economy of the state rather than help the government to come out of any crisis facing it. Though the party’s Political Affairs Committee had decided to serve a show cause notice on him for spearheading a signature campaign against the Chief Minister, Mr Ravi Inder Singh maintains that he has not received any such notice. "Whenever I get any such notice, I am going to reply in a straight forward manner. I am a loyal soldier of the Shiromani Akali Dal and have done nothing wrong. To meet my own party MLAs or to demand a brainstorming session of both the party’s Working Committee or the Dal Legislature Party over the recent debacle in the elections should not be construed as a revolt," Mr Ravi Inder Singh said maintaining that after his election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he has maintained silence and never joined any controversy or debate. "But now I have been forced to break my silence to clarify my position," he added. Mr Ravi Inder Singh, who represents Morinda constituency in the Vidhan Sabha, maintains that meetings with party legislators often lead to discussion on the functioning of the government. The purpose of such discussions is not to harm the party government but to bring about changes for its betterment. "I have not hob-nobbed with any other party nor talked to any other political alliance," he said claiming that he has never aspired for any office or position within the party or the government. "I have always remained a loyal soldier of the party and have always supported total transparency both in the party and the government." Mr Ravi Inder Singh has also serious objections to intelligence staff tracking him and some party legislators. Even telephones had been tapped. He questions the wisdom of running the government on the basis of CID or intelligence reports alone. He wants total introspection within the party. "The economic crisis facing the state is much more serious. Irrational taxation cannot help the state come out of the red. Rather, it would affect revenue collection and encourage more corruption. The entire issue needs to discussed threadbare for lasting solutions. "At the party level, there should be more transparency. There is also a need for decentralisation of powers within the party," he added. Talking about his friendship with Capt Amarinder Singh, the former Punjab Speaker admits that they have been good friends. "But we belong to two different political ideologies and groups. Our friendship has nothing to do with our political connections. "As regards Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, I somehow have always kept myself alienated from him or his style of politics." When asked to predict
political scenario in the state at the change of the
century, he said that it was difficult to make any
predictions. The Union Government was keen that the state
should not relapse to the days of terrorism. |
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Sukhbir not to run for RS JALANDHAR, Nov 14 (PTI) — Former Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today ruled out contesting for the Rajya Sabha or returning to the national political scene in the immediate future and said he would focus on consolidating the mass base of the Akali Dal in the wake of the party’s poor showing in the Lok Sabha poll in Punjab. In his first interaction with the media since losing the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat, Mr Badal said, "there were offers from party MPs for vacating a Rajya Sabha seat for me but I would rather focus my energies to tone up the party machinery and work at the grassroots level to consolidate the Akali Dal’s mass base. The Akali leader, seen as a heir-apparent to his father and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, however, did not rule out a return to active state politics. Asked for reasons for the poor showing of the Akali Dal, which could win only two seats compared to the clean sweep in the 1998 poll, the former Union Minister of State for Industry said, "We are still studying the reasons for the debacle but probably people expected too much from us.’’ Mr Sukhbir Singh also ruled out contesting the Nawanshahr assembly bye-election caused by the election of Mr Charanjit Singh Channi to the Lok Sabha from Hoshiarpur but later he said he would follow the dictate of senior party leaders. The former Union Minister pooh-poohed allegations that it was not just the Chief Minister but his family which was running the administration. "The family or the clan is involved in no way,’’ he declared. Asked about the persistent allegations of corruption against the SAD-BJP regime levelled by the opposition and the Chief Minister’s erstwhile colleague former SGPC chief G.S. Tohra, he said, "The opposition has nothing else to say. Let anyone come forward with specific evidence of even a single wrongdoing.’’ He claimed to have been "the most successful minister from Punjab in the history of independent India, as I was able to bring ventures of thousands of crores of rupees to the state during my tenure.’’ "All these years, the Congress had umpteen ministers at the Centre but no one had ever done anything like this earlier,’’ Mr Sukhbir Singh, who claimed credit for bringing to the state the Rs 16,000 crore Bathinda oil refinery and a multi-crore fertiliser plant, said. Asked about intra-party tussles in the Akali Dal which had consumed precious time of the Chief Minister in the past one year, Mr Sukhbir Singh said all political parties had such problems. "Very soon, even the Congress will be hit by factionalism,’’ he predicted. Asked about reasons
behind his own defeat in Faridkot at the hands of his
archrival Jagmeet Singh Brar, he said, "I spent much
of my time in my constituency, but perhaps, the people
expected far more. I am, however, grateful to those who
voted for me.’’ |
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Loan being recovered from
Media Adviser CHANDIGARH, Nov 14 — On instructions from the Punjab Minister of Information and Public Relations, recovery of Rs 1.5 lakh with interest advanced as loan by the department to the Media Adviser, Mr Harcharan Bains, is being effected. The money was given to him to make a documentary on the then Chief Minister, Mr Beant Singh in 1994. Though the project cost of the proposed documentary was estimated at Rs 4.96 lakh, the deal was settled for Rs 3 lakh with half the amount being paid as advance. Since then neither was any documentary produced nor money returned. After a long wait now the minister has ordered lumpsum recovery of money paid to Mr Bains, who was the Managing Director of the company he had floated ‘‘indiavision’’, a media and culture group. Informed sources told TNS that when Mr Bains was asked to repay the money, he wanted the payment to be realised in instalments, which was not acceptable. He has, however, deposited Rs 20,000. The rest of the money is being recovered. Mr Bains himself was not available for comments when an effort was made to contact him at his residence on telephone today. The conceptual synopsis for the proposed documentary submitted by Mr Bains to the then Chief Secretary on May 31, 1993, makes a fascinating reading. In the thematic format, Mr Bains says that the turn-about in Punjab was largely due to ‘‘political leadership’’ to which must go the immense and lasting credit due to it. ‘‘The entire script in Punjab has been rewritten and the state has witnessed an era during the past 15 months that is certain to leave a profound impact on the future course of history. One man changed all this, giving India as a nation, a fresh lease of life and underlining the inherent lesson of history.... The Chief Minister (Mr Beant Singh) to our minds represents not just an able administrator — there has been no dearth of able administrators in the past 10 years or so — and yet the situation showed no signs of improving. Mr Beant Singh, rightly understood, represents that vital force of history which has shaped and reshaped human destiny .... Punjab always had the same police set-up that it has today, and the same administrative infrastructure. What it lacked was a man, a figure that could emerge as a metaphor of creative transformation, a leader who could, in short, enthuse the sullen populace of the state with a powerful assertion of life the Chief Minister has filed that vacuum...’’ ‘‘It was due to Mr Beant Singh that the Sikhs were restored their enviable image of boundless courage, chivalry and patriotism the Sikhs are back in the national and international psyche and Mr Beant Singh as a person has supplied the new archetype’’. By not making the documentary Mr Bains, sources said, had breached a contractual agreement. The contract has since been cancelled by the department. Though Mr Bains has roots in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, his terms and conditions while serving as media adviser, since Mr Badal took over in Feb 1997, are yet to be settled. Sources say that under civil services rules, a person cannot join or come on deputation to the government from an autonomous organisation. Mr Bains, when contacted, said he had not received a single penny as Media Adviser and yet he was repaying the loan. He said the government functioning was so transparent that even the Media Adviser had been asked to repay. Sources said in view of the general financial discipline being introduced, Mr Bains expenses had also been curbed and fixed at Rs 5,000 per month against the earlier profligacy of around Rs 14,000 to 15,000 on entertainment. His case with the PAU regarding non-completion of his doctoral studies was a separate issue. Now, it transpires, Mr
Bains has moved a case for ‘‘contractual
appointment’’ as Media Advisor seeking Rs
30,000 as monthly pay. His request is being examined. Mr
Bains is in the ‘‘kitchen cabinet’’
of Mr Badal. ‘‘How he was chosen for the job
given his ‘‘hero worship’’ of Mr
Beant Singh is intriguing’’, remarked an Akali
leader, requesting anonymity. |
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Warrants against 6 in medicine
scam LUDHIANA, Nov 14 — The police has procured arrest warrants for six prime accused in the Rs 1.5 crore medicine scam. The arrest warrants were obtained from the court of Mrs Sukhwinder Kaur, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), here yesterday. According to a press note issued by the police, the arrest warrants have been obtained against Mr Budh Singh and Mr Gurnam Singh, pharmacists, Dr P.K. Narang, Additional Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, Mr R.K. Thaman, Mr Gorey Lal, Chief Pharmacist, and Dr Harcharan Singh, SMO, Phagwara. The inquiry of this case was entrusted to Mr P.S. Sandhu, DIG, Ludhiana Range, on October 21. Health Department officials had alleged partisan role by crime branch officials, who were earlier handling the case. A team led by the SSP, Ludhiana, Ms Gurpreet DEO, was investigating this case. The other accused in the case, Dr G.P. Chander, Mr Satish Kumar Garg, Mr Jagdev Singh, Dr J.P. Singh, Dr Harwinder Singh, Dr Kamlesh Kumar and Dr Dharam Pal, were arrested by the police and later released on bail. Meanwhile, Gurcharan Singh Malwa, one of the acused in the Mamta Kulkarni abduction bid, was today sent to judicial remand till November 26 on charges of violence, trespassing and illegal use of arms in a case in Sahnewal, which was registered against him and Kamal Sharma on November 3. Gurcharan Singh was
arrested by the police on November 9 in connection with
these two cases. He was produced before the Senior
Sub-Judge, Mr B.K. Mehta, on November 10 and given a
day's police remand for the Mamta Kulkarni abduction bid.
Later, he was given a judicial remand till November 25 in
this case. |
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Officers told to declare assets ROPAR, Nov 14 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supply Minister, Punjab, has issued instructions to all gazetted officers from the rank of the District Food and Supply Officer (DFSO) to the Additional Director of the Food and Supply Department to declare their property and other valuables by November 30. Talking to mediapersons here last evening, Mr Mittal said he had instructed the Secretary of the department to gather details from the rank of the DFSO to the Additional Director regarding their property and other valuables by the end of the month so that the zero tolerance programme could be implemented in the department. Mr Mittal said the officers who had been asked to file their returns regarding property and other valuables included the DFSOs, District Food and Supply Controllers, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors, Joint Directors and Additional Director. He further said they had also been asked to mention in the returns details of their property at the time of joining the service and the property created during service till now. The minister said the details of the property and other valuables would be verified as part of a follow-up action. If anybody was found guilty of filing a wrong return, stern action would be taken against that officer. Mr Mittal also announced
that the scheme would also be implemented at lower level
in an attempt to give a look of corruption-free
department in the state. |
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Indo-Pak mela vows to foster
ties WAGAH (Indo-Pak border), Nov 14 — In the memory of more than 10 lakh Punjabis, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who died at the time of Partition of the country, the fourth Raja Porus Punjabi (Indo-Pak) Mitterta Mela, aimed at promoting friendship began here today with a vow to preserve the age-old composite Punjabi culture here today. Dr J.S. Puar, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, said that unnecessary fear and suspicion prevailing between India and Pakistan needed to be dispelled. The chief guest said that the road trade would generate employment opportunities for the people of India and Pakistan. The chief guest placed a wreath on the memorial erected in the memory of Punjabis who died unsung in 1947. He also lighted the lamp and placed it on the map of undivided Punjab. Dr S.S. Sandhu, a leading surgeon of Amritsar and the chairman of the Raja Porus Mela's reception committee stressed the need of sensitising the individuals of both countries on the issue of fraternity through feelings of love. Presenting his paper at a seminar on 'Peace and Cooperation in South Asia', Prof Harkishan Singh Mehta, a renowned scholar, said that this continent is a conglomeration of numerous races and communities. He argued that there was an urgent need to identify the common cultural and historical roots of both the Punjabs simultaneously. Prof Mehta said, there was need of cultural reciprocity between India and Pakistan so as to create proximity at the level of history, culture and emotions. Such a cultural exchange would reduce tensions between two countries. In this regard sustained efforts were needed. Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Professor Department of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala presented in his paper that the mutual suspicion and fear had led both Indian and Pakistan governments to assign more funds for defence in comparison to health and education. Dr Ghuman emphasised the need of joint marketing and collective economic ventures both on the part of India and Pakistan in face of the economic onslaughts of the developed nations. He told that there were some business lobbies in Bombay and Karachi who did not wish to develop Indo-Pakistan economic relations through the Punjab states of both the countries. Dr I.D. Gaur, Dr Charanjit Singh Nabha, Dr Ravinder Sharma, Major Piara Singh, Bhupinder Sandhu, and Ramesh Yadav participated in the deliberations of the seminar. While thanking participants, and artistes, Dr Tara Singh Sandhu, president of the Folklore Research Academy (FRA) resolved to continue the efforts for building up the congenial atmosphere between the two countries. Mr Raj Tewari, Harvinder
Singh Canada and Mr Swaranjit Singh Swarn entertained the
society audience with folk singing. The
‘langar’ was served by the Namdharis. A book
exhibition by the Tarak Sheel of Barnala was also
arranged and a children play 'Bhusuri' by Dr Rama Rattan
was also staged. |
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Giani Kewal Singh not to quit BATHINDA, Nov 14 (PTI) — The Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, has refused to step down in view of a criminal case against him by the police on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. "I have not made up my mind to quit as Jathedar of the Takht and prefer to discuss the issue at length with clergymen," he told mediapersons today. Only recently SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur at a press conference in Chandigarh had said that Giani Kewal Singh had assured her he would resign in view of the case against him. Giani Kewal Singh, his son Baljinder Singh and a relative, Joginder Kaur were booked by the police last month in connection with the death of Sharanjit Kaur, daughter-in-law of the Jathedar. It is for the first time in the Sikh annals that a working jathedar has been booked in a criminal case. No arrest has been made
so far in the case. |
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Ramoowalia’s charges
"baseless" CHANDIGARH, Nov 14 — The Punjab Minister for Information and Public Relations, and member Political Affairs Committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, today ridiculed the statement of Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia holding the Akali Dal responsible for bankruptcy and blaming the Chief Minister for loss to the exchequer as baseless and mischievous. Mr Sekhwan, termed his allegations as frivolous. Self-styled leaders like Mr Ramoowalia had always worked against the interests of the state. It is a matter of record that he along with his mentor, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjit, had pressurised Mr I.K.Gujral, the then Prime Minister, not to waive off the loan of Rs 8,400 crore due to the state during the days of militancy when the Congress party had put this huge burden on the state. It was, however, due to the personal efforts of Mr Parkash Singh Badal that Mr Gujral freed the state of the loan liability. In a signed statement issued on the SAD official pad, Mr Sekhwan said Mr Ramoowalia was a stooge of the Left and the Congress party and expressed regrets over his lack of knowledge about the state affairs. The minister lambasted Mr Ramoowalia for levelling false allegations against Mr Badal for objectionably selling a rest house in Bathinda and also awarding wine contracts to his favourites. He challenged him to file an affidavit if he was truthful in his utterances. Regarding the
allegations of allowing private bus operators without
permits by Mr Badal, the minister said Mr Ramoowalia must
know that it was the Chief Minister who had launched a
campaign to check the theft of taxes and hundreds of
buses were impounded by the State Transport authorities
for plying without valid documents. |
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Major fire averted JALANDHAR, Nov 14 (PTI) — A major fire disaster was averted today when alert residents and firemen were able to remove 16 LPG cylinders from a hosiery goods godown which caught fire in Mitha Bazaar here reducing goods worth lakhs to ashes. The godown, owned by Shyam Garments, caught fire this morning and six fire tenders were rushed to the site in Mohalla Jain street in Mitha Bazaar, Assistant Divisional Fire Officer H.S. Bhullar told PTI here. Superintendent of Police Pawan Uppal said the firemen, helped by local people, were able to remove quickly the filled LPG gas cylinders before the flames reached them. ‘‘If the firemen had not acted with alertness, the damage could have been simply unimaginable,’’ Mr Bhullar said. The flames could only be extinguished after over two hours of fire fighting operation supervised by senior Fire Department officials. Mr Uppal said the godown was being used by the firm for storing garments and hosiery goods and the cylinders were reportedly kept inside for transporting these to a religious dera for cooking of langar (community meal). The firm is owned by
three brothers who were out of station at the time of
accident and had not returned till late this evening, he
said. |
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Case registered against
doctor PHAGWARA, Nov 14 — The local police has registered a case against Dr K.K. Gupta, a homoeopath, under Sections 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC and Section 15 of the Indian Medical Council Act following a complaint by Mr Avtar Singh of the industrial area. Dr Gupta allegedly took Rs 5 lakh from Mr Avtar Singh promising to cure his wife, Ms Balwant Kaur who was suffering from cancer. Dr Gupta flaunted as a surgeon of a renowned hospital in Bombay. He assured that the patient would be cured in a month's time. However the patient's condition deteriorated after his treatment and she was hospitalised in Delhi on September 4. She died the next day. It was alleged that Ms Balwant Kaur's condition deteriorated due to heavy doses of painkillers given by Dr Gupta. The case was brought to
the notice of the SSP, Mr Iqbal Singh and a case was
registered on November 11. |
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Sant Samaj cautions CM JALANDHAR, Nov 14 (PTI) — Sant Samaj chief Baba Sarbjot Singh today asked the Badal government to keep Punjab’s interests in mind on water-sharing with Haryana. "Only the people of Punjab have the right over the river waters as per the well-accepted riparian principle of distribution of natural resources and if Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal does not stick to it, over 40 lakh acres of fertile land would turn into a desert," he said in a statement here. Mr Badal had said the
issue of sharing of the SYL canal water could be decided
through negotiations with Haryana. |
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CM orders probe AMRITSAR, Nov 14 — The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has ordered an inquiry into the charges of misuse of powers by the Tehsildar (Sales) here in the transfer of private property to the Improvement Trust. The probe has been ordered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Mr Mahesh Khanna, a resident of Katra Sufaid. Mr Sarvesh Kaushal,
Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, in a
communication to Mrs Shyama Mann, Financial Commissioner
(Revenue), has said the Chief Minister wanted the matter
be inquired by a senior officer and a report submitted to
him for his perusal and appropriate orders |
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Dentistry conference inaugurated AMRITSAR, Nov 14 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Kanwaljit Singh, has said the advances in dentistry has enabled the medical faculty to serve mankind better. The minister was addressing the 21st annual conference of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry after inaugurating it at Guru Nanak Bhavan, Guru Nanak Dev University, here. The two-day conference was attended by a galaxy of dignitaries, including Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr H.S. Chawala, Head, Oral Health Science Centre, PGI Chandigarh, and Dr (Mrs) Navneet Grewal, Chairperson, Head of the Department of Pedodontics Government Dental College, Amritsar. Delegates from abroad are also participating in this conference. Capt Kanwaljit Singh stressed on the importance of saving teeth and not just extracting these. He hoped the conference would initiate a drive to make toothpaste and toothbrush essential commodities and not cosmetic products. Dr H.S. Chawla, in his keynote address, said the aim of the Congress was to shoulders the responsibility of providing oral health to children, which was a mammoth task for a population of 40 crore. In her welcome address, Dr Navneet Grewal, said a dental care programme should be introduced in the school curriculum. She said "the smile of a child is given by God, nurtured by mother and restored by a pedodontist. We are here to fulfil this promise." Mrs Grewal said dental
problems were on the rise due to ignorance among the
public on oral hygiene. Western countries were miles
ahead in this sphere. |
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