Friday, November 19, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, November 19, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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A new
front opened on quota issue |
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6 held for robbery, 5.5 lakh
recovered Two patwaris, JE suspended Khalsa tercentenary youth camp
opens
6 smugglers arrested Khaira: CM unsure of voter support PNFC workers go sans pay ‘Powerless’ village
cries for attention Delay in implementing pay report
resented Pak returns Indian youth
Regularisation of services assured Bravery award for three |
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A new front opened on
quota issue CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — A new front on the issue of reservation is emerging in the country. The beginning in this connection was made today in Punjab at the initiative of the State Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal. Cutting across party lines, top leaders of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes belonging to various states sought the enactment of an all-India reservation Act. Resolution in this regard was passed at a conference organised by Mr Atwal in the premises of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Among the eminent participants were Mr Ram Bilas Paswan, Union Minister for Communications, Mr J. Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Mr Muni Lal, Union Minister for State for Labour and Employment. The Uttar Pradesh Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan and the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, were also present at the lunch hosted by the Speaker for participants and guests, but they did not attend the conference. However, they extended their full support to the conference and its agenda. Perhaps, they did not attend the conference due to their constitutional status. The conference has also a tacit support of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. He had a hurried lunch at the residence of the Speaker and left. In fact, the conference which was scheduled to conclude around 1.30 p.m. came to an end around 3.30 p.m. to give sufficient time to many leaders to address the participants. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal said a number of resolutions were passed at today's conference. The resolutions would be submitted to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, tomorrow with a request to concede the demands. Apart from enacting the all India reservation Act, the conference also sought the provision of penal clause for punishing those impeding the implementation of the Act. Mr Atwal said the proposed Act should be beyond the purview of the judicial scrutiny. He sought that it should be part of the ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Reservation, as per the population percentage of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was demanded in all educational institutions, including universities, other autonomous bodies and private institutions which received Government grant or aid. Even, according to Mr Atwal, the conference sough the reservation in Indian defence forces, on the bench of Supreme Court, high courts, the Rajya Sabha, and legislative councils. Mr Awtal said the conference also passed a resolution seeking ban on the diversion of funds and grants meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, financial aid to states for welfare of these castes without the condition of matching grant. A resolution was also passed for creating seats in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies in direct proportion to the population percentage of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during the next delimitation of the Lok Sabha seats. When asked what made him to hold today's conference, Mr Atwal said the immediate reason was the recent judgement of the Supreme Court with regard to end to reservation in promotions and no-weightage to students belonging of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during admission in post-graduate courses in medical colleges and other specialised fields. Earlier, in the morning a breakfast meeting was held. Mr Suraj Bhan and Mr Mahabir Prasad also participated. The agenda of the conference was discussed and finalised. In fact, the agenda of today's conference remained almost secret till this afternoon. The Punjab Speaker, Mr Atwal had invited media persons at his residence for lunch which was to be hosted in honour of Mr Suraj Bhan and Mr Mahabir Prasad. Media persons only came to know about the agenda when they were briefed by Mr Atwal. Among others who participated in the conference were Mr Sangpriya Gautam, BJP General Secretary, Mr Ram Pal, Parliamentary Secretary J and K, Mr Prem Lal, Mr Prithvi Chand, Mr Ram Chand, Mr Jagjivan Lal, all MLAs from J and K, Mr Parma Nad, ex-Speaker J and K, Mr Ishwar Dass, Mr R.D. Kashyap, Mr Ram Lal Markanda, Mr Mansa Ram, Mr Parkash Chaudhary, all ministers from Himachal Pradesh, Mr Chet Ram, Parliamentary Secretary, H.P., Mr Sareen Chaudhary, Mr Ganga Ram Musafar, Mr Ishwar Dass, all MLAs, H.P., Mr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor Kurukshetra University, Mrs Kanta Devi, Mr Jaswant Singh Bawal, Mr Ram Bhaj, all ministers from Haryana. From Uttar Pradesh were
Mr R.L. Kureel, Mr R.N. Kovinda, Mr Bodh Singh,
Vice-President, U P Pradesh Congress and Mr Ashok
Parkash. Punjab Congress leaders including Chaudhary
Jagjit Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo spoke. Mr Dullo
was of the view that the benefit of reservation was not
percolating down to the village level for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes. |
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Punjab for total fiscal
autonomy CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — Punjab is pushing hard its old agenda of total fiscal autonomy and has told the 11th Finance Commission in clear terms that the Centre should stop treating states as its minions, rushing all the time to Delhi for funds to run their affairs. This approach is similar to the one adopted by previous Akali governments, but sans the words in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. This resolution later became the basis of the Sarkaria Commission's report on reforms. Now, the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, wants the Centre to shed its powers to approve plans for state, provide at least 50 per cent of the total central taxes and wind up the Planning Commission. It could perform a recommendatory role, but there should be no central schemes for the states. "Let each state get 50 per cent on the basis of a new criteria of performance and need and make its own plans and execute them", he said. "Central plans, at times, are not suited to a state's needs and at times just overlap. Since the burden of development is mostly on the states and the makers of the Constitution also visualised it, the Centre should confirm itself to some key areas and allow total fiscal autonomy. Each state has a different character and different needs. Why should the babus in the Delhi impose their will", the Punjab Finance Minister told Prof A.M. Khusro, chairman of the 11th Finance Commission. Interestingly, Prof Khusro had a dig at the state's team led by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, when he pointed out that like power and water everything was free in Punjab and so his team had decided to settle here. He advised the state to initiate reforms and diversify its agriculture. Punjab's case was supported by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who wanted the state's share to be increased first to 33.3 per cent and subsequently to 50 per cent. The commission is to make its recommendation by March next year for a five-year period. Its task is tremendous since all states have a staggering deficit of Rs 70,000 crore. The Centre controls all elastic tax sources like income tax, corporate tax, excise and custom duties and shares 29 per cent from its pool with the state. "It is too meagre and the Centre should recast the whole system", Punjab suggested. How far will the commission recommend and how far will the Centre accept its recommendation is anyone's guess. But observers say that since the National Democratic Alliance is a coalition of 21 parties, with most except the BJP committed to fiscal autonomy, it is the best time to take the issue to its logical conclusion. Here, Mr Badal can play a crucial role and mobilise other parties. Left parties have supported the contention of the Akalis as they had done earlier. The net barter terms of trade with (1970-71 as the base) between foodgrains and manufactured products were only 93.64 in 1971-72 and further deteriorated to 85.48 in 1990-91. This pattern of unequal market exchange also tended to weaken the socio-economic position of rural households (about 70.45 per cent of Punjab's population), dependent only or mainly on agriculture. Punjab was of the view that factors like the poverty ratio or index backwardness, revenue equalisation, low per capita income and notional deficits of the state estimated by the Finance commission was extraneous. The Constitution made a clear distinction between the devolution of Central taxes and grants-in-aid of the revenues to the states out of the Consolidated Fund of India. The share of each state in the divisible pool be determined on the basis of 70 per cent on the basis of population as per the 1971 census, 20 per cent on the basis of the size of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and 10 per cent on the basis of fiscal discipline Pending the implementation of alternative scheme of devolution, the share of the states should be at least 60 of the gross proceeds of personal income tax and corporation tax, leaving the rest to the Centre, including the union territories. The state government is of the view that population, the GSDP and fiscal discipline are the relevant factors which should govern the inter-se distribution of the share of the states in the net proceeds of income tax, corporation tax and excise duties. The relative weight to be assigned to these factors should be 70 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Punjab has suggested
corporation tax should be brought within the divisible
pool and 60 per cent of the proceeds of income tax and
corporation tax be assigned to the states. Taxes on
"union emoluments" and miscellaneous receipts
like "penalties" and "interest
receipts" should also be included in the divisible
pool of income tax. Ninetyfive per cent of the net
proceeds of income tax should be assigned to the states
because of shrinkage of the divisible pool of income tax,
till such time as corporation tax is included in the
divisible pool. |
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Minor differences in BJP:
Sodhi FEROZEPORE, Nov 18 — Admitting that minor differences of opinion persist in the Punjab BJP, its President, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, today said his top priority was to strengthen the party by reorganising working committees across the state. In an interview with the TNS at the local PWD Rest House here this morning, Mr Sodhi, however, sought to clarify that the Punjab unit of the BJP was not a house divided. "There are no camps within the Punjab BJP", he said while replying to a question whether or not party leaders Madan Mohan Mittal and Balramji Dass Tandon were locked in an ideological tussle. He, however, admitted to difference of opinion. Asked if the party would fix responsibility on some leaders for the recent poll reverses, including losing the Amritsar seat, Mr Sodhi ruled out any such action. "As of now, my priority remains to strengthen the party state unit". Referring to a poster campaign by his detractors accusing him of misappropriation of party funds Mr Sodhi said a sum of Rs 10 lakh remained deposited in the accounts of the Punjab unit. He said he believed in transparency. He claimed he was the first party candidate to file his returns with the Returning Officer. Reacting to the charge of using the party funds to expand his crockery business in Amritsar, Mr Sodhi said: "I wound up that trade almost five years ago. My family now runs a business in electronic goods". Accusing his opponents of resorting to mudslinging, Mr Sodhi said their resentment stemmed from denial of party ticket to their favourites in corporation elections. Expressing concern at the reported rift between the Akali Dal and the BJP, leaders in various municipal councils, Mr Sodhi lamented that this, too, had contributed to the reverses in Lok Sabha elections that saw a virtual rout of the ruling alliance. Mr Sodhi hoped that more BJP leaders would get berths in the proposed Cabinet expansion in Punjab. His party had prepared a list of names for a berth in the Cabinet, but it was up to the Chief Minister whom to take in his ministry. Denying he ever demanded a rollback in the free power policy for farmers in Punjab, Mr Sodhi said: "The proposal to abolish octroi was dropped on account of the revenue loss to the state government caused by free electricity." He, however, refused to comment on the matter, saying, "When the Chief Minister has already discounted the possibility of a rollback, I do not consider it right to comment". On being pointed out that organisations affiliated with the BJP like the Bajrang Dal and the VHP were frequently stalling Christian discourses in the state. Mr Sodhi charged the Christian missionaries with conversions by inducement at these conventions, but hastened to add: "This is my personal opinion. I am not saying it as the Punjab BJP President". He said he enjoyed a rapport with Christians in Amritsar and had sanctioned grants to their villages while being a Lok Sabha member. He however, accused the missionaries of "inducing mazbis" in the border areas. On the charge of denying a berth to a Sikh MP in the Union Cabinet, Mr Sodhi said Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of the Akali Dal had been offered the charge of the minister of state but, he had preferred not to join the Central Government. He said there were a sufficient number of Sikh MPs and there was no question of the BJP denying a ministerial berth to anyone. "Our own party leader from Madhya Pradesh, Mr Sartaj Singh, was a minister in the 13-day government of the BJP". "Being a Sikh, I
was also in the race for a ministerial berth this
time", Mr Sodhi said. |
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6 held for robbery, 5.5
lakh recovered BHELOWAL (Amritsar), Nov 18 — The police solved a 5.60 lakh robbery case with the arrest of six persons, including gang leader Baldev Singh, last night, after a brief armed encounter. The police chief of Majitha police district, Mr Sukhdev Singh Brar, told newsmen in the presence of a large gathering of villagers that the commission agent, Mr Parshotam Kumar, had withdrawn about Rs 6 lakh from the branch of Cooperative Bank on October 30 for making payment to the about 200 farmers. However, the money was stolen from his house on the same night. The commission agent is also the sarpanch of the village, which is close to the Indo-Pakistan border. During preliminary interrogation, the arrested persons stated that Baldev Singh and his five associates, who had earlier been involved in terrorism and smuggling from across the border, had sneaked into the house of the commission agent during the night of October 30 and looted the money. When the mother of the commission agent resisted their attempt, they threatened to kill her. On getting information yesterday that the accused had been holding a meeting in an abandoned rest house in Uddar village, the police raided the place and an armed encounter ensued. The accused later surrendered. The SSP said that Baldev Singh was an active member of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan. The other member of the gang have been identified as Gurbhej Singh, who is a brother of Kashmira Singh, a slain leader of the Babbar Khalsa, Kewal Singh, Shahbeg Singh, Suba Singh and Harinder Singh, known smugglers. Besides recovering a sum of Rs 5.50 lakh from them, the police also recovered arms and ammunition, including two double-barrelled guns, one point 315 bore rifle and three CDE pistols. Mr Brar did not rule out
this gang’s links with Pakistan-based terrorists. |
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Two patwaris, JE suspended LUDHIANA, Nov 18 — In follow-up action on public complaints presented before Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, yesterday at Humbran village regarding bribes paid to government officials, two patwaris and a Junior Engineer of the PSEB have been suspended. Besides, the Junior Engineer of the PSEB, Mangal Singh, was made to refund bribe amounting to Rs 4500 at a ‘sangat darshan’ here today. All 11 persons who made written complaints to the Chief Minister and the officials concerned were called by Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, to the ‘sangat darshan’ today to present their case personally. Out of the 11 complainants, nine turned up to present proof to substantiate their allegations. A Junior Engineer, Kulwant Singh confessed that he had received Rs 5000, but had issued a receipt of Rs 500 only as the transfer fee. He promised to refund the balance amount by this evening. Mr Kirpal Singh, Chief Engineer, PSEB, informed that the JE had been suspended. The Deputy Commissioner informed that Patwari Gurdev Singh had been suspended on production of substantial evidence and an affidavit by Mr Bhinder Singh of Bagli Khurd village for taking a bribe of Rs 35,000 for doing mutation of 12 acres of land. Further inquiry has been entrusted to the SDM, Samrala, Mr Goel said that the other patwari, Sukhdev Singh of Dalla village, had been suspended. Mr Darshan Singh of Dalla had filed an affidavit against him for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 22,000 for doing mutation in favour of one Ranjit Kaur. The Deputy Commissioner handed over the inquiry to the SDM, Jagraon. However, a complaint filed by Mr Gian Singh of Chahar village alleging that Food and Civil Supplies Inspector Avtar Singh had taken a bribe of Rs 5000 to sanction a new ration depot was found to be bogus. The Deputy Commissioner asked the Assistant Commissioner, Grievances, to inquire into false applications submitted by the complainant for issuance of bogus ration cards. In another case, the Deputy Commissioner told the Chief Engineer, PSEB, to verify the different dates given by the complainants, Mr Inderjit Singh of Waraich, and Nachattar Singh, JE, PSEB, for issuing a power connection, for which the complainant alleged that a bribe of Rs 700 was paid to the JE through a middleman. The Deputy Commissioner
asked the SDMs concerned to inquire into the complaints
of Mr Surjit Singh, Humbran, Mr Hari Singh, Jagraon, and
Mr Jarnail Singh of Majara. |
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Khalsa tercentenary youth camp
opens ANANDPUR SAHIB, Nov 18 — The eight-day Khalsa Tercentenary National Integration Youth Camp was inaugurated by Jathedar Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, at a function here this evening. The camp is organised by the National Youth Project, an organisation for the youths, under the aegis of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib more than 2100 youths (men and women) drawn from 21 states have come to the city of bliss till this evening. While 2000 more youths are expected to come here by tomorrow to attend the camp. Inaugurating the camp Jathedar Tota Singh gave a call to the youths to work for drug-deaddiction in the country and make efforts to provide equality to women at all-levels in this man-dominated society. The minister also welcomed the youths for coming to this holy land and spread the message of national integration and welfare of humanity. He also gave a detailed information to the campers about the birth of the Khalsa which remained always ready to fight injustice against innocent persons. Addressing the gathering, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, asked the campers to work for the eradication of all kinds of evils of this materialistic world. He also expressed the hope that the campers would take initiative to work for spreading message of world peace after returning from here. He also exhorted the youths to play a vital role to bring closer all human beings irrespective of their caste, creed, language or religion for the welfare of mankind. Mr S.N. Suba Rao, Director of National Youth Project, urged the youths to carry a message "building of a new world" with them from here. He said every youth should think that he himself was a maker of a new world. He said every youth should set himself as an example by giving up evils which he possessed. He said the campers should inculcate the spirit of giving up smoking, drugs and other such evils among the people. He also said 2,100 youths from 21 states had so far arrived here while 2,000 more youths were expected to arrive by tomorrow evening. He said youths had arrived from Andhra, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, UP, West Bengal and Punjab. Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Vice-Chairman of Punjab School Education Board, and Coordinator of the camp, said the youths had brought with them saplings of plants from their respective states which would be planted on the embankment of the Charan Ganga and a part of the "Sarb sanjha" forest to be set up here in an area of 10 acres. He said the main emphasis at the camp would be "character building of the youth". Mr Sidhu said the day of the youths would start at 5.30 a.m. daily with the "youth song" while it would end with the "writing of a daily diary" at 9.30 p.m. by them. The inaugural function was started with a Shabad "Deh Shiva Bar Mohe....." recited by students of local Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School. Later, a Sarb Dharam prayer was held, led by Mr S.N. Suba Rao. The youths from Assam
presented their folk dance "Behu" in colourful
dresses on the occasion. |
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PM’s visit cancelled JALANDHAR, Nov 18 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s one-day visit to Jalandhar on November 21 has been called off. Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said here today. No reasons were given for the cancellation of the visit, Mr Yadav told PTI. The Special Protection Group (SPG) team, which had arrived here this afternoon to make arrangements for the visit, received information within hours of arrival about the cancellation. The Prime Minister was to participate in a function here where he was to be presented with Rs 9.25 crore for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund collected by the Hind Samachar group of newspapers through a drive launched in the wake of Kargil operation. The city was being
spruced up and most of the pavements and city walls
received a new coat of paint in anticipation of the visit
which was cancelled suddenly. |
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6 smugglers arrested AMRITSAR, Nov 18 (UNI) — The police claimed to have arrested six former terrorists and smugglers and seized three rifles and three pistols after a brief exchange of fire near a deserted rest house situated on the outskirts of a village under the Lopoke police station of the Majitha police district last night. Talking to reporters at Lopoke police station here today the Majitha police district chief Sukhdev Singh Brar said that a police party on a tip off raided the rest house last night where the culprits were hatching a conspiracy to commit some crime. However after a brief exchange of fire all the six — Gurbhej Singh alias Bheja, an activist of the Babbar Khalsa, Harinder Singh Hinda, Subegh Singh, Baldev Singh, Suba Singh and Kewal Singh — were nabbed along with two 12 bore guns, one .315 bore rifle, three pistols. The police also recovered Rs 3.50 lakh in cash from the culprits which they had looted from the house of the Parshotam Behal in Bhilowal village in the district on the intervening night of October 30 and 31. Mr Brar said that Suba Singh and Kewal Singh were smugglers and many criminal cases including the smuggling of gold was pending against them in the court. While Subegh Singh was the close associate of killed terrorist Kuldip Singh of Babbar Khalsa and Harinder was a regular border crosser. He claimed that all accused, who had criminal background were now now planning to commit same heinous crime to create terror in the region. He said the victim Parshotam Kumar, a commission agent, had to distribute this amount to the farmers for sowing the wheat. He said that Baldev
Singh, who was a close confident of Parshotam hatched the
conspiracy to loot the money. |
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Manholes — an invitation to
death? BATHINDA: Open manholes on roads are very common. This is the state of affairs as far as civic bodies are concerned. But nobody seems to bother about them. The people have learnt to live with such conditions, howsoever risky these may be. But to be collectively irresponsible is common among the people of this land. The manholes have taken many human lives and are continuing to do so unchecked. Two years back a plus two girl student of this city, while returning from her classes fell into an open manhole, while onlookers watched helplessly. The roads of Bathinda get flooded even after moderate rainfall. Owing to the incomplete sewerage system, many precious lives are lost every year and many of them are never reported. It is pertinent to mention here that during the last rainy season, a woman died after falling into an open manhole near Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana. This caused a storm in the state. Her body was found after three days. Even exclusive colonies in this city get flooded during the rains and manholes are the only way out to drain out the stagnant water. A manhole for all its purposes is meant for water department employees to go in and clean the choked pipes. But these manholes become death-traps for whenever a human or animal falls into it, death is certain . Scooterists, cyclists, motor-cyclists, are common victims. The general complaint of the civic authorities is that the metallic covers are often stolen leaving the authorities unaware of the open manholes. But as the manhole covers are made of concrete, there is no question of these being stolen. It is important to note here that the people demand everything from the civic authorities. But what they lack is civic sense. The people must act responsibly to check such tragedies. It is the duty of every citizen that such matters should be brought to the notice of the authorities concerned. Until the people become more vigilant these manholes will continue to be a menace. But unfortunately
neither the people nor the civic authorities have learnt
any lesson. |
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Khaira: CM unsure of voter
support JALANDHAR, Nov 18 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said here today that the recent amendment by the Punjab Government in the Panchayati Raj Act to fillup to 70 per cent seats in civic bodies by way of indirect elections was playing "pure manipulative politics". It seemed that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, after losing the Lok Sabha elections, had lost confidence in the electorate of Punjab. Hence, he was resorting to "underhand" means to capture block samitis and zila parishads in the state, he said. If only sarpanches were to vote and elect 70 per cent representatives in the block samitis, it would not reflect the mandate of the people. The very concept of grassroots democracy would stand defeated, since sarpanches tended to go with the government due to official pressure and also their need to secure financial aid for their villages in shape of grants which were distributed by MLAs. The very purpose of electing members to block samitis and zila parishads without decentralising power to these bodies would only mean wasting crores of rupees of the people and a futile exercise by the government machinery. The government must, in fact, go in for positive amendments, instead of finding "mischievous" ways to capture these institutions. Elections to notified
area committees must also be held in the state since
their term had expired, Mr Khaira added. |
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PNFC workers go sans pay NANGAL, Nov 18 — Workers of the PNFC have not been paid wages since the past two months. The workers of the unit, which stopped production last year, were earlier being paid salary by the Punjab Government. However, after the elections even their salaries have been stopped. The workers allege that the government kept their hopes of reviving the unit by giving assurance and paying them salaries. But after the elections, it stopped all types of assistance to the unit. Some of them allege, they are being "victimised" for the defeat of the ruling alliance in the area. A few PNFC workers had campaigned against the ruling alliance candidate in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Punjab National Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (PNFC) unit here became operational in 1985 at a cost of Rs 65 crore. The unit was installed here keeping in view the easy availability of the ammonia from the adjoining unit of NFL. It was designed to produce two co-products, ammonium chloride fertiliser and the soda ash. However, after 14 years, despite functioning at full capacity, the PNFC project has stopped production and is on the verge of being winded up. With the closure of this unit more than 1500 families in the area will lose their source of income. It will also render an equal number of truckers in the area without work. The basic reason for this unit turning sick is the withdrawal of subsidy on one of the products of the company, ammonium chloride. This has rendered the PNFC fertiliser unviable. The subsidy of ammonium chloride was first withdrawn by the government in 1991. After intervention by local politicians, a parliamentary committee was instituted which restored the subsidy in 1992. Once again in 1994 the subsidy was withdrawn, leaving the PNFC project unviable. The workers union and the PNFC management allege that they have suffered due to the policy of the Centre to withdraw subsidies, under pressure from international financial organisations. This is why the subsidy for PNFC was Rs 20 crore vis-a-vis the budgetary provision of Rs 4000 crore for fertilisers annually. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab, who represents the constituency, however, cited mismanagement as the reason for the failure of this unit. He said the company had been incurring loses since its inception. It turned sick in 1986 immediately after its inception due to a fault in the plant. It was declared sick in 1989 and after the BIFR package of Rs 7 crore the fault in the plant was rectified. Still the plant could not cover losses, said Mr Mittal. The BIFR with which the PNFC case has been pending since the past 10 years had recently directed the Punjab Government to provide a security of Rs 25 crore. The Punjab Government had, however, moved to the AIFR against the decision of the BIFR. For the PNFC unit,
whatever may be the decision of the government or the
AIFR, the closure seems inevitable because the plant has
been lying closed since the past six months. |
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‘Powerless’ village cries for
attention GURDASPUR, Nov 18 — Power supply to Bassa village under Dhar subdivision in this district was cut off about 18 months ago due to a fault in electric wires. The wires have not been repaired so far. But surprisingly the power connection holders in the village are getting power bills for the said period regularly at a rate of minimum charges. In spite of repeated requests to the authorities concerned no action has been taken to mend the fault and restore power supply to villagers. The water supply provided to the villagers is also far from satisfactory. The village which has about 100 houses get water supply only for two hours a day. To meet their daily needs the women have travel about 3 miles daily to fetch water. Moreover, the village has no direct pucca road connecting it with the main road near Shahpur Kandi. There is no bus service to the village. The villagers have
raised their demand several times to the MLA of the area
but in vain. During the Lok Sabha elections no candidate
reached the village to ask them for their votes. |
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Delay in implementing pay
report resented HOSHIARPUR, Nov 18 — The Senior PCMS Association, Punjab, took a serious view of the delay in implementation of the fourth Pay Commission report from January 1, 1996. Dr S.N. Tiwari, Secretary of the association, said that at a meeting here yesterday all members expressed resentment over the delay. The association demanded 34 more posts of Deputy Director. The proposal of the
Finance Department to decrease one post each of
Additional Director and Joint Director of three posts of
Deputy Director was baseless as the report of the cadre
review committee for increasing posts of SMO, Deputy
Director, Joint Director and Additional Director had been
pending with the review committee since 1986 which was
affecting the supervision for the PCMS cadre of more than
5,000 and affecting the programme of health for all by
the year 2000. He said senior PCMS officers wanted
immediate implementation of the pay commission report. |
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BSF team leaves for meeting
in Pak AMRITSAR, Nov 18 — An 11-member Indian delegation comprising senior Border Security Force (BSF) officials, engineers of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the Survey of India and from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today left for Pakistan through the Wagah joint checkpost for participating in the biannual meeting with Pakistan Rangers. The delegation, the first one to visit Pakistan after the military took control, was led by Mr A.S. Aulkah, Inspector-General of the BSF (Punjab Frontier). The delegation consisted of seven BSF officers, three from the CPWD and Survey of India and one from the NCB. The four-day biannual meeting, which began at Lahore today, would discuss various trans-border problems like unprovoked firing by the Rangers along the Line of Control in the Jammu sector. The other matters to be discussed would be steps to combat smuggling, especially of narcotics, and check border intrusions. This is the first time
that a biannual meeting would be spread over four days.
Normally such meetings are held for three days. |
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Pak returns Indian youth FAZILKA, Nov 18 — Pakistani Rangers returned Chhinderpal Singh (18) to India in exchange for Abdul Waheed (13) at the Sadiqi checkpost at the border, 15 km from here, last evening. Pakistani Rangers in civilian clothes had on October 26 'intruded' into Indian territory in Teja Rohela village in Fazilka sector and allegedly kidnapped Chhinderpal Singh when he was working in the fields. Owing to the efforts of the BSF, Chhinderpal Singh was returned by the Pakistanis after 23 days. The exchange of the Indian and Pakistani nationals took place around 5.30 p.m. in the presence of A.C. Thaptial and Hemant Kumar, the Commandant and Deputy Commandant, 200 Battalion, respectively. It is believed that the Pakistanis were keen to secure the release of Abdul Waheed, who is stated to be a son of a retired Pakistani Ranger, and they had allegedly kidnapped Chhinderpal in retaliation. There was jubilation in the sleepy Teja Rohela village at the return of Chhinderpal Singh. Some women were seen offering 'shagan' to Chhinderpal, whose marriage was fixed for this month but was postponed after his "kidnapping". His mother, Jeeto Bai,
claimed that the entire village, including her family,
did not celebrate Divali after Chhinderpal was taken
away. For the village, the day of his return was Divali,
she added. |
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Centre urged to cancel licence PATIALA, Nov 18 — The PCMS Association, Punjab, has called upon the Union Government and the Government of Maharashtra to cancel the licence of drug company USV Limited, Bombay, for publishing a distorted map of India, excluding a large part of Jammu and Kashmir from Indian territory. Dr D.C. Sharma, general secretary of the PCMS Association, said in a press note issued here yesterday that the distorted map was published by the said firm in connection with the literature of one of its products "Doxy-I" which was detected by Dr Surinder Singla of Sangrur, who is the regional secretary of the PCMS Association. In response to a communication from the regional secretary of the PCMSA, USV Limited has accepted the omission stating that it had occurred due to the wrong reference used. But the firm had not so far disclosed the said wrong reference. The PCMSA has asked the
firm to disclose the alleged wrong reference used by it
and also tender a public apology through the print media
as the boundary issue of India has become a sensitive
issue after the Kargil conflict. It has warned USV
Limited that it will direct its members to boy- cott it
actively if the firm failed to fulfil the preconditions
laid by the PCMSA. |
||
Regularisation of services assured CHANDIGARH, Nov 18 — The President of the Punjab Raj Mulazam Dal, Mr Dal Singh Sandhu, said the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had assured the regularisation of the services of work-charged staff within 15 days. He said a meeting was held with the Chief Minister by the representatives of dal. He said the Chief Minister would meet the representatives of the dal on November 30 to state about the progress with regard to the regularisation of the employees concerned. Mr Sandhu added that Mr
Badal also assured to implement the report of the pay
anomalies committee by the end of the year. The
Irrigation Department had been told to discuss the
implementation of chapter 26 with regard to technical
employees, he added. |
||
Bravery award for three LUDHIANA, Nov 18 — The Ludhiana police today appreciated the act of bravery displayed by Mr Navneet Jain, Mr Khurana Jain and their servant, Jatinder, while tackling the miscreants who had made a robbery attempt in broad daylight in the area of Sangala Wala Shivala Road yesterday. They will be honoured by the SSP at the weekly pubic meeting on November 23. The Inspector, CIA, Mr Maninder Bedi, will also be honoured at the function. Meanwhile, a case under
Sections 452, 395, 511, 506 and 171 IPC has been
registered against Kuldip Singh, Makhan Singh, Naresh
Kumar and Amarjeet Singh, according to a press note. |
||
Dengue case reported PATIALA, Nov 18 — A dengue case, probably the first in the district, was reported at Rajindra Hospital here today. Mrs Shanti Devi, a middle-aged woman, suffering from dengue fever is recovering, according to Dr Parmar, Medical Superintendent, Rajindra Hospital. He said a few others patients down with fever had been admitted but it was yet to confirmed if they were suffering from dengue. He said the district
administration and the Civil Surgeon Office had been
alerted about the outbreak of dengue in the district. |
||
Gang busted, 3 held JALANDHAR, Nov 18 — The police has busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of three miscreants. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here today that a raid was conducted today at a house in Ravi Dass Nagar and held Harjinder Singh, alias Lally, of Nurmahal, Som Nath of Jalandhar and Ravinder Kumar of Muzaffarpur. The police recovered two scooters and a motor cycle. Two pistols and cartridges were also recovered from their possession. Mr Yadav said a case
under Sections 399 and 402, IPC, had been registered
against them. The raid was conducted under the
supervision of Mr A.s. Chahal, SP City-II, and Mr Raj Pal
Singh Sandhu, DSP (Headquarters). |
||
Villagers’ plea to state govt MOGA, Nov 18 — Residents of this district yesterday urged the Punjab Government to get repaired all link roads in this district, which had been lying in a dilapidated condition for the past several years. Speaking to mediapersons
here several villagers from various villages of the
district said although Punjab Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal, former State Minister for Industries Sukhbir
Singh Badal and Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh
Badal had earlier assured the people of their
constituencies that all unrepaired roads in this district
would be repaired but nothing had been done so far in
this regard. |
||
Shop gutted FEROZEPORE, Nov 18 — A shop of electric goods in the Municipal area here was gutted in a fire today. Fire-engines were requisitioned from here, Fazilka, Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar. According to the Deputy
Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, the cause of the
fire is electric short circuit. The loss is yet to be
estimated. |
||
MAC to hold agitation today AMRITSAR, Nov 18 — Dr Hazara Singh Cheema, a member of the Mulazam Action Committee, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to lift the ‘undeclared fiscal emergency’ in the state. In a press note issued
here today, Dr Cheema said the second phase of agitation
in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands
would be held tomorrow. |
||
Video parlour raided, 1 held GIDDERBAHA, Nov 18 — The local police has seized 15 blue films from a video parlour, which has been screening these in a small room behind a shop, in main bazaar here. Mr Ashok Baath, DSP, said a police party raided the shop yesterday and arrested Moti Ram, owner of Dabla Video Centre. He said the police had
been receiving complaints against him for the past many
months. |
||
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