Friday, October 15, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, October 15, 1999 |
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Badal to
expand ministry by month-end Bureaucracy applies brakes |
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Rape
victim changes stand, seeks CBI probe Punjab ready to pay cop award
money Tenants who don’t want to be
owners World Bank satisfied with PHSC
functioning Ammonia leak triggers anxiety Punjab to celebrate Balmiki
Jayanti Banda Bahadur Award for INA
general Forum disapproves of VC's
appointment Tohra statements
‘misleading’ Khalra
supporters criticise Bhai Ranjit Singh Badal must give up helicopter:
Cong Alert residents prevent robbery Teachers, doctors honoured 3 arrested for priest’s
murder 2nd phase of literacy campaign
next month |
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Badal to expand ministry by
month-end CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The expansion of the state Council of Ministers and a complete administrative reshuffle will take place in Punjab later this month, announced Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, saying that there would be no problem for the NDA government at the Centre to induct a Sikh in its Cabinet. Talking to newsmen after a formal release of a book on "Medal Gallery, Patiala" at the Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir, near here, today the Chief Minister said that the Shiromani Akali Dal had firm and long relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "We felt that since we won only three seats in Punjab, it was not fair on our part to join the Union Council of Ministers. It is as simple as that. There is no problem for getting the Sikhs representation in the Union Council of Ministers anytime. Whenever we will tell them, they will do it," Mr Badal said, hinting that one of MPs of the SAD may be inducted in Mr Vajpayee Cabinet soon. "We have never bargained with the BJP. We have always been offering them unconditional support. We have firm and solid relationship. We have formed governments together and we went to jail during the Emergency together. Our relationship is based on sincere friendship. Whenever we want our man in the union Cabinet, they will accommodate. But I cannot say the exact time," Mr Badal added. Talking about Punjab, Mr Badal said he would expand his Council of Ministers by the end of the month. "I cannot tell you more details. We will take a decision about the number of new ministers to be inducted. We will also decide then about any reshuffle within the existing Council of Ministers. The expansion and administrative reshuffle will take place side by side." The Chief Minister said it was for the Central Government to take a decision on the appointment of a new Governor of Punjab as the present incumbent, Lieut-Gen BKN Chhibber (retd), had completed his conventional five-year term in office. Punjab was expecting a financial package to bail it out from the present financial crisis. "What we are expecting is money from the Union government," he said answering a question about the package the state is expecting. "We had a meeting with financial experts, including Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and others in the Capital yesterday. In fact we have been talking to them for some time now. These meetings will continue. We have been even talking to the former union Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for guidance on the subject. "The meeting with the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, was very encouraging. We are hopeful that the Central Government will help us to come out of the present financial crisis," the Chief Minister said. The SAD chief said that when the National Democratic Alliance held its meeting immediately after announcement of the Lok Sabha results, he along with Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had taken up the issue of a substantial increase in the prices of diesel with the Prime Minister. "We impressed upon the Prime Minister that the increase in diesel prices would hit the farming sector severely. It would hit others as well and we insisted that the hike should be cut down." The increase in sales
tax on diesel, Mr Badal said, had been announced much
earlier. It was a mere coincidence that the increase in
its prices announced by the union government and a hike
in sales tax announced by the state government came
together. |
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Vehicle board order CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The bureaucracy in Punjab seems to have put brakes on the order issued by the Motor Vehicle Board headed by the Chief Secretary to effect economy in the use of staff cars and vehicles. All financial commissioners, administrative secretaries, commissioners of divisions, Deputy Commissioners, heads of departments, chairpersons of boards and corporations, etc, have been asked to surrender all surplus staff cars and vehicles immediately by the board. The order has been obviously issued in the light of the financial crisis facing the state. At the state headquarter only head of the departments, administrative secretaries, chairpersons and managing directors of boards and corporations and above have been allowed by the board to have independent staff cars. All other staff cars and vehicles by all departments, corporations and boards were supposed to be surrendered or withdrawn as per the order. In case any department wanted to keep one or two cars and vehicles in pool, the administrative secretary concerned has been told to send a proposal to this effect to the State Transport Commissioner, Punjab, for consideration by the high-powered committee on economy in expenditure on government vehicles. In case of non-submission of a proposal to this effect it was to be presumed that the department concerned did not want to have any extra staff car and vehicle in the pool. Informed sources said so far only small departments had furnished information with regard to retaining staff cars. Such small departments have only one or two vehicles. Major departments having hundreds of vehicles and cars have not either submitted any proposal as regards retaining vehicles in the pool or surrendered any vehicles. Among the major departments having staff cars and vehicles in hundreds are the police, different wings of the Public Works department, Punjab Agriculture department and its offshoot Punjab Mandi Board and various organisations operating under the Punjab Cooperation department, including Markfed, Spinfed, Punjab State Cooperative Bank, Punjab Agriculture Development Bank. Official sources said the Punjab Police had more than 4,500 vehicles. As it was one of the most-sensitive department, the Home Secretary had been requested to take up the vehicle issue with the Punjab Police chief. Police department authorities would be asked to assess properly their actual requirement and surrender all vehicles that were not required for field duty and policing. The board has felt that there could be a saving of crores of rupees by implementing strictly the orders issued in connection with surrendering of vehicles. In some major departments every officer had an independent staff car though as per rules only the head of the department should have an independent vehicle and others should use vehicles from the pool. The sources said the Punjab Chief Secretary had reminded the Principal Secretary (Finance) to get the orders implemented in letter and in spirit. Sources added that major departments were reluctant to implement the orders of the board as no officer wanted to part with the vehicles allotted to him by the department concerned. The board authorities have issued some important instructions with regard to vehicles. Officers concerned have been told that keeping in view the fuel efficiency, price of the vehicles and the seating capacity, it has been decided to replace Ambassador staff cars with Maruti Zen LX, Maruti Zen VX, Santro Standard Euro-I, and Santro Euro-II. These cars will be provided only to the officers of the rank of head of department, Administrative Secretaries and above. The board has raised the rate of use of government cars for private purpose by heads of departments, Administrative Secretaries and above from Rs 1.50 a km to Rs 3 a km. However, the Administrative Secretaries and heads of the departments shall continue to pay Rs 150 for 200 km and Rs 300 for 400 km a month for the use of government vehicles for private purposes and Rs 3 a km beyond this limit. Senior officers have
been told specifically not to pass their vehicles to
their juniors after these become a bit old. The board has
framed a rule that vehicle once allotted to an officer as
per entitlement will be kept by him or her till the
vehicle is declared unfit for use. |
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Petrol to cost more in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Petrol in Punjab has become costlier with immediate effect as the state government today hiked the sales tax on it from 12 per cent to 20 per cent. According to information available, the price of petrol in the state will jump from existing Rs 24.98 to Rs 26.70 a litre approximately. The Punjab Government
had doubled sales tax on diesel, a few days ago. |
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Heart ailments: women too at
risk CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — A joint study by psychologists and cardiologists in Punjab has revealed that women are equal or rather more "at risk" when it comes to cardio-vascular diseases as compared to men. It is a myth that heart attack is a man's disease, women are vulnerable too. Now it is labelled "Silent epidemic" (specially in post-menopausal women in the age group of 45-65). More than 25 per cent of these cardio-vascular diseases’ death are in women under the age of 45. Of five lakh heart attack deaths every year, as many as 24,000 are women. The study by psychologist Dr Jitendra Mohan (Director of the project), Dr Vijay Mahajan, cardiologist at Tagore Hospital, Jalandhar, and Ms Meena Sehgal, Reader in Department of Psychology at Panjab University, Chandigarh, involved 150 male and 50 female patients and 100 healthy persons. Dr Mohan is Professor in Psychology at Panjab University. The findings of the study were presented in the "psycho-social section" of the International Conference on Heart Health in the Developing Countries, which concluded in Delhi today. It was organised by the all-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Dr Jitendra Mohan told TNS that the study was still continuing. Besides the usual bio-medical data and parameters, the study took cognisance of the psycho-social factors and measures as well. The new name for it being "Bio-psycho-social medical care." "Health", says Dr Mohan, is not just a positive state of physical, mental social and emotional well-being or a mere absence of disease"; it was also a state of ‘‘psychological behaviour," which included stress and personality traits. Similar studies in the USA and the UK have revealed that even in the developed countries, where the rate of deaths due to coronary artery diseases or coronary heart diseases, was declining, it was still much higher among the North Indian migrants, particularly, Punjabis, to those countries. This was so because Punjabis' temperament and personality traits were marked by ‘‘anger’’ and ‘‘hostility’’, spirit of ‘‘competitiveness’’, a life-style which caused instant ‘‘arousal’’: emotional anger. As frontiermen (Punjab being a border state) people were extremely emotional. This easily affected the heart. The study revealed that in chronic diseases’ cases, like cancer and heart attacks, psychological factors played an important role. Wherever ‘‘sharing and caring’’ was more, the risk was less and recovery was better. ‘‘Hope, positive attitude and optimism’’ enabled patients to overcome the disease. In other words, besides the known risk factors, "behaviour pathogens" contributed to the heart diseases. The study team focused on role of behaviour pattern in heart patients and how irritability, anger and hostility acted on the patients. Also what stressful life style leads to and what effect positive steps and optimism had on the patients. The gender differentiation was also studied. It was revealed that persons showing personality stress dimensions were more prone to heart diseases as were those who were in depression. Since Punjabis are given to high degree of competitiveness and drive, their life pace is fast and hard. They stumble on cardio-vascular problems more often. The female patients were found to be high on ‘‘hopelessness and depression’’ more often than not, women ‘‘internalised’’ their anger. They were significantly low on ‘‘health orientation, control and autonomy". The women patients were found to contain their anger and did not show it. Or were high on "stress" and low on "health protective" behaviour like psychological well-being, happiness and positive experience. There was enough evidence to regard "psychological" variables, in particular personality and stress, as important ‘‘risk’’ factors for cancer and coronary heart disease, equal in importance to smoking, heredity cholesterol level, blood pressure, etc. Psychological treatment can modify a person’s reaction to stress to diminish the risk of heart disease. The survival duration also increases. "Psychological influences on physical diseases are much greater than suspected in the past", says Dr Jitendra Mohan. It is time to trace casual pathways of such modifiable risk factors. As in the West, the
project director of the study ‘‘Psychological
Factors in Coronary Heart Diseases (Heart
Attack)’’ says there was need to
create’’ awareness and educate people how
perceptible change in the life style and behaviour, early
medical intervention and psychological support, could
make a world of difference to people risking heart
problems. |
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Rape victim changes stand,
seeks CBI probe CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The controversy about the rape of a 16-year-old Ludhiana girl, Gurpreet, alias Sonu, allegedly by Suba Singh, son of Punjab Minister, Gurdev Singh Badal, and his relative Baljinder Singh, today took a dramatic turn when the victim and her father, Paramjit Sharma, filed a joint writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding a CBI inquiry into the entire episode. In an interview the victim revealed that on September 11 she and her father were kidnapped from Ludhiana and brought to Chandigarh. They were lodged at Mr Gurdev Badal's official residence. Her father was tortured and drugged with a view to prevailing upon him to persuade Sonu to backtrack from her statement naming Suba Singh as the accused in the FIR lodged at Ludhiana. "After four days my 12-year-old brother, Ramandeep, alias Vicky, was also brought to Chandigarh and lodged at the house of the minister", alleged Sonu. She added that the minister threatened her that if she did not change her statement both her brother and father would be liquidated. Weeping and wailing, Sonu said: "When I could not withstand the torture of my father and brother, I buckled to backtrack from my statement. On September 22 I was taken to the office of the Ludhiana SSP for getting my statement recorded. One Inspector Malhotra was entrusted the duty of getting my statement recorded. He summoned two woman police officials who pressurised me to change my statement and delete the name of Suba Singh". The victim maintained that her statement was already written by the police officials. She was merely asked to sign the statement. Some blank papers were also got signed from her by Mr Badal at his residence. Sonu and her father alleged that they were released from illegal detention about a week ago. It was only when they gathered that a writ petition had been filed in the High Court on their behalf. The petition had stated that she had wrongly named Suba Singh in her complaint. "I reiterate that this petition had not been filed by me". Nor did she appear before any court to make the statement that they (she and her father) had wrongly named Suba Singh. Demanding a CBI inquiry, Sonu and Paramjit said since Mr Gurdev Badal is Cabinet Minister and his son is involved in the incident, the whole investigation of the case had been scuttled due to the influence of the minister on the local administration. Recalling her woeful tale, Sonu said it was on April 24 that she was kidnapped in a white Maruti car and taken to an unknown place. She was lodged in a farmhouse. She was gang-raped by Suba Singh and Baljinder Singh for two months. One day they had even planned to kill her. "Baljinder Singh had put his knees on my chest and was about to strangulate me, when Suba Singh advised him to let me go on the condition that I would not disclose this incident to anyone. And if I did, all members of my family would be liquidated". Mr Harish Khanna, convener of the Punjab Janata Dal, demanded immediate removal of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal from the Cabinet. In a letter to Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Khanna stated: "As you already know, the victim has already changed her stand in the case under the influence of the culprits which has only strengthened the hands of the suspects. Having been emboldened by this sudden shift in the stand of the victim and her father, the culprits would go all-out to act with vengeance against me and my family. This is quite apparent from the tone of the threats now coming to me over the telephone". Mr Khanna urged to Chief
Minister to provide him adequate security cover. "If
any mishap occurs to me or my family members in the
absence of adequate security cover, the state government
will be solely responsible for the same". He also
demanded adequate security for the victim and her family. |
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Punjab ready to pay cop award
money CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — On a petition filed by Mr Dilbagh Singh, Head Constable, Police Lines, Ferozepore, who had earlier filed another plea for direction to award him Rs 20 lakh that had been announced for killing a terrorist, Nishan Singh Makhu, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the provision of adequate security to the petitioner and his family members immediately as he apprehended danger to his life from the authorities. The matter came up before Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar. The Head Constable alleged that filing of the writ petition by him had annoyed the Director-General of Police and S.S.P., Ferozepore, who had threatened him with dire consequences if he did not withdraw his petition. When the petitioner did not yield, he was picked up and taken in a police vehicle by the SSP, and Mr Hardev Singh DSP (D) to the office of I.G. (Intelligence) at the Mini Secretariat. He was allegedly told by the DIG, Faridkot, and the above-named police officials that he would suffer if he did not withdraw the writ petition. He was allegedly made to sign blank papers and an affidavit to be used as application for withdrawing the writ petition. The Head Constable feared he and his wife might be implicated in a false case. He sought the court's permission to pursue the petition. In a reply filed by the SSP, it has been stated that the petitioner has wrongly linked his injuries suffered in another incident as having sustained it in the encounter in which hardcore terrorist Nishan Singh Makhu had been killed. It was further admitted that in this case he had already been promoted as Head Constable and as per scheme one could either be given one rank promotion or cash award. Others had been given cash awards. The Deputy
Advocate-General stated before the court that respondents
were ready to pay the same award money that had been paid
to other officials. On this assurance, the Judge
adjourned the case to October 26. |
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Tenants who don’t want to
be owners PATIALA, Oct 14 — Even as a cash strapped municipal corporation is taking steps to convert tenants of its various shops into owners. The move is meeting resistance from the tenants themselves who are in no mood to first pay the corporation increased back rent and buy the shops at market rate. The corporation recently issued notices to around 150 tenants in Sheranwala Gate, Ghas Mandi, Lahori Gate, Sabji Mandi and Sanauri Adda increasing the rent by 20 per cent over the original rent fixed in 1975. As most tenants have not had any increase in rent since 1975 and many of them have been irregular in paying rent, back dues have accumulated in most cases which will now have to be paid at the increased rate. The tenants have, however, decided not to pay the increased rent and launch an agitation to ensure the notices are taken back instead. Municipal Corporation Welfare Association president Surinder Singh Arora told TNS that the tenants were objecting to any increase in rent as the corporation had said at the time of allotment in 1975 that it would not increase the rent of those shops which it had given on rent following open auction. Mr Arora alleged that the notices were discriminatory as even tenants who had rented shops after auction in 1985 had been served notices to give enhanced rent on the basis of the 1975 rent. Moreover the shops were not in good condition and at many places with the corporation had never repaired them. The Welfare Association president claimed that even in the case of fixing the rate for buying shops the corporation had not done justice to the tenants. He said shops in Ghas Mandi, near ganda nala were being priced at Rs 10,000 per square yard and those in Sheranwala Gate at 20,000 per square yard. He said in Sheranwala Gate the rate was on the higher side as the shops were not on the mainroad. He demanded that the rate should be fixed according to the reserve price fixed for registry of these shops. He cited the case of some shops which had been bought by tenants in Sabji Mandi as the price had been kept reasonable. Besides the tussle with the corporation on rent and keeping the price of the shops on par with their registry value, there is also the problem of may tenants who are sublettees of their premises. They are demanding that the corporation take a nominal sum of Rs 10,000 as decided in 1986 and transfer the shops to their name. However, the corporation has served notice on them to pay transfer fee equivalent to ten years rent. One such tenant, Gurbachan Singh, told TNS that in many cases the transfer fee even for small shops would be more than Rs one lakh. The subtenants urged the corporation to scale down the transfer fee saying once the tenants bought the shops, the corporation would still continue to earn revenue as house tax. Corporation Commissioner K.S. Kang, however, said the aim of the government was to make the tenants owners of the shops. He said all rates had been fixed by the municipal corporation according to laid down norms. With regard to the transferees, he said the scheme had been introduced for the sublettees on their own demand. Mr Kang said the
corporation was of the view that the tenants should
either become owners of the shops or vacate them. He said
most of the tenants were sitting on prime commercial
property and paying practically nothing to the
corporation. |
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World Bank satisfied with PHSC
functioning CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — Mr S.S. Channy, Managing Director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), said today that there had been some delay in the release of funds to the World Bank-aided project and the World Bank had also expressed its concern. However, the matter was sorted out in July itself. A press note issued by Mr Channy said the issue was discussed during the mid-term review of the project by the World Bank in Delhi from June 1 to June 6 and a team comprising Mr David Peters, Senior Public Health Specialist, and Dr GNV Ramana, Public Health Specialist, came to Punjab. They met the Chief Secretary of Punjab along with the Principal Secretary, Finance and the Principal Secretary, Health. The statement said the government had released Rs 12.90 crore, including the state government's share, to the Punjab Health Systems Corporation and had further allowed a bridge loan of Rs 35 crore to meet the requirement of the corporation in the times to come. The position had been brought to the notice of the World Bank authorities and they had conveyed through e-mail dated August 17 to the Managing Director, PHSC, that they were satisfied with the arrangement made by the state government. He claimed that the news
item was discussed with David Peters, Senior Public
Health Specialist, World Bank, in New Delhi office. He
said there was no truth in the allegations made in the
news story carried by newspapers today. |
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Ammonia leak triggers anxiety BATHINDA, Oct 14 — Residents of the Nai Basti and Nirankari Bhavan area live in constant danger due to frequent leakage of ammonia gas from the ice factory situated in the heart of the area. A major leak yesterday, panicked residents, forcing them to flee. They complained of breathing problem and irritation in the eyes. In an application to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar, residents demanded that the ice factory should be shifted out of the area as it caused many problems. They alleged that yesterday leak was finally brought under control by fire brigade personnel after several hours. They added that ammonia had leaked on earlier occasions too. Mr Anil Garg, Tehsildar, who visited the locality to make an on the spot inquiry, told TNS that the ice factory had become a health hazard and he had suggested in his report to the SDM, Mr Gurtej Singh, that it should be closed immediately. Mr Dinesh Sharma, SHO,
police station, Kotwali when contacted said that no case
had been registered against the owner of the ice factory
as residents had not made a proper complaint. |
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Punjab to celebrate Balmiki
Jayanti JALANDHAR, Oct 14 — A meeting of the Maharishi Balmiki Parkash Utsav Committee was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, to make arrangements regarding a state-level function at Partap Bagh, on October 24 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maharishi Balmiki. Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Public Relations, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla, Minister, Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Sital Singh, Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, all MLAs, SGPC members and representatives of various Balmik organisations participated in the meeting. Mr Atwal said the Punjab Government urged people to celebrate this day, rising above caste, creed and other social differences. Mr Sekhwan describing Maharishi Balmiki as a great scholar, said it was deplorable that even now illiteracy remained. He urged the Balmik society to provide special attention to the education of their children. He said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, had already allotted a 1000 square yards plot on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road for the construction of Balmiki Bhavan and the government had already sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for the project. He said Rs 35 lakh had been given for Balmik chair at Punjabi University, Patiala, and the duty timings for Balmik women had been changed from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Mr Sekhwan said the Public Relations Department was bringing out literature on the life of Maharishi Balmiki to distribute among the public at the function. Representatives of
various Balmik societies gave their suggestions to make
the function a success and urged people to attend the
function. |
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Banda Bahadur Award for INA
general LUDHIANA, Oct 14 — The Banda Bahadur Award for this year will be conferred on Gen Mohan Singh, a hero of the Indian National Army (INA), posthumously. This was announced by Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, President of the Bairagi Mohan Mandal, Punjab, during a press conference here today. The award would be given to Gen Mohan Singh’s widow Ms Jaswant Kaur, on the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on October 16. Mr Bawa also informed that Dr Rajinderpal Singh Bairagi and Mr Hari Dass Bawa would be honoured with the Master Chain Singh Award and Mahant Lacchman Dass Award, respectively, on October 16. Meanwhile, Mr Bawa said
the Punjab Government should declare a state holiday on
this day. A stamp on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur should also
be released and the Nangal-Delhi road should be renamed
after him, he said. |
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Forum disapproves of VC's
appointment PATIALA, Oct 14 — The Forum for Educational Action and Reforms (FEAR) that yesterday Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had not done justice to Punjabi University by appointing a "typical bureaucrat", Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, as its vice-chancellor. In a statement here, forum President Amarjit Singh Dhillon said a meeting of the forum felt that only persons who had long experience in institutions of higher learning should be considered for the post of the Vice-Chancellor. Dr Dhillon said the
Vice-Chancellor had erred in the appointments made by him
after assuming office as persons of higher calibre were
ignored. He said the forum had constituted a committee to
submit its report on the functioning of the university
under Dr Ahluwalia within a month. |
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Tohra statements
‘misleading’ CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, said here today that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was making misleading statements as regards giving free power to farmers. The decision on free power to the farmers was part of the election manifesto of the party which was prepared by a committee headed by Mr Surjit Singh Barnala. Mr Tohra's nominee, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, was a member of the manifesto drafting committee, Mr Badungar said. Later the manifesto was approved by the Political Affairs Committee of the party of which Mr Tohra was a member. He said that the
"ignorance" expressed by Mr Tohra with regard
to free power issue was laughable. He was making
statements to create confusion. His anti-farmer
statements should be opposed by the SAD activists. |
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Khalra supporters criticise Bhai AMRITSAR, Oct 14 — The Khalra Action Committee criticised former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh for his reported statement blaming the committee for the defeat of Bibi Paramjit Kaur from the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat. Bibi Paramjit Kaur, wife of the slain human rights leader Mr Jaswant Singh Khalra, was the joint candidate of the Akali front comprising of Sarb Hind Akali Dal, Akali Dal Amritsar and Akali Dal Panthic. The chairman of the
committee, Mr Surinder Singh Ghardiala in a statement
said Bhai Ranjit Singh was talking like an Akali
politician rather than a religious head and that his
motive for extending support to Bibi Paramjit Kaur was to
recapture the post of Jathedar whereas the action
committee fought the election on human rights issues. |
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Badal must give up helicopter: Cong JALANDHAR, Oct 14 (PTI) — The Punjab Congress today demanded that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal surrender his helicopter and cut other wasteful expenditure at least till the state got out of its fiscal crisis. "The state government is finding it difficult to even pay salaries of class IV employees but the Chief Minister cannot give up the luxury of criss-crossing the small state in a helicopter. Such an attitude shows the apathetic face of the government’’, state Congress general secretary Partap Singh Bajwa told reporters here. He said the Badal government’s claims of being pro-farmer had proved hollow as the Chief Minister had failed to demand even a partial rollback of the steep 35 per cent hike in diesel prices which will lead to across-the board inflation and affect the farming community adversely. "Not only did Badal fail to condemn the diesel price hike but slapped a sales tax increase of four per cent to add to the farmers’ woes’’, he said. Mr Bajwa also demanded
that the state government must ensure a round-the-clock
power supply to the farmers even if that meant a review
of the free power-water supply to villages. |
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Badal mourns Ahuja's death CHANDIGARH, Oct 14 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has expressed grief over the demise of Mr Nand Lal Ahuja, a veteran freedom fighter and president of the Punjab Freedom Fighter's Association. Mr Ahuja died today in Ludhiana after prolonged illness. Describing Mr Ahuja as a
"true nationalist and gentleman to the core,"
the Chief Minister said Mr Ahuja's contribution to the
freedom movement would be remembered for long. |
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Balwant Singh Nagoke cremated TARN TARAN, Oct 14
— The body of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak
Committee (SGPC) member Mr Balwant Singh Nagoke was
cremated at his native village Nagoke, 35 km from here
today. Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, MP, Mr Balbir Singh Pannu,
senior vice-president Mr Ajay Pal Singh Meerakot, MLA, Mr
Kiranjot Kaur, Mr Kashmir Singh Gandiwind, Mr Joginder
Singh Pheruman, Mr Harpinderdeep Singh, Mr Partap Singh
Advocate (all SGPC members). Mr Arwinder Singh
Brahampura, Mr Lakhwinder Pal Singh, DSP, Goindwal Sahib,
Mr Davinder Singh, SDM, Khadoor Sahib and others laid
wreaths on the dead body. Mr Nagoke died in Chandigarh on
Wednesday after a brief illness. |
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Nand Lal Ahuja dead LUDHIANA, Oct 14 — Freedom fighter and social worker Nand Lal Ahuja died here today after a prolonged illness. He was 82. He is survived by his wife, a son and four daughters. Mr Ahuja was also president of the Punjab Pradesh Freedom Fighters Association. His cremation was largely attended. The Additional Deputy
Commissioner, Mr K. Siva Prasad, laid the wreath on the
body on behalf of the state government. |
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Suspension of SMO revoked TARN TARAN, Oct 14 — Punjab government has revoked the suspension of Dr Karanjit Singh, SMO, Civil Hospital. He resumed the charge
today. The Amritsar unit of the PCMS Association in a
statement, has welcomed the decision and appealed to the
Punjab Government to revoke the suspension of Dr K.K
Singh of the local Civil Hospital also. |
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Alert residents prevent
robbery LUDHIANA, Oct 14 — The presence of the mind shown by residents of Mohar Singh Nagar prevented an armed robbery in the house of a businessman here this morning. According to information, two youths called upon the house of Mr Surjit Singh at 11.15 am. Since Mr Surjit Singh had already left the house for work, his wife opened the door. The youths, one carrying a pistol and the other a knife, tried to push her inside the house. However, she ran outside and raised the alarm. Some passer-by tried to catch them but they scared them away with their weapons. Finally, another resident of the area managed to catch the duo a few yards away from Mr Surjit Singh’s house. The residents then tied them and called the police. When the police did not
arrived after half an hour, a resident went to the nearby
police post and brought the police. |
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Teachers, doctors honoured LUDHIANA, Oct 14 — The Shaheed Memorial Service Society honoured 23 teachers and 20 doctors for excellence in the field of education and medical services, at a state-level function organised here today. Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Information and Public Relations and Revenue presided over the function and presented the honours. Addressing the function, Mr Sekhwan called upon social and voluntary organisations to strive to improve the moral and social values amongst the people and to encourage those working for the upliftment of the poor. He appreciated the
services rendered by Shaheed Memorial Service Society
during the past 33 years and announced a grant of Rs
25,000. |
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3 arrested for priest’s murder HOSHIARPUR, Oct 14 (UNI) — The police today claimed to have busted a gang of looters and also solved a murder case of a temple priest with the arrest of three members of the gang. The SSP, Mr R.P. Mittal, identified the accused as Gurdit Singh and Parmjit Singh of Kukowal village and Manjit Singh of Kalowal Fattu, adding that a countrymade pistol of .303 bore and 10 cartridges were seized from them. He said Manjit Singh, in a bid to avenge his insult when the priest, Shantagiri, of Tohana village had objected to his visit to the temple with his paramour, had assaulted and killed the priest with the assistance of two of his accomplices on September 15. Besides, they had also looted cash from the temple. Three cases have been
registered against the accused. |
||
Bus fares raised in Ludhiana LUDHIANA, Oct 14 — The fares of local buses plying here have been increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent with immediate effect. Although no notification has been issued by the district administration, it has been done by bus owners allegedly without any consultations with the District Transport Office (DTO). When contacted, the
Assistant District Transport Officer, Mr Gopal Das
Sharma, confirmed that the DTO office was not informed
about the hike. He, however, said he would look into the
matter and take the necessary action. However, the bus
owners have already started charging the new rates and
the passengers have expressed resentment against it. |
||
Suicide bid by woman FATEHGARH SAHIB, Oct 14 — Mrs Lovejeet Kaur (22), a Dalit woman of Mianpur village, tried to commit suicide before the office of the SSP here yesterday allegedly after being harassed by her in-laws who threw her out of the house making allegations of moral turpitude against her. Police personnel and people present there, however, saved her and took her to the SSP who assured her of justice and directed the officials concerned to register an FIR against the culprits. Her father died of shock today. Talking to this reporter, the woman said she was a nursing sister at Cheema Mandi village and used to go to the dispensary by bus. Her husband, Manmohan Singh, was a bus conductor and they got married nine months ago. Mr Paramraj Singh
Umranangal, SSP, said a case under Sections 376, 420,
498A and the SC, ST Act had been registered at Bassi
Pathana police station. He said the guilty would be
arrested soon. |
||
2nd phase of literacy
campaign next month JALANDHAR, Oct 14 — More than 50,000 illiterates in the 15-35 age group were enrolled and out of these 44,000 were made literate under the Total Literacy Campaign, which has been launched by the Zila Sakharta Samiti three years back in the district. That was disclosed here
yesterday by Mr Som Parkash, Deputy
Commissioner-cum-President of the Samiti. He said the
second phase of the scheme would start next month and
cover the areas falling within the limits of the
Municipal Corporation, cantonment board and Jalandhar
Cantonment. He sought the cooperation of the local
authorities, interested persons and NGOs for promoting
the cause of literacy in the district. |
||
Convocation of engg institute SANGRUR, Oct 14 — The second convocation of Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology was held at Longowal, 20 km from here, today. Mr Ashok Chandra, Special Secretary Ministry of Human Resources and Development, who was the chief guest, gave away certificates and diplomas to students. Dr R.C. Chauhan,
Director of the institute, read out the report of the
institute. |
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