Saturday, September 4, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, September 4, 1999 |
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
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Wary
cotton growers pick early crop |
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Greening
Gurgaon, Denmark way Human bomb surrenders Vajpayee "voted against
Punjab Amarinder expects clean sweep
It kindles their lamp of hope Suspect gives details of hawala
racket Bid to loot bank, 4 held Rape case: JD (S) to hold
demonstration Punjab govt asked to take action
against officer Case
against SAD (B) men Sabharwal
couple gets award |
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Wary cotton growers pick
early crop RAMAN (Bathinda) Sept 3 — After six years of crop failure farmers of this region are taking no chances and have started picking cotton bolls even before they have matured completely with early-sowing Desi and Narma varieties of cotton, beginning to bear fruit farmers have pressed professional pickers into picking cotton. The farmers fear attack by American bollworm in the days ahead pick the maturing cotton bolls with the intention of drying them at home by sunlight rather than leaving them to the mercy of nature. Official sources add that while weather conditions thus far have been good rains in September could prove fatal, providing additional impetus for picking the crop now. Untimely rains in September last year had provoked a severe attack of American bollworm. Agriculture Department sources said that this is the first time in years that American bollworm and leaf curl virus have remained under control and with a minimal use of insecticides. Punjab, which used to lead the country in cotton production, had been witnessing a decline in production each year. Last year the average yield was only 60 kilogram per acre. The area under cotton has been on the decline as a result and touched a record low of 4.65 lakh hectares in the current season. Mr G.S. Khaira, Chief
Agriculture Officer, when contacted said that if the
weather remained favourable, Punjab would witness a
bumper crop of cotton this season. He added that in the
coming days, the picking of cotton would pick up
momentum. |
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EC takes notice of
demotions by SGPC AMRITSAR, Sept 3 — For the first time, the Election Commission has taken notice of the demotions of certain Shiromani committee employees on the complaint of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD). Mr Kulwant Singh, Secretary, SGPC, while talking to TNS, however, said the Election Commission had no locus standi to question the decisions of the Shiromani committee. In his reply to the Principal Secretary, Government of Punjab, which forwarded the letter of the Election Commission through the Deputy Commissioner to the SGPC, Mr Kulwant Singh said the committee had not demoted any employee with a view to intimidating him on political grounds as alleged by Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Senior Vice-President, SHSAD. Mr Kulwant Singh said the general house of the SGPC which met on March 3 this year had passed a resolution authorising the executive of the SGPC to form a sub-committee reviewing undue promotions and grades etc given by the management when Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra was the President of the SGPC. It was the recommendations of the sub-committee which were accepted by the SGPC executive. The SGPC Secretary
claimed that those employees were demoted who were given
promotions without rules or norms. He alleged that the
names of employees mentioned by Mr Bhaur had been working
for the newly-floated SHSAD though no leave was
sanctioned to them. |
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Royal women add colour to
campaign PATIALA, Sept 3 — Women from the royal family — "Yuvrani" Reshma and "Biba" Jaiinder Kaur, daughter-in-law and daughter of Maharani Parneet Kaur — are adding a dash of colour to the campaign in the city which has been otherwise bereft of stars. The two women have been campaigning in the city while Maharani Parneet Kaur has been concentrating in the rural areas. Mrs Jaiinder Kaur claims that at a rally in Main Ji ki saran "my mother has done a lot of social work in the city and has been interacting with them regularly. So the response from women is more than last time", she says while referring to the election fought by her father Capt Amarinder Singh. Jaiinder seems to be popular with women with a continuous stream of them coming on the dais to garland her. Many touch her feet. She, however, tells them not do so while cheerfully agreeing to get herself photographed with them. Simply dressed, Mrs Jaiinder in her speech appeals to the people to give her mother a chance to serve them. Touching on the accessibility issue for which her father has come in for criticism, she says, "I give you my word that my mother will meet you whenever your go to Moti Bagh (palace) and your work will be done". ‘Yuvrani’ Reshma, is still unfamiliar with the constituency despite being married to Capt Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh for more than four years. "I could not get involved as I was living in Delhi till October last year," she justifies. She hopes to play a big role by helping her mother-in-law in development work in the city in case of a Congress victory. "I am getting love and respect from the people and I feel with their encouragement I can play a more important role", she adds. However, many have different opinions. "They do not know the people first hand and will not mix with us again until the next elections, says a shopkeeper of the Dharampura Bazar. However, some hold the
royal family in awe and respect. The fact that the royal
family facilitated refugees from Pakistan to settle here
after partition ensures goodwill for its descendants,
they say. |
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Greening Gurgaon, Denmark way CHANDIGARH: The green city concept appears to be catching on in India with increased emphasis on environmental improvement because of excessive pollution in our cities. If India can achieve even a small percentage of what Denmark has done in the field of environmental management engineering and cleaner industrial technologies, there will be much less pollution in our cities. An environment-friendly organisation, Green City Denmark, which was initiated by the Danish Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Environment and Energy, is all set to promote the concept of green city in India. The Green City Denmark (GCD) is considered as a showcase of the Danish technological expertise and knowhow in the areas of environmentally sound production, sustainable solutions to waste management, energy conservation, environmental safety and sustainable development. The GCD, which is already handling projects in 180 countries, including Russia, China, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, functions under the overall financial control of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its Project Manager, Ms Charlotte Baek Risbjerg, who was in the city to discuss with Mr Jagjit Puri, Managing Director of the Punjab State Federation of Sugarmills, various aspects of a memorandum of understanding to be signed for setting up a demonstration plant for generation of power with the help of sugarcane press mud in Punjab, told TNS that the GCD had chosen Gurgaon as a model case under its green city concept to improve its environment through better waste management, both from domestic and industrial sectors, water supply and waste water treatment, energy saving and renewable energy development, by checking soil and air pollution, introducing cleaner industrial technologies and environmental management, building construction and urban ecology management and by improved urban traffic and transportation. Ms Risbjerg said her organisation with the cooperation of the Haryana Government would start mapping of the old and new Gurgaon for identifying which technology would suit the area for tackling its environmental issues step by step. The survey work would be over in a year. Ms Risbjerg who was accompanied by Mr Ajay Gulati, Managing Director of GCD's associate in India, said sugarmills in Punjab had great potential of becoming power plants along with their present activities. The 15 sugarmills in the Punjab cooperative sector were sufficient to produce enough power with sugarcane press mud as fuel and without any use of oil or coal not only to run the sugarmills but also enable them to sell power worth Rs 2 crore annually to the Punjab State Electricity Board. The state government's
investments in this sector, says Mr Puri, will be both
power and money-generating for the mills. |
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Human bomb surrenders TARN TARAN, Sept 3 — A "human bomb," Manjit Singh, alias Kabul Singh, son of Mr Gurdip Singh, a resident of Ramrauni village falling under the Chabal police station, is reported to have surrendered before the police yesterday. Sources here said today that Manjit Singh (25) was living underground for the past eight years. He went to Pakistan four to five times during this period. There, he was given training to be a human bomb and was put on a major assignment by the ISI. Manjit Singh’s father was interrogated by the police several times. His (Manjit Singh’s) uncle, who is an employee of the Punjab Police is reported to have played a major role in his surrender. Manjit Singh was seen as a threat on the PM’s visit to Amritsar today. The DGP, Punjab, Mr
Sarabjit Singh, visited Amritsar in this connection
yesterday. Manjit Singh’s surrender was sought to be
kept a secret. |
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Vajpayee "voted against
Punjab PATIALA, Sept 3 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal today said that a BJP government of the Centre would mean division of the country on communal lines. Speaking at an election rally at Giani Zail Singh Market Rajpura town here today, the last day of campaigning for his protege Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Tohra directed his attack at Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee on whose name Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra of the SAD is seeking votes. Mr Tohra said the hopes of Punjabis that Mr Vajpayee would fulfil their needs proved unfounded as the Indian Prime Minister took a stand against the interests of the state. Mr Tohra claimed that during the reorganisation of Punjab, Mr Vajpayee as a member of the 21-Member committee on Punjabi speaking areas, had given a dissenting note against the majority decision. He had objected to certain areas being given to Punjab and had gone on record that Chandigarh should never be given to Punjab. Mr Vajpayee betrayed the sentiments of the Punjabi community again when he included Udham Singh district in the hall state of Uttarakhand. Referring to the recent murder of a Christian missionary, Mr Tohra said minority communities like the Sikhs, Muslims and Christians would never be safe in the BJP regime. Urging the electorate to vote for candidates of the third front, Mr Tohra said a coalition government of the minorities, alone could maintain peace and harmony. Criticising the Congress, Mr Tohra said he would not like to talk about a party who could not even find a leader is the country. Later, Mr Chandumajra
led a cavalcade of two wheelers through the bazaars of
the city in a show of strength Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra and
Mrs Parneet Kaur had undertaken a similar exercises in
the recent past. |
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Amarinder expects clean sweep NABHA, Sept 3 — The PPCC President, Capt Amarinder Singh today said a "clean wave" in favour of the Congress had emerged in the elections and the party would make a "clean sweep" in all parliamentary seats being contested by it. Addressing an election rally at the grain market here, he said the Badal government had failed on all fronts. People, therefore, wanted to get rid of it. Former PPCC President Rajinder Kaur Bhattal also attended the rally. The economy of the state, he said had been ruined by the Akali Dal (Badal) government. Farmers were unhappy due to poor availability of electricity and a hike in the bills of domestic consumption. Traders too were still waiting for the government to fulfil its promise of abolishing octroi. He said while Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had been talking about the long-pending demands of the state before coming to power, he had not done anything to get them accepted by the Centre despite being its coalition partner. Even now, the Chief Minister was only harping on the Sonia versus Vajpayee factor. Ms Bhattal said while addressing the rally the Congress was the only party which could provide a stable government, and added that the coalition worked out by the BJP could not survive due to inherent pressures. She blamed the Akali leadership for the period of militancy in the state. Ms Bhattal accused the
BJP government of having mishandled the Kargil crisis.
She said intelligence reports and Army documents had
revealed that the situation could have been saved had the
government acted in time. Hundreds of lives could have
been saved thereby. |
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Tohra ridicules CM’s
statement FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 3 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, SHSAD has ridiculed the statement of Mr Badal calling Mr Vajpayee the hero of Kargil and said he had done nothing to earn that title. Rather, he got country’s soldiers killed in the conflict and provided a safe retreat to Pakistan intruders instead of eliminating them, he alleged. He was addressing an election meeting at Bassi Pathana town today in support of SHSAD candidate Bibi Balbir Kaur from the Ropar (R) constituency. He alleged that Mr Badal had a secret understanding with Congress leaders on corruption issue. He was not taking any action against them and had an assurance from them that in case they came to power. He said that was the reason why Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo the Congress candidate from the Ropar (R) constituency has challenged the government. He said these elections were like the Mahabharat war. On one side were those who had deserted Akal Takht, insulted the Jathedar of Akal Takht and flouted the principles of Sikhism. On the other side were those who obeyed the ‘hukamnama’ of Akal Takht and considered Bhai Ranjit Singh as the Jathedar of Akal Takht. Mr Tohra said traders, employees and farmers of the state were annoyed with the wrong policies of the government. The government had become bankrupt, and in the coming month of October, only the basic salary would be given to the employees. As promised by the SAD(B), octroi had not been abolished, inspector raj had been strengthened and the police atrocities had increased . He said the Vajpayee government had not accepted even a single demand of the state, nor it had given a penny for the development of the state. Mr Amardeep Singh
Dharni, advocate, Jaswant Singh Tann, and Mr Karnail
Singh Panjoli, state unit president of the Youth Akali
Dal, also addressed the gathering. |
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MLAs' statement 'anti-Panthic' CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, in a statement here today said Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and his associates were making misleading statements with the aim of helping of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. He said 10 pro-Tohra MLAs though consider themselves as members of the Shiromani Akali Dal but were making statements against it. Of these MLAs, five remained ministers in the Badal Government. He termed the statement made by the MLAs, asking the SAD to withdraw its candidates from the contest was "anti-Panthic and Punjabiat. Mr Badungar claimed that
Mr A.B. Vajpayee's rallies at Moga, Barnala and Amritsar
today were proof of the people's support to Mr Badal and
Mr Vajpayee's policies in the state and at the Centre,
respectively. |
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Ugandan delegation studies
elections ROPAR, Sept 3 — A two-member delegation from Uganda visited Chamkaur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Nangal Assembly segments in the district and attended a meeting here yesterday convened by the District Election Officer, Mr K.S. Sidhu, to inform it about the elections. The delegation comprising Mr Robert K Kilariko and Mr Joshnua Wamala has been sent to India by the Russian Central Election Commission, which conducts elections in Uganada, to study the election process. The delegation studied
with keen interest the various means of propaganda being
used in the Lok Sabha elections. |
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Samata Party to back BJP
candidates GARHSHANKAR, Sept 3 — The Punjab Pradesh Samata Party, a constituent of the Janata Dal (U), has decided to support SAD(B) and BJP candidates in all parliamentary constituencies in Punjab. The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr R.K. Mishra, state President of the Samata Party. In a press note issued
here today, Mr Inderjit Singh Saini, senior
vice-president of the party, stated that the decision had
been taken as per the guidelines of the high command. He
said the Samata Party had nothing to do with the
candidates contesting on the JD(U) symbol in Patiala and
Ferozepore parliamentary constituencies and in Ludhiana
Assembly. |
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It kindles their lamp of
hope JALANDHAR: Think of those destitute children who are not even able to have one proper meal a day. Their tender hands clean utensils, polish shoes and pick rags, but their heart longs to play with other children of their age. Instead of carrying a bag full of books, they have to work in different industries. Small children working in dhabas and tea stalls being scolded for hardly any fault is a common sight. Just imagine your own child in their place. What a horrifying sight! " No this will never happen. I will give my child the best things in life", you will shout back. Even these children long for love. You could give them your affection and share some of your time with them. You cannot imagine how a few loving words can change their world. Given the proper resources, their talent could be tapped. Waris an organisation wedded to saving the childhood of those destitute children. It has taken this initiative to bring a spark into their empty eyes, brighten up their face with laughter and help those to reach these unwanted souls who are thrown on the door-step of an orphanage just after birth. Some of them have been born out of an illegal relationship and discarded by their parents for no fault of theirs. They could be children of poor parents who could not afford to give them either food, clothing, education or shelter. Waris will provide them with the basic needs of life, stand by them in times of need and help them bloom into conscientious citizens. On its inauguration, it adopted 10 slum children. The entire cost of their schooling would be borne by the organisation. The president of this
organisation, Mr Sukhwinder Sukhi, described the plight
of underprivileged children and said his organisation
would give practical shape to their endeavour to provide
cheer to them. |
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Suspect gives details of hawala
racket JALANDHAR, Sept 3 — The interrogation of Ashok Kumar of Phagwara who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly offering a bribe to an inspector to influence an inquiry being conducted into a hawala racket has revealed that he he had been involved in the racket since 1986. The SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here today that Ashok Kumar started his career as a dealer in foreign exchange. He had a shop in Phagwara from where he was conducting hawala transactions. The SSP said Ashok Kumar had also disclosed that the Enforcement Directorate had raided his premises twice and seized currency notes. He was detained under COFEPOSA. Ashok Kumar had violated the Passport Act by securing four passports. Two of these were obtained from Delhi by furnishing fake names and addresses. The third passport which was issued in the name of Varinder Kumar was subsequently impounded by the Customs in Bombay. The fourth passport was got prepared on his real name. His shop was raided again in 1996 by the Enforcement Directorate and foreign exchange worth Rs 24.38 lakh and 1 kg of gold seized. Ashok Kumar had escaped at the time of the raid. Anil Sharma alias Anil
Kumar, who was arrested along with Ashok Kumar had
earlier been arrested by the directorate and currency
worth about Rs 14 lakh was seized from him. Further
investigation was in progress, the SSP said. |
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Bid to loot bank, 4 held LUDHIANA, Sept 3 — The police foiled a bank dacoity bid with the arrest of Vishnu, alias Ashok Kumar, Lakhvir Singh, Devinder Singh, alias Totta and Parkash Chand. A police party was patrolling the area when it got information that four persons hiding in a park were planning to loot a bank on the Kalgidhar road . The police raided the place and arrested the accused. Two 12-bore pistols, five cartridges, a knife and an iron rod were seized from their possession. A case under Sections 399 and 402, IPC, and under Sections 25,54 and 59, Arms Act, has been registered against them. In another incident, the
police registered a case under Sections 353,
186,332,148,149 and 506, IPC, and under Sections 25,27,54
and 59, Arms Act, against Kamaljit Singh and Dial Singh
for allegedly threatening and beating some municipal
corporation employees when they began work on the
levelling and alignment of a road near the factory of the
accused. |
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Rape case: JD (S) to hold
demonstration LUDHIANA, Sept 3 — The state Janata Dal (S), will hold a demonstration in front of the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on September 10, along with some other opposition parties, regarding the alleged rape case involving the son and other close relatives of Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurdev Singh Badal. This announcement was made by the convener of the Janata Dal, Mr Harish Khanna, during a press conference here today. He said the victim and her family had to run from pillar to post in order to get justice, but till date the FIR had not been amended and no arrests made. Alleging that the inquiry ordered into the incident by the Chief Minister was an eye wash, Mr Khanna said though 15 days had elapsed since the DIG, Ludhiana Range, began the inquiry, the inquiry officer had not even once called the victim. The only purpose of the inquiry was to get Mr Suba Singh bailed out from the case, he alleged. When contacted, the SSP Ms Gurpreet Deo, denied the charges that attempts were being made to hush up the case and said investigations were being made in an impartial manner. "The case has inter-state ramifications as the statements of witnesses in Uttar Pradesh, from where the girl was recovered, have to be recorded. Moreover, the FIR will be amended after we receive the statement given by the victim in the court." Meanwhile, Mr Khanna has
demanded the resignation of both Mr Gurdev Singh Badal
and the Chief Minister on moral grounds and for
"shielding" the accused in this case. |
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Punjab govt asked to take
action CHANDIGARH, Sept 3 — The Chief Electoral Officer, Dr Brajendra Singh, has directed the Punjab Government to take action immediately against a Ludhiana-based District Development and Panchayat Officer, Mr Paramjit Singh. An official spokesman of the electoral office said Mr Paramjit Singh had not performed his poll-related duties properly and due to this reason action had been recommended against him. Mr Paramjit Singh is
likely to be charge-sheeted by the government on the
directive of the Chief Electoral Officer. |
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Case against SAD (B) men PATIALA, Sept 3 — A case has been registered by the Sanaur police here today late evening against SAD (Badal) leader and three workers for allegedly continuing election campaign after the closing time of 5 o’ clock. District Returning
Officer Jasbir Singh Bir said, Mr Parkash Singh, a
Sanaur-based leader of the SAD (Badal) along with a
number of workers was campaigning for Mr Surjit Singh
Rakhra after the closing of campaigning. He said the
leader along with three others had been booked under
Section 126 of the Representation of People Act. He said
no senior leader of the SAD (Badal) was present in the
campaigning. No arrest has been made so far. |
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Sabharwal couple gets award PATIALA, Sept 3 — Pran Sabharwal and his wife, Sunit Sabharwal, have been given People's National Award-98 by the Shimla-based All-India Artistes Association for the performance of a play, "Odak Sach Rahi". The play depicts the
life of Guru Gobind Singh. |
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