Tuesday, September 7, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Tuesday, September 7, 1999 |
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SGPC
chief blocked on trust accounts |
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SP
escapes attack
Punjab House session today Bank honours toppers Scribes’ body condemns attack Grace marks for BDS (II) students |
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SGPC chief blocked on trust
accounts CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.S. Gill comprising a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today, restrained the SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mr Kulwant Singh general secretary of the SGPC and other newly appointed trustees of the Shri Guru Ram Dass Charitable Hospital Trust, Amritsar, from operating the bank accounts of the trust. The Bench also issued notice of motion to the SGPC and others for October 5. The order was passed on a writ petition challenging the resolution passed by the SGPC on August 5, 1999, vide which Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Kulwant Singh and another had been appointed as bank operators. In the writ petition filed by Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, former Secretary of the SGPC and Member Secretary of the hospital trust, it was averred that earlier the petitioner challenged the SGPC order dissolving all its educational and charitable trusts. The petitioner stated that against a public notice which appeared in The Tribune that all trusts had been dissolved vide resolution dated March 10, 1999 passed by the general house of the SGPC, the petitioner filed a writ petition in the High Court and the respondents made a statement in the court that the resolution would not be given effect to. But in violation of the statement, respondents No 1 and 2 again reconstituted the Shri Guru Ram Dass Charitable Hospital Trust appointing Mr Kulwant Singh as Member-Secretary and respondents 3 to 9 as member-trustees and also appointed Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Kulwant Singh and others as bank operators of the trust. The petitioner
challenged the resolution as violative of the statement
made in the High Court. He also contested the appointment
of respondent, Mr Kulwant Singh, as Member-Secretary, and
appointment of bank operators vide the impugned notice. |
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Amarinder demands Mayor's arrest CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Punjab Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, has demanded the arrest of the BJP leader and Amritsar Mayor, Mr Subhash Sharma, and his son for "causing" the death of a Congress activist and polling agent, Mr Jagdish Dalawari, during polling yesterday. Capt Amarinder Singh said Mr Sharma's son along with his 20 musclemen dragged out Mr Dalawari from a polling booth and hit him on the chest repeatedly which led to his death. He said the Mayor was present when the incident occurred. He said many Congress activists were ready to "stand witness" in this case. He said he had got reports with regard to anti-party activities of certain leaders and action in such cases would be taken only after holding an inquiry. Mr Amarinder Singh, has asked the Election Commission to have a re-poll in three polling stations in village Chak Sohelewala in the Ferozepore Lok Sabha constituency. The booths where the re-poll is being demanded are: 184, 185 and 186. Speaking to newsmen, he
alleged the Akali candidate Mr Zora Singh Mann had
"captured" these three booths, which fell in
his native village, Jalalabad. |
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Poll percentage falls in
Punjab CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The total average poll percentage for Punjab logged 56.33. The corresponding percentage in the 1998 parliamentary elections was 60.07. According to official figures, a constituency-wise look at the voter turnout for all 13 Lok Sabha seats reveals that the poll percentage has declined. The highest poll percentage was recorded in Faridkot: 71.23, which, however, is lower than that of 1998 elections: 72.67; and lowest in Ludhiana, 45.77 per cent. Constituency-wise poll percentage is as follows; the figures in brackets indicate the poll percentage recorded in 1998 Lok Sabha election: Gurdaspur: 60.70 (65.31); Amritsar: 48 (54.32); Tarn Taran: 54.30 (56.03); Jalandhar: 49.87 (58.50); Phillaur (SC): 54.22 (60.09); Hoshiarpur: 52.88) (55.23); Ropar (SC): 56.45 (57.72); Patiala: 59.75 (62.19); Ludhiana: 45.77 (53.24); Sangrur: 62.73 (66.39); Bathinda (SC): 53.99 (57.13); Faridkot: 71.23 (72.67); Ferozpore: 62.45 (63.02). What does low percentage
indicate? Does it favour the ruling political combine or
not? Punjab, usually, votes on higher side. For instance
in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, the poll percentage was
62.25. This time, as is well-known, there was lot of
disenchantment in the voters. |
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SP escapes attack AMRITSAR, Sep 6 — Mr Jatinder Jain, SP (City), had a providential escape when an unidentified person tried to attack him yesterday with a sharp-edge weapon. The SHO, Civil Lines, pounced upon the person but he escaped leaving hid dagger behind. Mr Jain when contacted confirmed the news. Elaborating, he said the incident occurred when he had rushed to pacify the mob after the death of a polling agent yesterday. However, it could not be
ascertained to which party the alleged
"miscreant" belong and what his intention was,
he said. |
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Cong agent's death was natural: doc AMRITSAR, Sept 6 (PTI) — A panel of doctors today declared that the death of Congress polling agent Jagdish Dilawari was natural and there were no signs of any injury on any part of his body. The death yesterday generated considerable tension here as senior Congress leader R.L. Bhatia and district party president Jugal Kishore alleged that Dilawari had died after being beaten up by BJP supporters during a clash over alleged bogus voting. They claimed that the deceased was hit on the chest which resulted in his death due to heart failure. SP (City) Jathinder Jain told reporters today that the police had sought the opinion of a panel of doctors after a large number of Congress supporters blocked road traffic seeking the registration of a case against city BJP Mayor Subash Sharma and his arrest alleging that his supporters and gunmen were involved in the clash. Mr Jain quoted the doctors as saying the death was due to cardiac arrest and added that the incident was made a political issue. Timely action by the
police prevented any major incident over the death, he
said. |
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SHSAD activist shot dead MOGA, Sep 6 (PTI) — In an incident of post-poll violence in Punjab, as activist of the G.S. Tohra's Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) was shot dead in Ferozepore district last night allegedly by Akali Dal activists, the police said today. The assailants, including a former Sarpanch of Saddarwala village, his father and other activists of Chief Minister. P.S. Badal's Akali Dal, came to the house of Daler Singh and shot him dead, Secretary-General of All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad alleged in a complaint, the police said. Mr Peer Mohammad, a
cousin of the deceased, claimed that during polling
yesterday some dispute had taken place between the
deceased and the former sarpanch when Daler Singh, an
activist of the SHSAD-led alliance candidate Mohan Singh
Phallianwal, objected to some bogus votes allegedly being
polled. |
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Cong supporter stabbed JALANDHAR, Sept 6 (UNI) — A Congress supporter was stabbed and his three associates injured in an assault allegedly by workers of the ruling Akali Dal outside booth number 119 at Naizampur village of Bhoalath segment of the Phillaur parliamentary constituency yesterday. Police sources said Sarwan Singh of Rupanpur village was stabbed with a knife in the stomach and was hospitalised. Dharminder Singh, son of Akali sarpanch Raj Kaur, who allegedly stabbed him, was also injured and admitted to a hospital. Congress workers claimed that Dharminder Singh's injury was self-inflicted. Trouble erupted when Sarwan Singh and Balwinder Singh, also of Rupanpur, came to the booth to cast their votes. Since their votes had already been cast by somebody, Akali workers reportedly pushed them out, leading to a clash. Kapurthala SSP Iqbal
Singh and Deputy Commissioner V.K. Singh visited the spot
for investigation. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira
has demanded the arrest of the accused. |
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SHSAD seeks repoll in Tarn
Taran AMRITSAR, Sept 6 — Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, an Akali MLA and senior leader of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) said his party has written to the Chief Election Commissioner to order repoll in the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha constituency in the wake of large-scale rigging and impersonation. Addressing a press conference here today Mr Calcutta alleged that many polling agents of the third front were not recognised by the polling staff due to the alleged pressure from the ruling party. Meanwhile, Mr Gurcharan
Singh Tohra, President, SHSAD, has appointed Mr Ranjit
Singh a president of the Amritsar (Rural) unit. |
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Consumer body alleges rigging ABOHAR, Sept 6 — The Consumer Movement, a voluntary organisation, which had launched an awareness campaign to educate voters in the Lok Sabha elections by organising corner meetings and through publicity material, said today that the law of the jungle prevailed in the last 75 minutes of polling in this Assembly segment of the Ferozepore Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. Mr Sat Pal Khariwal, Chairman and Mr Vijay Golchha, Senior Director of the organisation, while talking to reporters alleged that the SAD-BJP candidate Mr Zora Singh Maan captured booths with the help of more than 200 anti-social elements under the protection of the police guards provided to him officially. The local police allegedly provided additional security cover to them for the poll rigging at the polling centres at Government Senior Secondary School for Girls, G.D. Senior Secondary Model School, Modern Public High School, DAV campus, Singh Sabha Senior Secondary School for Girls and Government Basic Primary School from 3.45 p.m. onwards. The candidates of other political parties informed the Election Observer, but he was helpless. Even the police was not ready to listen to the civil authorities. A spokesperson of the
organisation said it was a matter of shame that the
maximum number of firing incidents in the state had
occurred in the Ferozepore constituency. This reflected
the partisan attitude of the entire police set up in this
district and it had shaken the faith of the voters in the
system. The organisation alleged that over 100 vehicles
carrying anti-social elements equipped with fire arms and
lathis moved freely in the constituency and created
terror by attacking the election office of the Congress
candidate here. A large number of vehicles were damaged
in different Assembly segments but the police had not
booked any worker of the ruling parties. Surprisingly,
the Election Observer expressed satisfaction over the way
in which polling was held. |
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Liquor meant to woo voters
seized LUDHIANA, Sept 6 — The police has registered a case under Sections 61.1 and 14 of the Excise Act after seizing 66 bottles of English wine with the trade mark of Binny from a car allegedly being used by the Congress party during elections. A police party led by the SHO of police station Division No 4, Sub Inspector Rajinder Pal, seized the liquor after getting information that liquor was being distributed near Chand Cinema to woo the voters. But the persons distributing the liquor managed to escape from the spot. The police has also arrested Harbhajan Singh, a resident of New Vishnu Puri, on charges of black marketing of kerosene. The police seized 190 litres of kerosene and a three wheeler from his possession. In another incident, the
police has arrested Maghi Ram for possessing liquor
without any permit. Twelve bottles of English wine were
recovered from him and a case under Sections 61.1 and 14
of the Excise Act has been registered. |
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Punjab House session today CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — A two-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha begins tomorrow at 2 pm. It will be 8th session of the 11th Vidhan Sabha. According to the Vidhan Sabha Secretary, Mr O.P. Verma, there will be only obituary references on the first day. The legislative business includes introducing three Bills for which ordinances were issued earlier. These Bills pertain to certain amendments in the Punjab general sales tax, Punjab entertainment tax and Punjab recruitment of teachers. Some time back the municipal Bill was introduced but the House had referred the same to the select committee, which has since almost re-cast that Bill is also likely to be introduced. The Punjab council of
ministers met tonight to discuss the Bills. |
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Bank honours toppers JALANDHAR, Sept 6 — A local branch of the State Bank of Patiala, honoured four toppers of the Punjab School Education Board matriculation examination held in March, 1999. The awards in form of trophies and cash incentives, were given by Mr M Sitarama Murty, Chief General Manager of the bank, here today. The awardees included Savita Mal (Guru Nanak Mission School, Dhahan Kaleran, Nawanshahr), Avneet Kaur (S S S S Modern High School, Amritsar) for first and second positions and Meetu (Durga Bal Vidya Mandir, Rajpura) and Mamta (Viveka Nand High School, Pathankot) bracketed for third position. The bank has been
encouraging the brilliant students of the state by
conferring these awards on them since 1979. |
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Scribes’ body condemns attack CHANDIGARH, Sept 6 — The Committee for Coordination Against Attacks on the Freedom of Press (CCAAFP) has condemned alleged assault on Mr Ajay Verma, a Chandigarh-based news photographer at Kotkapura yesterday by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD candidate for the Faridkot constituency and others. The committee has urged for the registration of a case against those involved in the assault. The committee has called a meeting of journalists tomorrow at the Chandigarh Press Club. Meanwhile, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal has expressed regret over the reported incident. Mr Badal said he was not involved in the reported incident which would be outcome of momentary heat. The statement was released to the press by party general secretary, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar. Meanwhile, Mr Prem
Singh, Editor of Desh Sewak said here today that the
complaint against Mr Badal and others had not been
withdrawn and the camera had not been returned. The SSP
Faridkot had been requested to register the case, arrest
the accused and recover the camera and negatives. |
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Grace marks for BDS (II)
students PATIALA, Sept 6 — Punjabi University had decided to take action against a medical college teacher, who had set the question paper of microbiology of second year BDS course conducted by the university on September 3. A university release said here today that the university had also decided to grant grace marks to the students. The decision was taken at a meeting of senior university officials and was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia. The meeting was held following a representation made by the students complaining of "out of syllabus" question paper. As much as 164 students of the dental colleges of Mansa, Sunam, Faridkot and Patiala took the supplementary examination in microbiology. The university release
said it had taken a "serious note" of the lapse
committed by the paper-setter. Dr Ahluwalia said in
future the university would take strict action against
such mistakes. |
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