Saturday, September 11, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Saturday, September 11, 1999 |
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Protesters
demand minister's sack |
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Exception
to comments in dailies on Lok Pal Glut of paddy awaits buyers BJP, yuva morcha observe
‘ninda divas’ Have proper food policy, FCI staff
urge PM AISAD to launch movement against
repression Suicides in Abohar area Ropar lawyers go on strike Arrangements complete for paddy
procurement |
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Rape of Ludhiana girl CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — Leaders and workers of the Punjab state Janata Dal today held a demonstration at the museum roundabout in support of their demand for the sack of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Punjab Minister of State for Agriculture, and arrest of those who had allegedly gang-raped a 10-year-old girl of Ludhiana, Gurpreet, alias Sonu. Led by Mr Harish Khanna, convener of the Janata Dal, processionists alleged that the victim was whisked away by Suba Singh, son of Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, and Mr Baljinder Singh who is the brother-in-law of the minister's son, to a room in the field. She was lodged in a dark and dingy room. They also alleged that she was subjected to ill-treatment, at times denied food and then raped repeatedly. Mr Khanna said the parents of the victim had gone from pillar to post for getting justice, and punishment for the accused. However, all their efforts were in vain. The state government was making all-out efforts to get the name of Suba Singh deleted from the case, ostensibly under the orders of the minister, he added. He said, that "an attempt has already been made to tamper with the sealed statement of the victim recorded by the Judicial Magistrate of Ludhiana by approaching the counsel for the victim to get her statement changed by fraudulently taking her signatures on some documents". Mr Khanna said the minister met the girl on three occasions to persuade her not to pursue the case. "He even offered a heavy illegal gratification. However, the girl turned down the request of the minister and told him that she was determined to pursue the case". The Janata Dal leader said under the present dispensation it was not possible to get justice from the police and the state government. Therefore, it was essential that Mr Gurdev Singh Badal must be sacked from the ministry to ward the police off his clout. The processionists demanded fresh registration of an FIR on the basis of the statement the victim made before the Judicial Magistrate. Mr Parminder Mehta, a member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, however, sought a CBI enquiry into the episode. He said there was little hope of getting justice at the hands of the Punjab Police. Later a delegation of
the processionists handed over a copy of the memorandum
to the Punjab Governor, urging him to direct the
government to provide security to the victim and her
family. |
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SGPC executive to discuss
draft changes AMRITSAR, Sept 10 — Even as Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, has expressed his eagerness to hold general elections of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in September, 2001, Bibi Jagir Kaur has convened a meeting of the executive committee on September 18 here to discuss the draft notification regarding some essential amendments to the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925. The draft notification has already snowballed into a controversy as Sikh intellectuals are divided over the proposed amendments. According to sources, the proposed meeting of the executive is unlikely to accept the draft notification sent by Justice Harbans Singh (retd), Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, to the Central Government in toto for three main reasons. First, if the notification is issued in its present form, without making any amendment, it could spoil political relations between the SAD and the BJP as the Gurdwara Election Commissioner has recommended that ‘sehajdharis’ should not be given the right to vote in the SGPC elections. Second some members may oppose the doing away of reservations while allotting the SGPC ticket to candidates. The SGPC chief has already written to the Central Government not to accept the draft notification sent by Justice Harbans Singh in toto as it would be discussed at length in the forthcoming meeting of the executive committee. On the other hand, Mr Balbir Singh Naushehra Pannu, senior Vice-President, SGPC, has urged the Sikhs to send their suggestions to the SGPC chief at the earliest so that necessary amendments could be made to streamline the functioning of the committee. Justice Harbans Singh (retd) had written to Mr Shiv Basant, Joint Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, that the gurdwara Election Commission was keen to hold general elections of the SGPC in 2001 after the expiry of five-year term. He said "The elections have to be conducted latest in September 2001 for which electoral rolls and arrangements for having simultaneous elections for the members of the SGPC and the local committees shall have to be made. If the change in the definition of a ‘Sikh’ finds favour and the right of vote of ‘sehajdhari’ is eliminated considerable publicity shall have to be given of this change and the staff preparing the rolls given relevant instructions". However, the main reason
for likely specific amendments in the draft notification
is that the draft had recommended that the president and
executive members should devote whole time to the
management of gurdwaras. It reads: "If any one of
them offers himself as a candidate for any state assembly
or either house of Parliament. He shall cease to be an
office-bearer or member of executive committee, as the
case may be". Interestingly, Bibi Jagir Kaur is
holding three offices simultaneously. Apart from being
president of the SGPC, she is also an MLA and member
Political Affairs Committee of the SAD. On the other
hand, a woman SGPC member has already opposed the doing
away of reservation for women so far as the allotment of
ticket in the SGPC elections is concerned. |
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PUTA election PATIALA, Sept 10 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) election slated for September 16 is taking the shape of a referendum on the propriety of registering cases against university teachers vis-a-vis the need to set right the ‘victimisation’ meted out by the earlier regime. With the withdrawal of nominations today, a straight fight is on the cards between the Teachers United Front (TUF) under the convenership of Dr S.S. Joshi against whom a vigilance case has been registered and the United Teachers Front (UTF) whose convener S.S. Khaira fought for exposing the alleged misdeeds of the previous Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.S. Puar, which resulted in case being registered against Dr Puar and some other teachers. Mr Khaira has also been in the forefront in getting alleged victimisation committed by the earlier Vice-Chancellor removed now. Interestingly the fight for presidentship of the association is between Dr K.C. Singhal of TUF and Dr Gurdeep Singh of the UTF who both belong to the business management department and swapped places in controversial circumstances during the fag end of the previous Vice-Chancellor's tenure. Dr Gurdeep Singh was removed from headship of the Department for an alleged act of indiscipline committed by him during a selection committee meeting. Dr M.S. Bedi, who was to succeed Dr Gurdeep Singh as Head of the Department, was also made ineligible for holding any administrative post for three years for indiscipline during the same selection committee meeting. Consequently Dr Singhal took over as Head of the Department. Talking to TNS, Dr Singhal said vigilance inquiries against teacher did not make sense as they had served in various committees on the instructions of the Vice-Chancellor. He said teachers broadly felt that their colleagues had been involved for nothing and had been defamed as a class. He said, moreover, there was no need for a vigilance inquiry into the functioning of teachers as the university was an autonomous body. The PUTA Secretary, Dr N.S. Atri, said maintaining the dignity of teachers was an important issue for the TUF in the elections. He said teachers were being regularly humiliated by being called to the vigilance office as if they were culprits whereas there were other ways to question them. The UTF Presidential nominee, Dr Gurdeep Singh a lot of victimisation had occurred during the previous regime and efforts should be made to undo it. Speaking on the issue of cases being registered against some teachers by the vigilance department, he said while innocent teachers should not be harassed, there should be complete transparency in working. Both groups stand for ensuring university teachers get their arrears, getting anomalies removed in grade revision and ensuring parity between teachers recruited on the merit and in open category schemes. Dr Singhal said he would try to get around 40 teachers working on ad hoc basis in the university regularised if voted to power. Dr Singhal also says if
voted to power he would try to ensure there was no
division in PUTA which had been happening since the past
six to seven years. He said this was a major issue due to
which the teachers were not able to get their grievances
addressed unitedly. |
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Exception to comments in dailies
on Lok Pal CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today took exception to comments made through newspapers on the functioning of the Punjab Lok Pal in their issues of September 9 and 10. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.S. Gill, before whom the writ petition filed by Mr Lal Singh, a former minister, questioning the appointment of Mr Justice H.S. Rai is pending, observed: "We have taken note of the press publications of September 9 and 10, 1999, and feel that neither of the parties should have made comments on the merits of the case pending before the court." However, in view of the assurance given by the parties that nothing will be done which may amount to interference in the administration of justice, the Bench observed, it refrained from taking any action. Mr Lal Singh had contested the appointment of Mr Justice Rai as Lok Pal on the ground that it was void ab initio, illegal and liable to be quashed. He had alleged that Mr
Justice Rai was a relative and long-time family friend of
the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The
Lok Pal was appointed at the Chief Minster’s behest. |
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Glut of paddy awaits buyers FEROZEPORE, Sept 10 — Hundreds of paddy growers protecting their produce for the past nearly 10 days at the local city and cantonment grain markets have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of official of government agencies who are likely to begin procurement of paddy from September 15 onwards. During a visit to the local city and cantonment grain markets by this reporter today, it was found the grain markets were flooded with the golden-coloured produce. Paddy growers are still bringing paddy in tractor-trailers to sell it. In the absence of government agencies, private traders, including rice-millers, are purchasing paddy at a rate below the government price. Mr Kashmir Singh, a paddy grower of Palla Megha village, said at the city's grain market that he had brought three tractor-trailers filled with paddy for selling. He added that he had to harvest his paddy on nearly six acres of land even now. He said he had brought his produce early in the mandi because there was no pucca floor where he could keep it in his house. On the other hand, the floor of the mandi was pucca, he added. He was sitting with his produce in the open. Therefore, he said, he was at the mercy of God. He revealed that certain farmers were constrained to sell paddy between Rs 460-470 per quintal whereas the government had fixed price at Rs 520 and Rs 490 per quintal for A-Grade and common variety, respectively, of paddy. Other paddy growers had the same tale to tell. Meanwhile, the local rice-millers went on strike today in support of their demands. Disclosing one of their major demands, Mr Paramjit Gakhar, a local rice-miller, said the commission agents (arhtiyas) were asked to accept payments from the rice-millers after passage of 21 days instead of five days against the paddy purchased by rice-millers. But the arhtiyas did not agree and as a protest rice-millers went on strike. Mr Gakhar, however, said the matter would be sorted out within a day or so. But paddy growers who wanted to sell their produce to rice-millers without waiting for the government agencies were seen frustrated today due to the rice-millers' strike because the weather was cloudy here today. Rain could damage their produce in the grain markets. According to a rough estimate, about 2,000 metric tonnes of paddy has been brought to the city grain market. Almost the same is the position at the local cantonment grain market. At the cantonment grain market, no tin shed has been provided and at the city grain market, the work of providing a tin shed has not been completed for the past about six months. Meanwhile, Mr Inderdeep Singh, Deputy Director (Field), Food and Supply, Ferozepore division, said arrangements were being made to start paddy procurement. A total of 164 purchase centres were being set up in Ferozepore district for paddy procurement. He added that rice-millers had so far purchased a total of 2,863 metric tonnes of paddy at a rate ranging between Rs 435 and Rs 468 in Ferozepore district. Due to the early sowing
of paddy in this border district the arrival of paddy
starts much earlier as compared to other districts in
Punjab. The arrival of paddy in this district from
September 1 onwards has indicated that paddy growers of
Ferozepore district paid no heed to the advice given to
start paddy plantation some days later than the previous
trend. |
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BJP, yuva morcha observe
‘ninda divas’ AMRITSAR, Sept 10 — A ‘ninda divas’ (condemnation day) was observed all over Punjab and effigy of Congress President Sonia Gandhi was burnt by the activists of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the BJP today. Releasing this information to the Press here, Mr Tarun Chugh, President of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, said ‘the ninda divas’ was observed in protest against the "uncalled for" remarks of the Congress President terming Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as "traitor". Mr Chugh told newspersons that the observance of condemnation day passed off peacefully and BJP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists raised anti-Sonia and Congress slogans and expressed full confidence in the leadership of Mr Vajpayee. GURDASPUR: A large number of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha took out a protest march in the main bazar of the town here on Friday raising anti-Sonia and anti-Congress slogans to protest against her calling traitor to Mr Vajpayee in her election speeches. They also burnt the effigy of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Mrs Narinder Pawar, who led the march, said that such demonstrations would continue till Mrs Sonia Gandhi apologised to the nation for calling Mr Vajpayee a traitor. FATEHGARH: The local Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha organised a dharna and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday in protest against the undignified remarks made by Mrs Sonia Gandhi against Mr Vajpayee. Dr Raghbir Suri General Secretary, district unit, BJP, demanded a public apology from Mrs Sonia Gandhi. LUDHIANA: Meanwhile, Civil Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and Member, Rajya Sabha Lajpat Rai, in a joint statement on Friday condemned Mrs Sonia Gandhi for calling Mr Vajpayee a ‘ghaddar’. They said she had brought down the electoral battle to the level of a street fight between habitual viragoes. They said it was only
now the Congress was raising the bogey of corruption in
the matter of sugar and wheat while they never uttered a
word about it in their discussion on the confidence
motion when the dissolved Lok Sabha was in session. The
Congress, these BJP leaders charged, had so much been
steeped in corruption during their rule that it was
difficult for them to imagine that there were other
people in this country who could work with perfect
honesty and without any kickbacks. |
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Have proper food policy, FCI
staff urge PM CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — The FCI Quality Control Staff Welfare Association has urged the Prime Minister, Mr A. B. Vajpayee, to have a proper food policy. Mr Baljeet Singh Bakshi, general secretary of the association, in a statement said the FCI had been formed with the aim of "Price satisfaction to the producer and quality satisfaction to the consumer" in addition to perform its duties to maintain the buffer stocks of foodgrains and stabilise the price of foodgrains. But even after 30 years of its inception, the FCI had not succeeded in performing the duties assigned to it effectively. The Punjab unit of the FCI contributed nearly 70 per cent foodgrains for the Central pool. Maximum work of procurement, preservation and despatch of foodgrains to other parts was handled in the Punjab region. But the FCI entered the grain market every season with inadequate arrangements for handling the procured stock, transportation and storage. The field staff was forced to get the procured paddy milled by pursuing rice millers and also faced harassment. The association has
urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Food
and Consumer Affairs to frame such a policy so that rice
millers come forward to purchase maximum paddy above the
support price. |
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AISAD to launch movement
against repression PATIALA, Sept 10 — The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) general secretary, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, today said AISAD and other parties which had formed a common front during the parliamentary elections would start a mass movement against the high-handedness and police repression let loose by the state government. Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Chandumajra said a meeting would be held in Chandigarh next week to finalise the strategy of the movement. The meeting would be attended by leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party and other front constituents. Mr Chandumajra said his party would also meet the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M.S. Gill, and present documentary proof against government officials who had worked for the Shiromani Akali Dal candidates during the elections and demand action against them. Quoting specific instances, he alleged the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Moonak, had lathi-charged his supporters at booths in the Lehra Assembly segment but no action was taken in the matter. He claimed besides this the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, had captured booths in Lohgarh in Patiala constituency but no action was taken despite complaints to the state Election Commission. Mr Chandumajra said similarly those who had been responsible for the firing in Ferozepore, which had resulted in a death, also had not been charged. He said no case was made out against Union Minister of State Sukhbir Singh Badal for allegedly slapping a photo journalist. The Akali leader said
the Patiala police had started harassing his supporters
immediately after the completion of the poll. Giving
examples, he said while his supporters had got a vehicle
carrying liquor seized in the presence of the election
observer and got a case registered in this regard those
who had effected the seizure had also been charged by the
police. He said similarly many of his other supporters
who had been targeted by rival Akali group were now being
harassed by the police instead of being given justice. |
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Suicides in Abohar area ABOHAR, Sept 10 — A spate of suicides has been reported in the city and around. A mechanic tried to kill himself outside the office of the DSP yesterday. He had purchased a residential plot but was finding it difficult to pay the instalments. On Monday a young boy had committed suicide by jumping before a train. Meanwhile Shanker, a washerman, immolated himself in the evening at Ramlila Ground following a family dispute. On Tuesday, Doonger Singh, burnt himself to death in the Puraniabad area. Nathu Ram, a safai sewak, committed suicide by jumping before a train at Sriganganagar on Tuesday. Meanwhile Satpal Saini,
35 tried to set himself ablaze following an altercation
with his wife. A case under Section 309 of the IPC has
been registered against him. |
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Ropar lawyers go on strike ROPAR, Sept 10 — On a call given by the District Bar Association, its members today abstained from court work here in protest against the registration of a case against their president, Rana K.P. Singh, at the Nurpur Bedi police station. The case was registered against Rana K.P. Singh, who is also a senior Congress leader and more than 12 persons a few days ago on a complaint made by Mr Ajit Singh, Chairman of the Market Committee, Anandpur Sahib, that these persons gheraoed his house at Bains village and forced the family to remain inside. He has also levelled some other charges. Mr Ajit Singh is leader of Shiromani Akali Dal. The police has arrested two Congress workers Mr Darshan Singh Dhahan and Mr Raj Bahadur Singh — in this case. Earlier, the Nurpur Bedi police registered a case against four persons for beating up Rana Jaswinder Singh, a Congress activist and relative of Rana K.P. Singh, at his shop in Bains village. It is alleged that one of the four persons was a son of Mr Ajit Singh. The police has arrested three persons in this case. Talking to mediapersons here today, Rana K.P. Singh said the beating up of Rana Jaswinder Singh forced the Congress workers and villagers of nearby villages to stage a dharna in front of the house of Mr Ajit Singh, demanding the arrest of the accused. He also alleged that the case had been registered against them under pressure of the ruling party and its government. It is learnt this case
took an ugly turn following a minor altercation between
supporters of the Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance on
the polling day. |
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Arrangements complete for paddy
procurement LUDHIANA, Sept 10 — All arrangements for the procurement of paddy have been completed in Punjab, said Mr Madan Mohan Mittal Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Punjab. He was talking to mediapersons here today after presiding over a high-level meeting of senior officials of different procurement agencies in the state. Mr Charnjilal Garg, Minister of State in the same department, was also present in the meeting. Mr Mittal said the state government had demanded the preponent of purchase of paddy in Punjab from October 1 to September 15. He said that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was in touch with the Union Government on the issue. He claimed that a record arrival of 100 crore tonnes of paddy was expected in the mandis this time. He said out of this 60 per cent of the amount would be procured by the different agencies of the state government, while the rest would be purchased by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). In reply to a question Mr Mittal said 1400 mandis had been set up in different parts of Punjab. Among the arrangements
made and discussed at the meeting which was held here
this afternoon, were availability of gunny bags,
sufficient funds to pay to the producers and storage
capacity. |
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Help reduce social tensions,
NGOs told CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd) today called upon non-government and voluntary organisations to formulate a concerted programme to reduce social tensions in society. Speaking at the silver jubilee souvenir release function of the Indian Council of Social Welfare (ICSW), Punjab state branch at Punjab Raj Bhavan, the Governor said due to modern day fast-paced life and increasing disparity between 'haves' to 'have nots' under currents of tension were creating new problems. With the break-up of joint family system, there were a number of marital discords leading divorce, creating social and psychological problems for couples as-well-as dependent children. Appreciating the efforts of counselling by the centre of the ICSW in providing timely advice in case of marital disputes, the Governor said psychological support to the family at the time of crisis helped it recover fast. Dr Vineeta Gupta, vice-president of the Council, gave an "overview" of the activities of the council. Earlier the Governor
released the silver jubilee souvenir of the council to
mark the 25th year of the existence of the Council. |
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Dalit girl stabbed to death GURDASPUR, Sept 10 — A Dalit Sunita (17), daughter of Chhajju Ram was stabbed to death while she was on her way to her village, Bhambrha seven kilometre from here by a youth Nita, of her village today. The deceased was a student of plus two at Government Senior Secondary School here. Her father is a class-IV employee in Government Senior Secondary School, Pandori, in this district. He said the accused harassed her daughter about a month ago and had complained to accused father in this regard. Sunita was stabbed while she was coming back after the school with a friend. The accused chased them during which the friend escaped. The accused after stabbing the deceased left his scooter and escaped. He has not been arrested so far. A case under Section
302, IPC has been registered against the accused. |
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Plant to make bio-gas from
cattle waste CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will set up a 1 MW project based on cattle waste at Haebowal dairy complex, Ludhiana, at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The project, the first of its kind in the country, has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), under the UNDP/GPF programme and will provide 50 per cent grant for the project. The plant, which will be fully mechanised, is designed on high rate methonation process. Nearly 200 tonnes of cattle waste will be used per day for producing biogas, which will be utilised to run 100 per cent gas-based engines for power generation. Besides, a large quantity of bio-manure will be available for use in farms. The project is scheduled
for commissioning by December, 2000. |
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Mission to hold 5-day camp CHANDIGARH, Sept 10 — The Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam Mission will hold a five-day camp at Model Town Janjhghar in Ludhiana from September 29 to October 3, according to Dr Balwant Singh. During the course of the camp, all types of cases which are incurable, and even those patients who cannot afford to bear medical expenses, will be taken up. The mission is doing a
commendable job in the social field. |
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