Rally against
sacrilege
Bathinda, October 10
Hundreds of residents of the city and nearby areas today held a rally in the city and sat on a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner to show their resentment against the sacrilege of “Birs” by Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara and demanded the registration of a case under Section 302 of the IPC against him.
Puri gurdwara to be handed over to
trust
Amritsar, October 10
In a significant development, the management of Jagannath Puri Temple,
Orissa, has agreed to hand over the possession of a historic gurdwara built in memory of Guru Nanak Dev to Bhai Himmat Singh Religious and Charitable Trust
(Orissa).
NEWS ANALYSIS
Air of discontent on transfers
Chandigarh, October 10
There is simmering resentment in the Punjab bureaucracy over frequent and postings and transfers which are termed as “motivated and irrational”.
The arguments given for such transfers include
incompatibility of politicians with bureaucrats leading to frequent shuffling of ‘’inconvenient’’ officers who go by the book while opposing “ministerial moves”.
Sops likely at Punjab ministers’
meeting
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Council of Ministers will meet here tomorrow.
Besides conceding some of the long-standing demands of the employees, the council may anounce concessions for various sectors, including the transport sector.
PATIALA DIARY
Honouring the elders
Patiala
The Patiala unit of the trust formed by Sudhanshu Maharaj, honoured some senior citizens for their contribution to society in different fields. Among those honoured was a veteran social worker, Mr Amar Singh Kamboj. The head of the local unit of the trust, Mr Kuldeep Bhattal, disclosed that the day was observed as ‘Reverence Day’ to seek forgiveness of the elders for the faults of the members.
IN FOCUS
9-year-old looks for help
Patiala
Nine-year-old Renu sits and watches children play around her. She dare not join them. She dare not even walk around much because she has a hole in her heart and unless she is operated upon soon, her future is bleak.
‘Sangat darshan programmes a fraud’
Patiala, October 10
Senior Congress leader Bir Devinder Singh today said the sangat darshan programmes of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were nothing but a ‘high profile fraud’ being committed against the innocent people at the government expenses with the active connivance of the corrupt bureaucracy of the state.
Akalis vitiating atmosphere, says
Congress
Chandigarh, October 10
The general secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Birdevinder Singh, today said that it was unfortunate that the Akalis had not learnt any lesson from the past and were trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state by resorting to cheap politics on sensitive issues like acts of sacrilege.
Medical officers
for Director’s removal
Chandigarh, October 10
A joint deputation of the Punjab Homoeopathic Medical Officers Association and the Punjab Ayurvedic Medical Services Association, in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has sought the removal of the Director of the Ayurveda and Homoeopathy Departments.
Don’t act as tool of Cong, Dhindsa asks morcha
Chandigarh, October 10
Senior Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today urged leaders of the Panthic Morcha not to go against Sikh sentiments by acting as a tool of the Congress in the latter’s efforts to disturb the hard-earned peace in Punjab.
PR Dept to be revamped
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has directed authorities concerned to revamp the Public Relations Department. He is utterly disappointed with the performance of the department and wants drastic changes in its functioning, according to informed sources.
Breach in Shah Nehar hits project
Pathankot, October 10
A breach in the Shah Nehar in Talwara township has hit power generation and the Mukerian hydel project since last night.
Paddy procurement
smooth: Mittal
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, said today that paddy procurement was going on smoothly as farmers were fully cooperating with the agencies concerned. The government had faced no problem in any grain market with regard to the procurement. “ This year has been the best as far as paddy procurement is concerned”, he asserted.
Ahluwalia is Director, PR
Chandigarh, October 10
Mr S K Ahluwalia assumed the office of Director, Information & Public Relations, Punjab, here today after relinquishing the charge as Additional Commissioner (Appeals), Patiala Division.
PWD staff threaten to step up stir
Bathinda, October 10
Members of the PWD Field and Workshop Workers Union today said they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not fulfilled.
Home Guards’ daily wages to be hiked
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Government today decided to enhance the daily wages of Home Guard volunteers from Rs 70 to Rs 90 from April 1, 2001.
Stating this here today, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, said this would put an extra burden on the state exchequer of Rs 9.76 crore annually.
DAG resigns
Chandigarh, October 10
Expressing inability to function as Deputy Advocate-General due to “unavoidable personal circumstances”, Mr Gurminder Singh has submitted his resignation to Punjab’s Advocate-General Hardev Singh Mattewal.
Drugs worth 30 lakh seized, four held
Barnala, October 10
Police’s special drive against drugs and intoxicants got a shot in the arm when Special Cell of anti-intoxication and drug addiction seized intoxicants and drugs worth Rs 30 lakh. Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu, SSP, Barnala Police District said here today (Wednesday) that at a naka of the Special Cell of Anti-Intoxication, a jeep driver was signalled to stop and the vehicle was checked.
7 held for smuggling
narcotics
Bathinda, October 10
The district police has arrested seven persons for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of narcotics and has recovered 221 kg of poppy husk, 47 litres of illicit liquor and 160 kg of lahan from their possession.
Man held for selling drugs
illegally
Bathinda, October 10
The police today arrested Balbir Singh of Sivian village for allegedly selling drugs illegally and posing as a doctor.
Dr Jatinder Jain, SSP, in a press note here said today that the accused was misleading people by posing as a doctor and selling intoxicants to villagers.
Pension for staff of aided colleges
Chandigarh, October 10
The Punjab Government today decided to grant pension and other pensionary benefits to the staff of privately managed government-aided colleges.
The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, said that the state government was always ready to redress the grievances of employees.
Teachers to go on mass
leave
Patiala, October 10
Teachers from colleges affiliated to Punjabi University and those in other districts such as Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa and Fatehgarh Sahib will take mass casual leave and gather at Modi College here on October 12.
Youth festival from
November 22
Patiala, October 10
Punjabi University has decided to organise the zonal youth festival from November 22 to 24 at DAV College, Bathinda, in which 20 institutions would be participating. Giving this information, Mr Daljit Singh, Director, Youth Welfare, said Government College, Ropar, will host for Ropar zone from November 27 to 29 in which students from 17 colleges will take part.
Industrialists meet CM
Patiala, October 10
Representatives of the Focal Point Industries Association put forth their grievances, including the enhancement dues and subsidy dues, pending to the factory owners since a long time, to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, during the sangat darshan programme held at Maharaja Palace here today.
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