Amritsar, May 31
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and the SGPC today crossed swords over the publication of an advertisement in leading newspapers on behalf of the latter regarding shortening of the protest-march route against the blasphemous acts of the dera chief.

SGPC officials did not bother to seek permission from the Akal Takht secretariat or the Sikh clergy before publishing such advertisement on behalf of the Jathedar.

This is for the first time that such an advertisement was published on behalf of the Jathedar, which has initiated fresh debate in the Panthic circles. The advertisement caused immense embarrassment to the Sikh high priests since they themselves had pronounced that the protest march would be taken out from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh.

Talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Vedanti described advertisement “unprecedented”. The Jathedar said he would take up the matter with SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar. He said the advertisement should have been published on behalf of SGPC’s Dharm Parchar Committee. Earlier advertisement, published in various newspapers regarding Punjab bandh on May 20 was also published on behalf of the Dharm Parchar Committee and not on behalf the Akal Takht Jathedar.

Akal Takht has been receiving a number of complaints following publication of “sandesh” (message) in the name of Sikh masses on behalf of the Akal Takht Jathedar.

SAD general secretary Bhai Ram Singh said the working committee meeting of his party would be convened within a week to discuss the shortening of the route of the protest march. He said it was unfortunate that the Jathedar Vedanti had amended the “Gurmatta”, pronounced from Akal Takht regarding the route of the protest march. He said as per the original announcement, its route was from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh which was later changed under political pressure.

Kotkapura, May 31
In a rare gesture the Punjab government has decided to fund the expenditure to be incurred by Achin Bansal (17), a topper of IIT-JEE 2007, on his further studies.

“Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal made a call to my house and stated that the state government will be meeting the expenditure which I will incur on my further studies,” said Achin.

Jagmeet Brar, former MP of Faridkot, said he had also decided to honour Achin.

He said within three or four days he would organise a small function where he would be given a cash award. 

Paramjit Singh Sarna—Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, May 31
Accusing the Punjab Government of interfering in the religious matters of the Sikhs, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna today said the state government had resorted to pressure tactics to prevent the protest march from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh.

Addressing media persons at the Chandigarh Press Club, Sarna alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had changed stand from his earlier statements that the state governments should refrain from meddling with religious matters. The heavy deployment of police at Fatehgarh Sahib was testimony to the fact, he added.

Holding the state government responsible for incidents that have taken place during the past 19 days in the wake of the Dera Sacha Sauda row, Sarna alleged no steps had been taken by the government to resolve the issue or to assuage the hurt sentiments of the Sikhs. Even after the dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was booked in a case of hurting religious sentiments by the Punjab police, no serious efforts were made to arrest him. “Taking a moral responsibility the Chief Minister should resign,” he asserted.

He, however, parried media queries on why they had not pursued the matter of hurting religious sentiments in Delhi against the dera chief.

He warned that if no action was taken against the Dera chief, they would gherao the state government in Chandigarh. He also said they had also filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court regarding the CBI inaction in cases seeking the intervention of the apex court to speed up the probe against the dera chief.

Flaying the SGPC, Sarna stated that it had also failed to comply by its earlier decision that an 11-member delegation would hand over memorandums to the Governors of Punjab and Haryana, as they had agreed to handing over the memorandums to a representative of the authorities in Fatehgarh Sahib.

Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode of the Sant Samaj said they would stick to their earlier decisions as per which all Sikh organisations would assemble on June 2 in Ludhiana to chalk out the next course of action. Demanding the arrest the dera chief, he called upon the Sikh organisations to close all deras of the sect in Punjab.

Former secretary of the SGPC Manjit Singh Calcutta said the dera chief should be punished for his act and it was the only way to assuage the sentiments of Sikhs. 

Chandigarh, May 31
The Chandigarh police remained on its toes today in the wake of the expected march of Sikh organisations toward Chandigarh from Fatehgarh Sahib to hand over memorandums to the Governors of Punjab and Haryana.

A heavy deployment of police was seen on all roads leading to the city from Punjab. Police sources said approximately 1600 personnel were deployed in various parts of the city, including around Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans.

Nakas were set up on all roads connecting the city to Punjab, which were manned by deputy superintendents of police. The nakas were set up at around 8 am and lifted around 2 pm. However, the traffic flowed smoothly on the roads.

It was around afternoon that the police heaved a sigh of relief when it got information that the protestors had agreed to hand over their memorandums to a representative of the Governor. A team of CID officials of the Chandigarh police, deployed at Fatehgarh Sahib, was giving minute to minute inputs of development occurring at Fatehgarh Sahib.

A team of police personnel led by the Sector 3 police station inspector Ram Gopal remained stationed near both the Raj Bhavans. 

Bathinda, May 31
Another farmer of Beer Talab village of this district today committed suicide due to heavy debt incurred to meet liabilities. He owed money to various agencies and relatives.

The deceased identified as Preetam Singh used his turban to hang himself.This is fifth suicide by a farmer in Bathinda and Muktsar districts of the Malwa region in this month.

Preetam Singh went to his fields where he had grown cotton , early in the morning. After spending some time in the fields, he came back home.

After having meals Preetam Singh again went to fields and committed suicide after some time. Preetam Singh hanged himself from a tree by using his turban. As the news of his suicide spread, almost all residents of Beer Talab village and surrounding areas gathered at the spot.

The family members of the deceased said Preetam Singh had been in depression for many days. He talked less to family members and had been confining him to himself only.

They added Preetam Singh, ( 60) had also been looking after his wife, who was getting treatment for the past many months from the local civil hospital. The deceased had also undergone four surgeries.

With two sons and two daughters in the family and debt of Rs 2 lakh, the deceased had been feeling harassed also due to economic constraints the family faced.

A daughter of the deceased said they apprehended their brothers could also take the extreme step. She added their father never shared his feelings with them.

A case under Section 174 of the Cr. P.C. had been registered in this connection. In May four farmers committed suicide in Bathinda district while one farmer ended his life in the Lambi area, the assembly segment represented by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Vidhan Sabha. 

Bathinda, May 31
More than 100 huts were destroyed after fire broke out near the local thermal plant late this evening. Around 500 persons, mostly labourers, have been rendered roofless.

The labourers, along with volunteers of the Sahara Jan Seva, tried to douse the fire. Fire tenders could save only a few huts after a struggle of about two hours.

Bathinda SDM K. P. S. Mahi said no loss of life was reported in the fire. He said as per his information, around 70 huts had been destroyed in the fire.

Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Kewal Krishan Aggarwal has demanded compensation for the victims.

Ludhiana, May 31
Not caring at all for the May 31 deadline of the P. Ram committee to the electroplating and dyeing units to stop polluting Budda Nullah many units continue discharging untreated effluents into the nullah.

The defiant industry, allegedly backed by politicians, has shown scant concern for water and ground pollution caused by its act even though kar sewaks led by Baba Jaspal Singh Baddowal are in the process of cleaning the nullah. Their efforts would come to a nought if industrialists keep dicharging effluents past the deadline.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board has also not promised any help. On the contrary the officials made it clear today they would not close down any unit tomorrow as asserted by the P. Ram Committee. With its liberal attitude, the toxic matter flowed into the nullah throughout the day as fumes of chemicals could be seen from the discharge.

A visit of villages like Dhanansu and Khasi Kalan, outside municipal limits and Tajpur Road lining the nullah by a Tribune team revealed the dyeing units in these villages were exercising restrain compared to the past but the industry within the city was releasing effluents as usual.

At many places pipes were discharging effleunts clandestinely. Surprisingly at several places, there was no sign of water being discharged openly but still gallons of chemical mixed water could be seen collected in the water body.

An office- bearer of the Ludhiana Effluent Treatment Society, Chaiber Singh said hope had still not diminished as around 150 electroplating units out of 500 had agreed to get their effluents treated in common effluent treatment plant, that would become operational from tomorrow.

‘‘We are roping in more units. We are organising a function tomorrow. We hope more and more units would join us to keep the city clean, ’’ he said.

Malwinder Singh, a Punjab Pollution Control Board official said he had directed his staff members to be vigilant and take action against the units found polluting the nullah despite having installed a treatment plant.

‘‘We are not taking any strict measure like shutting the units for violation. We have written to the state government for some more time. The government would write to the P.Ram Committee as well as the high court. Then we will follow the directions of the court and the committee. ’’ said Malwinder Singh reiterating the industry could not be closed as many people were dependent on it for their bread and butter. 

Chandigarh, May 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed the plea of petitioner Kamaljit Singh seeking directions to cancel the bail granted to former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee(SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur in the case of murder of her daughter Harpreet Kaur in April 2000.

It was on the petitioner's plea that Justice Amarbir Singh Gill, now retired from the High Court, had entrusted the investigation into Harpreet Kaur's alleged murder to the CBI on October 3, 2000, which has already filed the charge sheet on the basis of its findings against Bibi Jagir Kaur and other accused in the court of special judge, Patiala.

Kamaljit Singh had alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur was abusing the concession of bail and attempting to influence witnesses besides holding threats to the petitioner.

Chandigarh, May 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion for July 31 to the Punjab government and others over a petition seeking registration of an FIR against Master Mohan Lal Sharma, Punjab transport minister, among others.

The petitioner, Rajesh Prashar, resident of Pathankot, had prayed for the registration of an FIR under sections 409, 420,467,468,471 of the IPC against the minister and submitted that investigation of the case be handed over to the CBI.

Prashar submitted that the minister had shown himself to be a regular student of N.M. Law College, Hanumangarh, Ajmer, from 1989 to 1991 and passed the LL.B. professional examination 1991 vide roll no 15239 from the college. As a regular student, he had to attend at least 70 per cent of the lectures according to the college rules.

The petitioner alleged that such projection by the minister of being a regular student of the college was false and clear case of forgery involving tampering of records. In fact, during the period between 1989 and 1991, the minister, who is also a respondent in the case, had been working as a tutor-cum-teacher in the Arya Senior Secondary School (Boys), Pathankot.

Chandigarh, May 31
A World Bank team led by its India country director Isabel Guerrero has asked the Punjab government to send a proposal for the improvement of the 150- year-old canal system in the state.

The team called on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Kapurthala House last evening. Guerrero said the bank would get this proposal examined by its technical experts. She appreciated the concern of the state government over the fast-depleting ground water. Canal water was the only reliable resource and that, too, was not reachable at tail-ends due to the heavy deposition of silt in the water courses.

Badal urged the bank to fund a programme for the setting up of 140 adarsh schools for the “gifted poor” in every block of the state.

He thanked the bank for approving two mega projects related to the provision of safe drinking water and the road network in the state. 

Bathinda, May 31
Vivek Goyal, a local student, has done this region proud by topping Punjab in the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), which was held on April 29. Vivek’s overall rank is 21st.

Son of a doctor, he has achieved this in his first attempt. Vivek, who studied at the local DAV School, also got 56th position in the IIT-JEE 2007, the result of which was declared yesterday.

“The mantra is forget all things except the preparation for the entrance test, which I adopted from day one,” said Vivek. He used to get regular counselling from his father Anil Goyal, a psychiatrist, while getting extra coaching at a place outside Bathinda. He said he used to devote about 12 to 14 hours a day.

He said he never expected that he would be topping Punjab in AIEEE. “I will be joining the IIT, Delhi or Mumbai, in computer engineering stream.” 

Amritsar, May 31
Guru Nanak Dev University has introduced two new courses at its varsity college, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, from the academic session 2007-08.

Prof T.D. Narang, dean, Academic Affairs, said here recently that for the convenience of students of the Doaba region, GND University had introduced MA in public administration and post graduate diploma in computer application (PGDCA) at the Basti Nau college.

The dean said the university had introduced the computer application course keeping in view the great demand of IT professionals at the national and international levels.

He said the university had sanctioned 20 seats for MA public administration and allowed 30 seats in the PGDCA. He said NRI/NRI-sponsored seats were also available in the courses as per university rules.

Professor Narang said this college was equipped with the best infrastructure, well-equipped computer labs, library and qualified staff. The college had an arrangement for scholarships/stipends for deserving students and the lowest fee structure.