Zirakpur-Dera Bassi belt to be developed as urban conglomerate—Sukhbir Badal

CHANDIGARH–The ambitious plan to develop Zirakpur and Dera Bassi belt as most modern urban satellite towns was on the final stages of discussion and Punjab Government was contemplating to attract international real estate players in this area.

This was announced by Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab while laying the foundation stone of 3.5 km long 6 lane Ring Road in Zirakpur to divert Delhi- Mohali traffic away from the Zirakpur.

Mr. Badal said that he has envisioned this plan to facelift the total region and the focus was on planned growth of total area. He said that GMADA was also finalizing the contours of sectoral grid of this whole area and he has already ordered for planned development of inter sector roads.

Announcing a Rs 80 crore new International Sports Stadium at Nabha Sahib, Mr. Badal said that focus of the Punjab Government was nurturing the sports talent at the ground level besides providing them expert coaching from international coaches. Announcing tri-nation (India, Pakistan and Iran) traditional wrestling championship, Mr. Badal said that after ensuring Kabaddi a global recognition, the Punjab Government was also focusing on other traditional games like hockey and wrestling.

Promising a Sub-Tehsil status to Zirakpur keeping in view its fastest development in Punjab, Mr Badal said that he has asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit a proposal in this regard so that it could be taken into the next cabinet. Mr. Badal also asked Chief Administrator GMADA Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sinha to submit a proposal for linking Zirakpur with Kajoli water works to solve the chronic drinking water problem of this area.

Promising a total facelift of this region Mr. Badal said that besides this Rs. 100 Crore Ring Road, he would also lay the foundation stone of Rs. 2500 crore Chandigarh-Bathinda 4 laning project that would connect Zirakpur with Malwa through expressway.

Capt Amarinder, Manpreet are a spent force: Sukhbir Badal

FARIDKOT-Ridiculing the Congress-led UPA Government on foreign direct investment in retail, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said before a green signal, the Centre should have taken steps to safeguard the interests of small traders.

Also, to a query about friendship between state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal, he said, “Both the leaders are spent forces and desperate to find a foothold in the state politics.”

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a gathering at Jor Mela at Guru ki Dhab near Jaito, Sukhbir said, “The UPA Government should clear its stand on the controversial issue. There are a number of stake holders in the country and it is imperative for the government to dispel their fears on the issue,” he stressed.

He claimed the Shiromani Akali Dal believed in value-based politics and resignation of three ministers in the past six months was a proof of this.

On the other hand, the Centre was landing itself in embarrassment as its ministers were allegedly involved in scandals but were sticking to their ministries, he said.
He said the SAD-BJP government had chalked out an ambitious plan of more than Rs 10,000 crore to upgrade the basic infrastructure to provide quality amenities in rural areas.
He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was reviewing the progress of Adarsh schools and action would be taken if any discrepancy was found in their functioning.

Sukhbir Badal moots 7 fast track courts for rape, other cases in Punjab

AJNALA: The state government would urgePunjab and Haryana high court chief justice for setting up of at least 7 fast track courts in the state for expeditious trial of all heinous crimes, including rape cases, said deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday.

He along with cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was in Ajnala to attend a function organized by Christian community of the area.

"Punjab government is conveying to the high court that it was ready to provide total infrastructural support for setting up these fast track courts and bear all expenses for additional staff required for these courts," he said.

IK Gujral, the former Prime Minister of India passed away on Friday

Govt. declares 7-day mourning on IK Gujral's death, cremation today at 3 pm

Former Prime Minister I K Gujral, who headed a rickety coalition government in the late 1990s, died on Friday after a brief illness.

Gujral, 92, breathed his last at 3.27 PM in a private hospital after a multi-organ failure. He was admitted to the hospital on November 19 with a lung infection, family sources said.
The former Prime Minister, who was ventilator support, had been unwell for sometime. He was on dialysis for over a year and suffered a serious chest infection some days ago.

He will be cremated in nearby Delhi tomorrow.

IK Gujral with Chandrashekhar and the then Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj in May 1998.

Gujral, who migrated from Pakistan after partition, rose to become the Prime Minister with a big slice of luck after he came up through the ranks - starting as Vice President in NDMC in the '50s to later become a Union Minister and then India's Ambassador to the USSR.

Gujral, an intellectual who propounded the 'Gujral Doctrine' of five principles for maintaining good neighbourly relations, left the Congress to join the Janata Dal in the late-1980s.

He became Minister of External Affairs in the V P Singh-led National Front government in 1989. As the External Affairs Minister he handled the fallout of the Kuwait crisis following Iraqi invasion that displaced thousands of Indians.

Gujral had a second stint as External Affairs Minister in the United Front government under H D Deve Gowda, whom he later replaced as Prime Minister after the Congress withdrew support in the summer of 1997.

He emerged as the consensus candidate after serious differences developed among the UF leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh and others as to who will become the Prime Minister.

It was another matter that his government survived only for a few months as Congress again became restive in the wake of Jain Commission report on Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

Born on December 4, 1919 in Jhelum town now in Pakistan, Gujral belonged to a family of freedom fighters and had actively participated in the freedom struggle at a young age and was jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement.

Educated at DAV College, Haily College of Commerce and Forman Christian College, Lahore (now in Pakistan), Gujral took active part in student politics.

He became a member of the Rajya Sabha in April 1964 and was considered part of the 'coterie' that helped Indira Gandhi become Prime Minister in 1966.

He was the Information and Broadcasting Minister when Emergency was imposed (on June 25, 1975), which brought in arbitrary press censorship, but was soon removed.

Gujral was a Rajya Sabha Member twice between 1964 and 1976, a member of the Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991. With Lalu Prasad's help, he became a member of Rajya Sabha in 1992 after his election from Patna Lok Sabha constituency was countermanded.

He was re-elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 from Jalandhar in Punjab as an independent with help from Akali Dal.

A controversial decision of his government was its recommendation for President's rule in Uttar Pradesh in 1997, which the then President K R Narayanan refused to sign and sent it back to the government for reconsideration.

His wife, Sheila, who died in 2011, was a poet and author and his brother Satish Gujral is a prominent painter and architect. He leaves behind two sons, one of whom Naresh Gujral is a Rajya Sabha MP and now an Akali Dal leader.

Fearing defeat, Sheila delaying DSGMC poll: Badal

Jalandhar/Chandigarh, November 18
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today hit back at his Delhi counterpart Sheila Dixit saying that she was deliberately delaying elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Talking to newsmen at Khiala village near Jalandhar, Badal accused the Delhi Chief Minister of helping DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna whose defeat in the next DSGMC poll was inevitable. He said that as it would have an impact on the Delhi Assembly elections, Sheila wanted to delay elections to the Sikh institution. In a separate statement, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took a strong note of the remarks of the Delhi Chief Minister asking her Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal to “keep off Delhi gurdwara affairs”. The SAD described her reaction as irrational and indicative of the fact that Dixit was not aware of the history of the DSGMC. The SAD said that it was strange that the Congress leader was asking the founding fathers of the DSGMC to become mute spectators to the denigration of the management committee responsible for the maintenance of historic Sikh shrines in the national capital. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Will someone please go and tell her that Sikh affairs are very much a business of the Sikhs, and of the Sikhs alone, and that she or her government should stay away from the internal religious matters of the Sikh community. “Let her instead use her position to ensure better law and order in Delhi. By openly talking about an issue which concerns our shrines, Dixit has only confirmed Parkash Singh Badal’s observation that the Congress government in Delhi is indeed interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikhs,” he said.
Party spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema reminded the Congress leader that it was in 1970 that the then SAD president Sant Fateh Singh led a ‘morcha’ in Delhi demanding a similar democratic body on the pattern of the SGPC for the management of Sikh shrines in Delhi.
“Parkash Singh Badal, all his senior colleagues and 16,000 other SAD leaders and workers went to jail in this morcha,” added Cheema.
“So the present DSGMC came into being in 1971 as a result of the sacrifices made by the Sant Fateh Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and other SAD workers,” he said.

Punjab to house its offices in three buildings

Chandigarh, November 4
Peeved at the lack of response from its various departments, the Punjab Government has once again written to the Finance, Principal and Administrative Secretaries to provide in detail the requirements for their respective offices.

The government will now house offices in three premises, Vikas Bhavan (developmental activities), Nirman Bhavan (construction offices) and a new mini secretariat (general administration).

A communication to the secretaries read: “There has been no satisfactory response to the earlier communication seeking details for office requirements for the next 50 years.”

The government intends to house offices concerned with developmental activities, such as rural development and panchayats, animal husbandry, fisheries, cooperation and agriculture, at Vikas Bhavan. Offices related to construction activities, including the PWD, water supply and sanitation, will find a place in Nirman Bhavan and directorates and other departments will be housed in the new mini secretariat.

The state government is looking for a central place for its offices.

A Principal Secretary said “The main office of the Education Department is located in the mini secretariat. Certain other offices are located in Sector 17 and some in Sector 34. Similarly, the police headquarters are located in Sector 9 and other offices in different parts of Sector 17.”

The government spends a tidy sum on paying rent for these offices. Certain owners, who want to raise the rent, have approached the court.

Institute to train farmers in crop management

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 4
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) has adopted three villages of the district to provide training in the management of various crops to farmers. These villages are Deramian Meer, Peerjain and Panjoli.

Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan said the NIFTEM had adopted these villages for four years. He said three teams of the institute had visited these villages and provided training to farmers for one week. The teams will camp in these villages for one week in October and November and two weeks in May and June.

Mahajan said the farmers should give a preference to the management of crops and the arrangement of proper storage facility after forming self-help groups. He said NIFTEM teams would conduct tests on water and soil samples in these villages to provide information about the soil fertility.

He said the institute teams would also provide training regarding grading of crops and its packaging so that the farmers could get better remuneration. The teams would also provide training to the farmers in the maintenance of village ponds and fish farming. He urged the farmers to benefit from the training programme and cooperate with these teams.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Sanjeev Kumar Garg said each team of the NIFTEM would comprise 10 members. He said Dr Koman Chauhan, Dr Neetu Taneja and Dr Bhasmati Bhattacharya would lead these teams in Deramian Meer, Peerjain and Panjoli villages, respectively.

Livestock contests in Punjab from November 16

Jalandhar, November 4
To promote dairy development, the Animal Husbandry Department will organise district-level livestock championships and milking competitions in all 22 districts of Punjab from November 16 to December 21. Animal Husbandry Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur said out of the budget of Rs 1.98 crore sanctioned for the purpose, Rs 1.21 crore would be distributed among the winners.

The championships will be held In Jalandhar on November 19 and 20. After the culmination of these contests, the National Livestock Championship will be held at Muktsar from January 8 to 12 next year with a budget of Rs 2 crore. Phillaur said four new modern jails would come up in Amritsar, Bathinda, Muktsar and Ferozepur.

The minister said the jails would have a capacity of 3,000 inmates each and land for three projects had already been acquired.

He said to rescue Punjab from the vicious wheat-paddy cycle, the state had been assured help from the Central Government for the promotion of dairy farming, animal husbandry as well as fisheries in the state.

The issue will also be discussed during Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar's upcoming meeting with senior agricultural officials at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on November 20, he added.

Employees' body alleges misuse of funds at hospital

Sangrur, November 4

The district president of the Democratic Employees Front of Punjab, Swaranjit Singh, has accused the local Civil Hospital officials of misusing funds worth lakhs of rupees collected as user fee and test charges from patients.

Swaranjit said the matter had been brought to the notice of the Principal Secretary (Health), Government of Punjab, through a written complaint, demanding an inquiry into the matter.

In a statement issued here today, Swaranjit claimed that the hospital authorities had allegedly shown higher expenditure on furniture and stationery items as compared to the prevailing market rate. He also alleged that medicines of costly brands had been purchased from local chemists even though their generic versions were available at much cheaper rate.

The statement said that the “amount spent on construction and repair works in the hospital also seemed to be more than the actual expenses”.

Senior Medical Officer of the Civil Hospital Dr Makhan Singh, however, refuted the allegations. He claimed that no funds had been misused.

On alleged bungling in repair and construction works in the hospital, he said all such projects had been finalised after being discussed by committees formed specially for the purpose.

Punjab to acquire 12,500 acres in Patiala district

Patiala, October 30
With a view to develop industry and boost the manufacturing sector, the Central government and the Punjab government along with private investors will acquire 12,500 acres of land in 33 villages of Ghanaur and Rajpura tehsil, to set up a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone.
Since 1980, manufacturing in India has only contributed 15 to 16 per cent to our GDP growth whereas in other Asian countries, it has been around 25 to 35 per cent. The government is looking to set up these zones with a view to boost the manufacturing sector and bring its share in the GDP up to around 25 per cent in the next ten years.
General Manager of District Industrial Centre Harjinder Singh Pannu said they had already sent a report to Chandigarh in this regard. “We held meetings with village residents to find out what they thought about the project. Villagers seem to have no objections to it. Their only concern is that they should get good compensation for their land and that the government should ensure their rehabilitation. They have sought jobs from the government once the zone was developed. The land would be acquired only after their consent,” he said.
Asked why the government chose this particular area in Patiala district, he said the area had good connectivity, which was a must for the development of industry. The airport is nearby and the area is very close to the GT road, he added.
Meanwhile, residents of as many as 33 villages of Ghanaur had decided to formulate a committee to protect the interests of the people. The villagers refused to divulge anymore information on the subject.
Project details
Govt to set up a National Manufacturing and Investment Zone
Since 1980, manufacturing in India has only contributed 15 to 16 per cent to our GDP growth
Step taken to bring the contribution of manufacturing to around 25 per cent in the next ten years
Residents of 33 villages of Ghanaur to formulate a committee to protect the interests of the people

3 IAS, one PCS officer transferred

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government today transferred three IAS and one PCS officer in the state with immediate effect.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said Ravneet Kaur, IAS, Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, has been posted as Secretary, School Education, vice Husan Lal and in addition, Secretary, Higher Education and Languages vice G. Vajralingam.
Husan Lal, IAS, Secretary, School Education, has been posted as Secretary, Home Affair and Justice. Lal will look after the work of Secretary Jails, Punjab.
Parveen Kumar Thind, IAS, ADC (G), Fatehgarh Sahib, has been posted ADC (D), SAS Nagar, against vacant post.
APS Virk, PCS, Secretary (Examination), Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala, has been posted as ADC (G), Fatehgarh Sahib.

Ex-Barnala MLA Malkit Keetu shot dead

Monday, October, 29 2012 - 08:31

SANGRUR: Ex Barnala MLA Malkit Singh Keetu has been shot dead allegedly by his nephew Harpreet Singh. The incident took place around 9 am on Monday morning after the two had some altercation.

Keetu was a prominent Akali leader and an MLA from Barnala. He was also the president of the Punjab Truck Union. Although various factions of the truck union have fierce rivalry among themselves, police have ruled out that angle to the murder.

Hapreet is believed to have been inclined towards Congress while Keetu was a staunch Akali. The two are said to have had an altercation over their respective political affiliations. Further details are awaited.

Ramlila at PU: 77-yr-old tradition continues uninterrupted

Chandigarh, October 19
77 years ago, in 1935, Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club began staging Ramlila inside the then campus of Panjab University in Lahore. Years passed, the country went through Partition and the university campus kept shifting to different places. But there was never a year when this stage was not lit up during the festivity.
“This Ramlila, in fact, reflects upon the ups and down which the university saw over the years,”[ said Deepak Kaushik, general secretary of the Hari Naam Sankirtan Prachar Mandal under whose aegis the Lahore-born Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club has been organising this Ramlila on the Chandigarh campus of Panjab University since its inception here in 1956. Kaushik, who is engaged with this Ramlila since 1991, said that after Partition, the university shifted from Lahore to Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Shimla and Solan, before coming to Chandigarh. But the staging of Ramlila continued uninterrupted, he said.
Members of the mandal, who all are from the PU, say that people like Master Khem Raj Behal, Tara Chand Gandhi, and Babu Mohan Lal started the Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club which was active in staging plays and cultural activities against the British rule. PU employee Rajan Sharma, who is a part of this Ramlila since the age of four, and currently plays Rama, says that the contribution of Prof Lekh Raj Sharma, former head of chemical engineering department, had a big contribution in keeping this Ramlila alive when it moved to Chandigarh, along with the campus, from Solan. “He remained the president of the club for thirty years and inspired several generations on the campus to remain attached to our roots,” he says.

Vaikunth Nath Bhandari, one of the oldest members of the club, said that after Lekh Raj, this Ramlila was on the verge of closure in the early 90’s. But the efforts of late Prof Biri Chand, ex-chairman of UBS, revived it and helped creating the team of young people who are taking this Ramlila forward.

Here, Lord Rama converses with Sita in Urdu

An interesting part of this Ramlila is that though it was uprooted from Lahore years ago, it still has the rustic ‘Lahori’ flavour. Here, the dialogues are still delivered in pure Urdu and generations after generations have ensured that the original language remains unchanged.

Sushil Puri, one of the members, says, “We never used any special or professional artistes to attract crowds. From young to old, everyone delivers their dialogues in Urdu.” 16-year-old Karan Sharma, performing the role of young Rama, says that he had some problem in learning the dialogue initially but, having participated here for last many years, is now used to it.

13-year-old Anurag, playing the role of young Shatrughan, says that he enjoys being a part of this festival. The members here believe that the tradition of this stage will hopefully continue in future too.

Dasehra celebrations go hi-tech in city

Artists work on effigies at Sector 31

Chandigarh, October 19
Not only Ramlilas, Ravanas too have gone hi-tech this year in Chandigarh. From revolving effigies to modern effigy-burning systems, there is lot of excitement stored this Dasehra celebration in the city.

National AD Ramlila Club in Mani Majra has prepared revolving effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad for Dasehra celebrations to be held in the circus ground near the housing board chowk.

“Ram Ki Barat” being taken out in Sector 28, Chandigarh.

Monu Mehra, president of the club, said that it was for the first time in Chandigarh that revolving effigies of Ravanas, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad were being prepared. The moving effigies would provide a dramatic effect to the festival celebrations, he added.

According to him, artisans from Punjab were specially hired for this purpose. Besides, the revolving effigies, they have also prepared a dummy of ‘Pushpak viman’ over a car which will be used to carry the Ravana to the vmain enue. The height of all the effigies will be around 50 feet, he says.

New sytem to burn effigies at Sector 46

Chief patron, Sanatan Dharma Dasehra Committee, Jatinder Bhatia, said that this year they had arranged a special system to burn the effigies. Rama will come on the stage and shoot arrows to set the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath on fire.

Ravana’s effigy will be special, he says. Soon after catching fire, the crackers will ooze out first from his ears, then from his nose and it will then burst out along with other effigies.

The function will begin with the Lanka Dehan scene, he says. An artificial structure coated with golden paper, resembling Ravana’s Lanka, is being prepared at the venue, and will be burned before the effigies.

The height of the Ravana’s effigy is expected to be around 73 feet, and the other effigies would be 4-5 feet shorter in height, he said. “Last year, too, we had the biggest Ravana, which was 69 feet in hight. The total expenditure involved is around Rs 3-4 lakh,” he said.

Invitation to heads of all religions at Sector 24

Prem Shammi, general secretary of Saraswati Dussehra Committee, Sector 24, says, “We have invited heads of all the religions, including maulvis, priests, and pandits, who will give the message of communal harmony from the stage during the celebrations at the ground in Valmiki Mandir. The height of the Ravana is expected to be around 60 feet.

Effigy sizes to be increased at Sector 17

Secretary of the Sector 17 Dasehra celebrations, at the parade ground, said that the size of Ravana effigy inthe Ramlila will be of 70-75 feet. He aslo said that it would be adorned with all possible decorations.

Two die of dengue in Mohali

Mohali, October 19
Two women were reported to have died of dengue fever in Mohali.

While Balwant Kaur (80) died on October 17, a 38-year-old woman was reported to have died last night at the GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh.

Balwant Kaur was admitted to a private hospital in Sector 69 here on October 15 and died two days later. The other woman, a resident of Sector 66, was admitted to a private hospital here, but was later referred to Chandigarh.

Assistant Civil Surgeon Meena Hardeep Singh confirmed the death only of Balwant Kaur. She said the officials concerned had not received any report from the GMCH in connection with the death of the other woman due to dengue.

She said a meeting with pathologists of 10 private hospitals was held here yesterday. They were told about the guidelines issued by the Government of India and were asked to send samples of the patients suspected to be suffering from dengue to the Civil Hospital here.

The Mohali hospital is the only centre in Punjab for carrying out dengue tests.

Punjab government probe against officers misusing govt property

Patiala, October 19
Punjab government has decided to initiate disciplinary action against officers misusing government accommodations. Punjab Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon promised a high-level probe into the violations. Dhillon said, guilty officers would be asked to “vacate and pay penal rent”.

Sources confirmed that senior police officers and administrative officers posted in the state had kept more than one official accommodation available for themselves.

Enquiries revealed that two senior IPS officers had retained prime government properties in Patiala for the past many years while another IAS officer had kept a property in the city to himself despite being posted outside Patiala. Another politician had been getting extensions against vacating a property, despite losing the Assembly elections. Estate officers are scared of evicting these officers.

On the other hand, many government employees are running from pillar to post for the past many months to get accommodation.

“As per my entitlement, I had applied for an E type house long time ago but my application is still pending,” claimed one such applicant.

Investigations by The Tribune revealed that many government houses had been wrongly allotted to officers and bureaucrats against government rules.

Dhillon said he would mark a probe by a senior officer into the scam. “The entire list of allotted houses will be scanned and the guilty will have to pay penal rent and will be asked to vacate,” he said, warning officials from his department of meting out favourable treatment to anyone.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal demands drought relief package

Chandigarh, October 19
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said if Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi really loved Punjab, he should "force" the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister to release the central package promised to the state.

He was apparently referring to the assurance given by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that the Centre would sympathetically consider giving relief to Punjab farmers for the extra cost borne by them to raise their paddy in near-drought conditions.

Addressing a press conference here, along with ministers Bikram Majithia, Sikander Singh Maluka and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Sukhbir said a high-powered team led by Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had visited the state and promised a package for the loss suffered by the farmers which had been calculated at Rs 5,112 crore.

Sukhbir said the SAD would raise the issue in the winter session of Parliament and urged Punjab Congress MPs to express their feelings on the issue to the party high command "if they have the guts."

Asked whether the Agriculture Minister had told the state that it would no longer need its paddy, he said this might be the case but the Centre should not be a fair weather friend. " "Only two years back the Centre had expressed its gratitude to Punjab for filling the national coffers in time of drought."

Sukhbir said the Punjab farmer needed money for diversification which could only happen gradually. He said the Centre could support the state farmers by giving them minimum support price (MSP) for alternative crops.

Photo exhibition of anti-Sikh riots at Jallianwala Bagh

New Delhi, October 19
Several organisations working for the betterment of the Sikh community in Delhi today said a mobile photo exhibition of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would be inaugurated at Jallianwala Bagh on November 1. It would reach Sultanpur Lodhi on October 24, Jalandhar on October 25, Ludhiana on October 26, Anandpur Sahib on October 27 and Chandigarh on October 28.

A seminar on “Effective legislation against communal and sectarian violence" would be held on November 4, said senior advocate of the Supreme Court HS Phoolka.

He said the photo exhibition and the seminar were being organised to pressurise the government into punishing the guilty as not one accused in the anti-Sikh riots had been convicted. He said there were only five cases being heard by courts, the rest having been dismissed for want of evidence or witnesses. 

Punjab CM backs Army Institute’s plea

Mohali, October 19
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured the management of the Army Institute of Law (AIL) here of all possible support to make the institute a deemed university at the earliest.

Addressing the fourth convocation of the institute, Badal said giving AIL a deemed university status would go a long way in making it one of the best institutions in the field of legal education. He exhorted the students to play a pro-active role as upholders of law and justice in society and reminded them of their foremost duty to bring justice to the downtrodden, the underprivileged and the poor sections.

Conceding the request of the AIL for starting LLM classes from the next academic session, the Chief Minister asked the management to send a proposal to him in this regard so that he could take up the matter with the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala.

Over 100 students from three different batches were awarded degrees.

Buy power meters from 7 listed firms

Patiala, October 19
Under fire for not releasing new electricity connections, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has allowed power consumers to purchase their own meters. The corporation had a shortage of meters. The circular released by PSPCL has listed seven private firms which can provide the consumers with meters. Till June 30, the total number of new electricity connections pending was 27,233.

The corporation would only install the connections according to the seniority list. For instance, consumer figuring at number 58 in the seniority list would have to wait for the first 57 connections to be installed before getting his connection.

Most new connection seekers are of the view that PSPCL had done this to save its skin. “If even a single consumer in the seniority list is unwilling to purchase the meter, the rest won’t be able to avail the facility,” said a PSPCL official, preferring anonymity.

Furthermore, only consumers seeking a new connection can purchase their own electricity meters and not those with defective/burnt meters. Despite repeated attempts, senior PSPCL officials were not available for comment.

FARIDKOT ABDUCTION CASE

Sukhbir promises action against erring officers
Chandigarh, October 19

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the government would take stern action against police officers who had shown laxity in the Shruti abduction case even as he accused the Congress of giving a political hue to the abduction case.

The Deputy CM was talking to mediapersons here. He was accompanied by state police chief Sumedh Singh Saini. He claimed that he was closely monitoring the case and that the main accused, Nishan Singh, would be arrested “at any cost”.

He said the Home Department was examining the conduct of officers involved in the investigation and that action would be taken against anyone found to have committed lapses.

Saini admitted that there had been laxity in the investigation in the initial stage. He said two police officers (then Deputy Inspector-General Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Senior Superintendent of Police Gurinder Singh Dhillon) had been transferred for their lack of sensitivity in handling the case involving a minor.

“We have received directions from the government to be sympathetic to the girl and her parents”, he said, indicating there was no pressure on the police to help the accused as claimed by the Congress.

Sukhbir said his government was fighting a war against drugs and had put peddlers on the backfoot with record seizures in the last six months. He said the survey quoted by Rahul was conducted in 2006 when Capt Amarinder Singh was Chief Minister. Moreover, it was a sample survey of drug addicts and 70 per cent were young boys and girls.

The Deputy CM said for the first time, he had appointed an Inspector-General of Police (IGP) as head of the anti-narcotics cell. Similarly, a special operations cell had been opened in Amritsar which had the authority to check narcotic activities all over the state.

He said drugs, including heroin and smack, had been seized in large quantities and his government had urged the Congress-led Rajasthan Government to stop the open sale of poppy husk.

Reward for info on key accused

Chandigarh: Sukhbir Badal has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone facilitating the arrest of Nishan Singh, the main accused in the Shruti abduction case. Nishan Singh,19, is at large. Search teams have been sent to Rajasthan and Nepal to track him down.

The Deputy Chief Minister has also directed the authorities to attach the properties of Nishan Singh's family. 

Punjab suspends Vigilance IGP, SP

Chandigarh, October 19

The Punjab Government has suspended two senior police officers. While Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Vigilance, SK Asthana, has been suspended with immediate effect for keeping unauthorised manpower, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharm Singh Uppal has been suspended for intimidating witnesses.

It is learnt that Asthana had at least 31 personnel at his disposal. Disciplinary proceedings against him will be conducted by an officer nominated on the recommendation of the Chief Secretary.

The department also proposes to take action against government wings that illegally provided manpower to Asthana.

The inquiry report says that the IGP took “police and Home Guards personnel without the sanction of the competent authority. The unauthorised manpower was misused for personal work”.

Superintendent of Police Uppal has been suspended following reports that he intimidated witnesses in an assault case in which his son has been named an accused.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal warned that no police officer would be allowed to take law into his own hands.

Punjab embarks on green mission

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has embarked on a green mission to double the forest cover to 15% from 7%

Dehradun Oct 14, 2012 - Punjab may be famous for its rich agriculture production in India. But very little is known about its miniscule forest cover of 7% as against 65% green cover of states like Uttarakhand.

In what is being billed as the first major afforestation initiative, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has embarked on a green mission to double the forest cover to 15% from 7%. Badal, who became the chief minister for the record fifth time last year, today formally inaugurated the Rs 1,900 crore “green Punjab mission” in the hallowed precincts of the prestigious Forest Research Institute (FRI) here. Under the project, the state government signed an MoU with the FRI here to achieve the goal 5-8 years time with the involvement of farmers and the state forest department.

For this purpose, the state government has also set up a green fund and has already raised Rs 22 crore, Badal said. From seed to trees, the MoU envisages the FRI to tackle all the forest-related problems and provide its technical expertise to farmers in the maintenance of the green cover. “FRI will take only plant a sapling but take care of for 3 to 5 years till it properly grows,” said Badal after the signing of the MoU.

Plantations of industrial timber and ornamental tree species will be carried out in this programme, Badal said. To ensure the proper price for the timber grown by farmers, timber market will be strengthened and upgraded throughout the state.

To cater the research needs of the state, a research institute will be established in Punjab with the help of FRI. “Through this green mission, the Punjab government has set an example which will be followed by other states in future,” said V K Bahuguna, Director General Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education which controls the FRI.

Chitkara University closed for six days

Rajpura, October 10, 2012 - The management of Chitkara University has decided to close the varsity for six days as a precautionary measure following protest by students over the death of a BCom student, Rohan Singla, on Monday.

Mohit Chitkara, vice-president of Chitkara Educational Trust said they have closed the university for six days. The university will reopen on Monday. He said this has been done to maintain peace on the campus.

The university has also decided to appoint more hostel wardens. Sources said the university has now decided to appoint a chief hostel warden, a warden, an assistant warden and a caretaker in the university who would remain on the campus 24 hours a day. This was seen as a step to maintain discipline among students.

On the appointment of hostel wardens, Mohit Chitkara said they have sufficient number of wardens and more appointments were being made to maintain discipline and peace on the campus.

Though the body of the deceased was handed over to the family, resentment prevailed among the students over the lack of medical facility on the university campus. Some of the students on the condition of anonymity said that they do not want to disturb peace on the campus and added that the authorities should make arrangement for providing medical treatment to the students in case of emergency.

Following death of a BCom student, the students of the university held a massive protest on campus and blocked the Rajpura-Chandigarh road on Monday evening.

Three new bus stands in 3 districts

Sangrur, September 19

Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will begin the construction of three modern bus stands at Sangrur, Kapurthala and Faridkot next month. PRTC Chairman Ranjit Singh Ballian said Punjab Infrastructure Development Board would demolish the existing bus stands and construct the new ones for Rs 300 crore.

He said the new bus stands will have a loading-unloading platform, ticket counters, parking lots, restaurant blocks, snacks bars, air conditioned waiting halls and a public announcement system. After Maharashtra, Punjab is the second state in India to come up with such bus stands. 

Former Cong minister Henry loses citizenship

 

Jalandhar, September 19
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) has ceased the Indian citizenship of senior Congress leader and transporter Avtar Henry.

In a communication to Principal Secretary (Homes) DS Bains, Undersecretary, Union Government, SN Garg has said the Centre, while exercising powers under Sections 9(2) of the Citizenship Act-1955, had ceased Henry’s Indian citizenship from the date he acquired British citizenship and passport in 1969.

Henry, however, is at liberty to acquire Indian citizenship by following the procedures laid down under the law.

In the letter, Garg stated that an inquiry report forwarded by the Additional Director General of Punjab Police specified that the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, was not in possession of any record that could be used to ascertain whether Henry had submitted an application to acquire Indian citizenship or not. Henry had acquired an Indian passport in 1981 and subsequently in 2004. The passport can be issued only to an Indian citizen.

But the records of the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the division had not granted Indian citizenship to Avtar Henry from 1981 onwards.

The letter sent by Garg to Bains stated that the fact that he had acquired a British passport conclusively proved that he had acquired British citizenship and thereby automatically ceased to be an India citizen under Sections 9(1) of the Citizenship Act-1955 from the date of the acquisition of British citizenship.

Case history

Henry had landed in a trouble following allegations of dual citizenship levelled by his son Gurjit Singh Sanghera. The Union Home Ministry had summoned him to Delhi to clear his stand.

Henry was asked to appear before the ministry on July 10, 2012. Henry had appeared before SM Garg and recorded his statement.

In November 2009, Sanghera had accused his father of possessing two passports. In his complaint, Sanghera had alleged that Avtar Singh ‘Sanghera’ had been to England on an Indian passport, which he had procured from the passport office in Delhi by posing as Lakhbir Singh Sanghera’s son. Lakhbir Singh Sanghera is, in fact, Henry’s elder brother and his father’s name is Joginder Singh.

The complainant had further alleged that Henry had made a false averment in the British passport that his “father”, Lakhbir Singh Sanghera, had died in 1905. Lakhbir Singh had actually died in November 2006.

The complaint further read that Avtar Henry (‘son’ of Lakhbir Singh) took British citizenship on the old passport issued by the Indian Government. He later managed to get a passport from the British government and returned to India in September 1969. He yet again got a passport prepared from the Jalandhar passport officer, showing himself as the son of Joginder Singh (the real father) and born in Pakistan.

The complainant had sought charges under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 494 of the IPC against Henry. The Jalandhar police acted on the complaint, but the files were gathering dust at the SSP’s office.

The case was later reopened by the city police after Sanghera, through his friend Ajay Sehgal, an RTI activist, moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The court had directed the Union Home Ministry, Punjab Chief Secretary and the DGP to complete an ongoing probe into a complaint against Henry in four months.

Son relieved

Gurjit Singh Sanghera has expressed satisfaction at the union government’s decision to cease Henry’s Indian citizenship. Talking to The Tribune, Sanghera claimed that he would move an application before the city police Commissioner seeking his arrest.

BJP veteran Bakshi Ram Arora is Amritsar Mayor

Amritsar, September 19
The BJP high command today appointed veteran leader Bakshi Ram Arora as the city Mayor, putting to rest the tussle between two factions of the local unit lobbying hard for respective candidates.
The three-time BJP councillor’s name was proposed by SAD Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir Bolaria and seconded by BJP Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi during the first meeting of the fifth Amritsar Municipal Corporation House at Town Hall.
SAD councillors Avtar Singh Truckanwala and Avinash Jolly were unanimously elected Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively. Their names were proposed by Joshi and seconded by Bolaria.

The presiding officer, Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar, administered the oath to the newly elected councillors.

ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਇਯਾਲੀ ਨੇ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹਲਕੇ ਦੀ ਨੁਹਾਰ ਬਦਲੀ

ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ, 19 ਸਤੰਬਰ (ਵਤਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ)-ਨਵੇਂ ਨਰੋਏ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਸਿਰਜਣਾ ਲਈ ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਲੋਂ ਪਿੰਡ-ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟ ਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹਨ। ਸ: ਸੁਖਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਹੇਠ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅੱਜ ਤਰੱਕੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੰਜ਼ਿਲਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਵਧ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਸ: ਬਾਦਲ ਤੋਂ ਸੇਧ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਹਲਕਾ ਦਾਖਾ ਤੋਂ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਇਯਾਲੀ ਨੇ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਕਾਰਜਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹਲਕੇ ਦੀ ਨੁਹਾਰ ਬਦਲ ਦਿੱਤੀ, ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਹਲਕੇ ਦੇ ਵੱਡੇ-ਵੱਡੇ ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀ ਲੀਡਰ ਸ: ਇਯਾਲੀ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਣਾ ਸਦਕਾ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਨੀਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।

Chandigarh gets rid of its ‘disturbed area’ tag after 29 years

Chandigarh, September 19
Around three decades after it was labelled a “disturbed area”, Chandigarh today finally managed to shrug off the tag, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashing a notification to that effect.

The tag was given to Chandigarh in 1983 during the dark days of militancy in Punjab. The intention was to bestow special powers on the Administration, the police and the security forces for effectively dealing with militancy between 1981 and 1992.

Since Punjab was mostly under President’s Rule, Chandigarh was also brought under the Punjab Governor’s purview. He was, in fact, made the UT Administrator.

Punjab gave up the title in 1997. But nearly two decades after militancy was wiped out from the state, Chandigarh refused to let go the “disturbed” status. This was despite the fact that no major terror incident took place in the city after 1995.

As a petition filed in public interest on the issue came up for resumed hearing before the high court this morning, the Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain held that Chandigarh was no longer a disturbed area, as the notification had ceased to have any relevance in present times.

The Bench minced no words in holding that the Chandigarh Administration had failed to justify the relevance of such notifications in present times, particularly when no terror incident had been reported in the city for the past many years.

The court also observed chances were that the tag was acting as a deterrent for tourists. So many of them would obviously be reluctant to visit the city after finding it labelled on the Internet as a disturbed area, the Bench added.

The development is significant also because the Chandigarh Administration had, just about two days ago, made clear its intention of not withdrawing the notification declaring Chandigarh a disturbed area.

Appearing before the high court during a hearing on the petition filed by Janata Dal (United) president Surinder Bhardwaj, the UT senior standing counsel Sanjay Kaushal had claimed that besides accommodating government functionaries of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh was also catering to the security needs of protected persons actively involved in the fight against terrorism.

ADMINISTRATOR STAYS

• Though the “disturbed area” tag has gone, the Punjab Governor remains the Chandigarh Administrator
• The petitioner said after the issuance of the notification, the Punjab Governor was appointed the Chandigarh Administrator. But after 1986, no such notification was issued, he argued while seeking revival of the Chief Commissioner’s post
• The high court refused to accept the plea stating the relief was not even sought in the petition

CM orders probe into missing wheat stock

Ludhiana, September 18
A week after the Mullanpur police booked a former Area Inspector of the Punjab Agro Food Grain Corporation, Mela Singh, for misappropriation, the Chief Minister today ordered a Vigilance probe into the alleged embezzlement of 2,538 tonnes of wheat worth Rs 4.5 crore at Mullanpur.

This has been done on the recommendation of the Financial Commissioner, Development. Mela Singh was booked on the complaint of NK Sharma, Senior Divisional Manager, Punjab Agro Food Grain Corporation. Sharma said that Mela Singh, who was in charge of Dakha area from 2006 till March this year, “ took pre-mature retirement in March. However, he did not hand over the charge of the wheat stock at the time of relinquishing duty.”

Power corp rectifies inflated bill

Ludhiana September 18
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today rectified the electricity bill of Alice Guram, a resident of Pink Flats, Rajguru Nagar, here. After rectification, the bill has now come down to Rs 14,651 as against Rs 11,11,440 earlier.

PSPCL had served the bill of Rs 11.11 lakh to the Guram family on Sunday. Shocked at the whopping bill, Guram had highlighted the issue in the media, besides urging PSPCL to rectify the same.

KL Sharma, Chief Engineer, PSPCL (Central), said: "There was a technical fault in the electricity meter, which had resulted in an inflated bill. Now, we have rectified the same on the basis of average of their previous year's bill. We will examine the meter to find the fault". "Officials who came to deliver the rectified bill, appreciated that we had highlighted the issue and hoped that other consumers will also come forward to report such discrepancies,” Guram said.

Not many farmers opting for certified wheat seed

Bathinda, September 18
Certified wheat seed is yet catch the fancy of a majority of farmers in Punjab, as per the data put forth by the Joint Director Agriculture-cum-Director, Punjab State Seed Certification Authority, Dr Gursewak Singh Sandhu.

Speaking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a Kisan Mela organised by the Agriculture Department, Dr Sandhu said the department had certified seed available for 7 lakh hectares. Wheat is expected to be sown on 35 lakh hectares of land after the paddy harvest.

Asked the reason behind the shortfall of certified seed, he said, "A majority of farmers are unaware about the benefits of certified seed. Most of them use stored granules of their last season's crop as seed. Though we have not imposed any ban on the sowing of any kind of wheat seed, farmers must be aware that certified seed is more beneficial."

Dr Sandhu said there was not much difference between the prices of both kinds of seed. "The certified seed is less prone to diseases. The yield may almost be the same, but the certified category saves expenses that have to be incurred on chemicals. They must understand its value and opt for it," he suggested. He said the department was holding awareness camps to promote the seed.

Also, he said at 236 kg per hectare, the average consumption of fertilisers in Punjab was the highest in the country. He advised the farmers to use fertilisers judiciously.

NEW IS GOLD!

• Certified seed is less prone to diseases as compared to the conventional stored seed granules.
• Though the yield may be the same, it will save the farmers the cost of using chemicals.
• Of the estimated 35 lakh hectares, certified seed likely to be sown on 7 lakh hectares.

Late monsoon surge could hit crop yield

Chandigarh, September 18
In what is expected to be good news for farmers, the level of the Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh has increased substantially in the last fortnight due to a late monsoon surge.

Although the dam is not expected to fill to capacity (1680 ft), the fact that the level has risen to 1,653 ft indicates that the fear of a drought year has all but passed.

Experts say the dam was earlier expected to reach a level of 1,635 ft by the end of the filling season (Sept 26), lower than the drought year level of 1,640 feet recorded in 2009.

However, heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Bhakra and Pong dams has raised the expectations of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities. It is felt that the late monsoon surge could prolong the rains beyond September 26. If this happens, the water level in the Bhakra dam could rise further.

Sources said the last two days of rain in Himachal had increased the inflow into the Bhakra dam substantially. The dam had received one lakh cusecs of water yesterday and was likely to receive 50,000 cusecs of water today. This late surge had resulted in the dam level rising to 1,653 feet today. This was a dramatic increase if seen against the level of 1,555 ft on July 21 this year that had prompted the BBMB to enforce water supply cuts to partner states.

The water level in the Pong Dam has risen dramatically too in the last one month. Sources said the level was 1,329 ft as on August 15 this year. Today it was recorded at 1,382 ft (the dam has a maximum filling level of 1,390 ft). Sources said if the rains continued, the dam could reach its near filling point till the end of this month.

However, farmers in Punjab are suffering from a surfeit of rain. Large portions of the state, including Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, have been lashed with moderate to heavy rainfall in the past three days.This is worrisome for areas which go in for early sowing, including parts of Patiala, Amritsar and Ferozepur.

Heavy rain has damaged crops in Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts.This is likely to affect the crop yield though, it it may be marginal.

“The rain will surely affect the ripened paddy seedlings which will develop blackened seeds”, said Bhadson farmer Jhujhar Singh. “Even the four acre vegetable crop in my fields is totally submerged in water and destroyed”, he added.

Patiala Chief Agriculture Officer BS Sohal, said the yield would be less in the early sown and early maturing varieties.

State Agriculture Adviser Dr BS Sidhu said there the heavy rainfall could result in a spurt in blight and fungus-borne diseases.

Capt Amarinder, Manpreet a spent force: Deputy Chief Minister

Faridkot, September 18
Ridiculing the Congress-led UPA Government on foreign direct investment in retail, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said before a green signal, the Centre should have taken steps to safeguard the interests of small traders.

Also, to a query about "bonhomie" between state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and People's Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal, he said, "Both the leaders were spent forces and desperate to find a foothold in the state politics."

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a gathering at Jor Mela at Guru ki Dhab near Jaito, Sukhbir said, "The UPA Government should clear its stand on the controversial issue. There are a number of stake holders in the country and it is imperative for the government to dispel their fears on the issue," he stressed.

He claimed the Shiromani Akali Dal believed in value-based politics and resignation of three ministers in the past six months was a proof of this.

On the other hand, the Centre was landing itself in embarrassment as its ministers were allegedly involved in scandals but were sticking to their ministries, he said.

He said the SAD-BJP government had chalked out an ambitious plan of more than Rs 10,000 crore to upgrade the basic infrastructure to provide quality amenities in rural areas.

He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was reviewing the progress of Adarsh schools and action would be taken if any discrepancy was found in their functioning.

5 die in Khanna factory fire; 16 hurt

Khanna, September 12

Five factory workers were charred to death and 16 critically injured in an explosion caused by a gas leak at a factory in Khanna town of Ludhiana district. Around 300 men and 70 fire tenders battled the blaze for over 12 hours and finally extinguished it at noon on Wednesday.

Tragedy struck at Sanjiv Agro Solvent Plant in Khanna’s Focal Point area around 11.45 pm on Tuesday when nearly 22 workers were on the night shift. Eyewitnesses said a blast occurred in the boiler unit and caused a fire.

The fire spread to the area around the godowns where rice bran and coal were stored, both highly inflammable. Three trucks parked there were reduced to ash.

Workers called up the fire department which reached the spot around 12.30 am. Khanna Fire Officer Yashpal, who was among the first to reach the factory with his team of 40, said the flames were over 30 feet high.

“I have never seen such flames. The smell of hexane was thick in the air causing nausea. The burning of rice bran and coal added to the heat,” he said. Some firefighters also suffered burn injuries.

A total of 70 firefighting vehicles were pressed into service, including some from nearby Gobindgarh, Samrala, Amloh and Rajpura. The Fire Officer said they were able to contain the fire or it could have led to massive damage in the industrial area. “Even scorched trees and plants growing across the road near the factory premises,” said Yashpal.

As per preliminary investigation, the explosion in the boiler and subsequent fire was caused due a hexane gas leak, Khanna SDM PS Sodhi said. However, Satbir Singh, Director, Boilers, ruled out that the incident took place due to the boiler blast. He said a flash fire took place after the leak of hexane gas.

Sanjiv Agro Solvent Plant manufactures edible vegetable oil that is extracted with the use of hexane. “Hexane gas, rice bran and coal proved to be a fatal combination. All three elements are highly inflammable and led to the massive fire,” said Khanna SDM PS Sodhi.

Sources said a huge quantity of hexane gas was in the containers when the accident took place, further fuelling the blaze. The absence of firefighting equipment also compounded damage.

Anil Kumar, the lone worker to have sustained minor injuries, said there was first a gas leak followed by an explosion. He was in the area around the godowns when he heard the explosion and scaled the wall. “There was inadequate fire safety equipment in the factory. The tragedy could have been averted...” Sanjiv Agro Solvent Plant owner Naval Aggarwal refused to comment on the lack of fire safety measures. “I have been running the factory for 20 years. No such incident has ever taken place in the factory. I am in deep shock. My dream project has gone up in smoke,” he said.

Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and promised action against those found guilty. SDM PS Sodhi would submit his report in a week. The Director, Boilers, from Jalandhar and a forensic team from Chandigarh would also probe the incident.

The CM has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the deceased and offered free treatment for the injured. The injured were first rushed to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and from there they were further referred to PGI, Chandigarh.

The deceased

• The deceased have been identified as Chottu (17), Bhagi Rath and Davinder. Two of the bodies have been burnt beyond recognitions
• The 16 injured are: Pawan, Kundan, Gurbachan, Janardhan, Umesh, Manohar, Gobind, Ravi, Rajinder Mondal, Mohd Adarsh, Kake Singh, Anil and Manu Singh (Uttar Pradesh); Manjit Singh and Gurnaib Singh (Nangal); and Chaman Lal (Himachal Pradesh)

Sangrur Govt. Doctor Arrest: CPS lifts her ‘veil’ in drama over his arrest

CPS Dr Navjot Kaur with Dr Sameer Kaushal, who
claims to be a trustee of Mohali’s Amar Hospital. 

Chandigarh/Mohali, August 30
For those looking for drama in the dull life of government servants, here's one with a post script: a chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) poses as a veiled Muslim woman patient and busts a high-ranking government doctor moonlighting at a private hospital in Mohali. The doctor, due to retire a day later, cries foul but is suspended.

The Mohali police said Dr Sameer Kaushal has been arrested under sections 420 (cheating) and 168 (public servants unlawfully engaging in trade) of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Dr Kaushal is the Medical Officer Sangrur and claims he is a trustee of Amar Hospital, Mohali Sector 70. Dr Kaushal is posted at the Community Health Centre of Kauhrian village.

It all began around 11 am on Thursday when 'Nafisa' arrived at the hospital complaining of an excruciating stomachache. Dr Kaushal came out of his room of the super specialty hospital and asked 'Nafisa' to lift her veil so that he could examine her. When 'Nafisa' refused, the doctor asked his staff to rush her to the emergency.

As soon as Dr Kaushal began the check-up, a team of cameramen descended on the scene. The veil was gone and out came CPS Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, MLA, Amritsar East. She showed the cameraman the doctor's name on the display board and his visiting hours: 10 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm.

A flummoxed Dr Kaushal clearly looked pale. "It's a frame-up. She (Navjot) was a year junior to me in the medical college. Maybe, she had some axe to grind. There is no reason why my hospital should have been raided a day before my retirement", he said. Dr Navjot Kaur said: "Does that mean we should absolve him of all his wrong doings? It is a question of professional accountability and not of any school bonding."

Dr Kaushal has been suspended immediately. An official spokesperson said en inquiry was on as to how the MO was allowed long absence from his official duty.

Dr Navjot Kaur said the Civil Surgeon Sangrur had written to her about the the doctor's absence. She said "I had received a complaint from Punjab Panchayats president Lachhman Singh Chatha that the doctor was never present on duty. I had requested the Civil Surgeon to conduct an inquiry, but I did not get any reply. That's why I decided to check the centre myself."

Dr Kaushal said he had given a notice for his premature retirement on May 30.

DOC IN THE DOCK

• Dr Sameer Kaushal says he is due to retire on Friday and that the entire episode is a frame-up
• According to him, Dr Navjot Kaur was a year junior to him in the medical college, and maybe, had some old issues to settle with him
• Dr Kaur says it was a question of ‘professional accountability, and not of some old school bonding’.

4 ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਦੇ 106 ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਲਟਕੀ ਤਲਵਾਰ

ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇਕ-ਇਕ ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਆਦੇਸ਼

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 26 ਅਗਸਤ,2012-ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੇ 4 ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਦੇ 106 ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੋਟਿਸ ਭੇਜ ਕੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਜਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਬਣਦੇ ਘੱਟੋ ਘੱਟ 1-1 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਜਾਂ ਫਿਰ ਪੈਲੇਸ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦੇਣ। ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੁਕਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ-ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਹੱਥਾਂ-ਪੈਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਪੈ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵਿਆਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸ ਬੁੱਕ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਹੋਏ ਸਨ। ਉਪਰੋਕਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਅੱਜ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸ: ਸੁਖਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਗਰੇਟਰ ਮੋਹਾਲੀ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਅਥਾਰਿਟੀ (ਗਮਾਡਾ) ਨੇ ਅਜੀਤਗੜ੍ਹ, ਫਤਹਿਗੜ੍ਹ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਰੋਪੜ ਅਤੇ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਜਿਲ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਦੇ 106 ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸਾਂ/ਬੈਂਕੁਏਟ ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ ਜਦਕਿ ਬਾਕੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੇ ਜ਼ੀਰਕਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਹਰ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਪੈਲੇਸ ਕੋਲ ਲਗਭਗ 50-50 ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਬੁੱਕ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਲੇ ਲੱਗਣ ਨਾਲ ਪੰਜਾਬ 'ਚ ਵੱਡੀ ਪੱਧਰ 'ਤੇ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਸੰਕਟ ਖੜ੍ਹਾ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਿਆਹ-ਸ਼ਾਦੀਆਂ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਾਰਡ ਵਗੈਰਾ ਵੀ ਛਪਵਾਏ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ। ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਵਿਆਹ ਸ਼ਾਦੀਆਂ ਮੌਕੇ ਕੇਟਰਿੰਗ, ਸਜਾਵਟਾਂ ਵਗੈਰਾ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਮੁਹੱਈਆ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੇਸ਼ਗੀ ਰਕਮਾਂ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ।

Bill for separate status to Sikhism today

AMENDING ARTICLE 25  Article 25 of the Constitution of India describes Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as parts of the Hindu religion  This has resulted in avoidable confusion across the world about the independent identity of these three religions, says the community  This Bill proposes to amend Article 25 with a view to distinctively refer to Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions along with Hinduism

New Delhi, August 23
After the amendment of the Anand Marriage Act for separate registration of Sikh marriages, the community is now setting its eyes on amendment of the Constitution to recognise Sikhism as a full-fledged religion.

At present, Article 25 of the Constitution of India describes Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as parts of the Hindu religion. Sikhs have long been seeking amendment to this Article to grant Sikhism an independent identity under the law.

In a significant move, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today allowed Shiromani Akali Dal’s Khadoor Sahib member Rattan Singh Ajnala’s private member Bill to amend Article 25 of the Constitution to meet the community’s pressing demand.

The Bill titled ‘Constitution Amendment Bill 2012’ seeks to drop Explanation II in Article 25, which — while guaranteeing a right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion — defines Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as components of the Hindu religion.

Clause 1 of Article 25 of the Constitution provides the freedom of religion to everyone in India. Sub clause (b) of Clause 2 of Article 25 says: “notwithstanding the freedom of religion, the Government can make any law pertaining to the social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of the Hindus”.

The problem arises in Explanation II of sub clause (b) in Clause 2 of the said Article, which says: “the reference to Hindus will be construed as including a reference to persons professing the Sikh, Jaina and Buddhist religions and the reference to Hindu religious institutions shall be construed accordingly as well.”

The statement of object and reasons behind Ajnala’s private member Bill listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha tomorrow wants Explanation II dropped and says, “The drafting of sub clause (b) of Clause 2 of Article 25 tends to ignore the separate and distinct identities of Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions. Rather, it shows that these religions are either part of the Hindu religion or associated with it. This has resulted in avoidable confusion across the world about the independent identity of these three religions. This Bill proposes to amend Article 25 with a view to distinctively refer to Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions along with Hindu religion.”

The Bill also refers to the recommendation to amend Article 25 along similar lines made by the National Commission on Review of the Constitution headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice MN Venkatachaliah during the NDA regime.

The Bill at hand is a constitutional amendment Bill and the second major bill moved as a private bill by Sikh MPs. The Anand Karaj Amendment Act was earlier moved as a private member’s Bill in Rajya Sabha by former MP Tarlochan Singh.