CM: No fiscal package, but cheaper power for industry

Capt Amarinder says focus on relaxed norms, revival of sick units

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh with industrialist RK Saboo (left) and PHDCCI president Gopal Jiwarajka in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

Citing the precarious financial condition of the state, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today ruled out any fiscal incentives to the industry in the state’s industrial policy. The focus would rather be on the ease of doing business, good governance and revival of the existing industry.Addressing industrialists at an interactive session organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the CM said the government was still trying to ascertain the extent of the financial mess the state was in and would soon bring out a White Paper to reveal the real status.It would thus be difficult to address the demands of the industry, he said, adding that the state’s debt had increased from Rs 48,344 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 1,82,537 crore at the end of 2016-17.Nevertheless, the CM said, he would ensure ease of doing business, backed by affordable power, as was promised by the party in its poll manifesto.He said the revival of industry was critical for the restoration of the state’s growth, as that would also act as an impetus to attract new industry.Speaking on the occasion, Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh made it clear that the government was committed to implementing its promise of providing power at Rs 5 per unit, which the PHDCCI said should be frozen for the next five years.The PHDCCI has demanded a legislation to regulate the operations of truck unions, which, it said were indulging in extortion and intimidation. It has also demanded that all illegal activities of these unions be made punishable to ensure that they operate as any other service providing company.Amarinder also promised to look into other issues raised by the industry such as delay in VAT refund and environmental clearances and support in reviving the cotton ginning mills in the Malwa belt.

PHDCCI’s roadmap for revival

• The state has immense potential to attract investment in areas such as textiles, steel, agriculture, food processing, dairy farming, fertilisers, electronics, sports goods, solar energy, tourism and handlooms, said a report prepared by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) The report was submitted to CM Amarinder Singh on Monday.
• Gopal Jiwarajka, president, PHDCCI, said the new industrial environment in Punjab should focus on the seven basic ingredients of manufacturing efficiency — availability of land, conducive industry-labour relations, availability of finances, zeal for entrepreneurship, availability of skilled manpower, state-of-the-art infrastructure and ease of doing business. tns

What industry wants

• Faster VAT refund
• Check on transport unions
• Eliminating bureaucratic hurdles
• Reduced tariff and continuous power supply
• Setting up of newfocal points
• Freight subsidy
• Revival of sick industry

Farm loan waiver: Panel report likely by June 15

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23

An expert group headed by NITI Aayog adviser Dr T Haque, constituted by the Punjab Government to look into the waiver of farm loans, is likely to submit its interim report before June 15.The state government is keen on rolling out a relief package for indebted farmers during the Budget session next month.The group, which includes Baldev Singh Dhillon, VC, PAU; Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu, state’s Agriculture Commissioner; and PK Joshi, South Asia Director, International Food Policy Research Institute; met here today. It is learnt that Dr T Haque and the others deliberated upon various options the government can chose from for implementation.Dr Haque said, “We met for the second time and are in the process of tabulating data to analyse and firm up the quantum of debt. Some data is there with us and some needed to be collected from lenders and the RBI. Possibly, we will be able to quantify the total loan before the next meeting in the coming week.”However, sources privy to the meeting stated that out of the total 20 lakh crop loan accounts, 60 per cent belonged to marginal farmers, whose land holding is below 5 acres. “There are 5.71 lakh accounts belonging to marginal farmers and 8.15 lakh are with small farmers,” an official said.Meanwhile, “not completely ruling out the Uttar Pradesh model” where farmers are being given loan waiver up to Rs 1 lakh, a senior NITI Aayog official said, “This may not work in the case of Punjab, given the state’s financial health. The experts are working on various scenarios, assessing the burden on the exchequer.”

Govt working out solution, says CaptChandigarh: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday appealed to the debt-ridden farmers in the state not to commit suicide and assured them that the government was working on fulfilling its poll promise of debt waiver. Asserting that there would not be any “kurki” — auction of mortgaged land of farmers, he wondered whether the government’s message of debt waiver was reaching the farming community. “Last month, 21 farmers committed suicide. Don’t take such steps,” Capt Amarinder told farmers, adding, “We are here for you and we have made a promise (debt waiver) in this regard.” “The way they (farmers) commit suicides…I don’t understand this scenario,” said the CM. Capt said the government had already set up an expert group led by T Haque, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, to assess the quantum of agricultural debt of farmers in the state and suggest way and means for its waiver. The CM said the group had been asked to submit its report to the government within 60 days. PTI

Bidders for mines back out, state may only get Rs310 cr

None of those who bid for quarries in Ropar, Ferozepur and Fazilka have come forward to deposit the security. File photo

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

In an embarrassment for the Capt Amarinder Singh government, which has hailed its record bids of Rs 1,026 crore for 89 sand and gravel quarries auctioned on May 19-20, the state has actually succeeded in selling only 45 per cent of the auctioned sites and may only rake in around Rs 310 crore.Since 55 per cent of the bid amount should have been deposited by 5 pm today, ideally, considering the total bids of a whopping Rs 1,026 crore, the government should have received Rs 564 crore. The amount received today was just 30 per cent of the amount that should have been received in case of 100 per cent success.None of the bidders, who bid for quarries in Ropar, Ferozepur and Fazilka, have come forward to honour their bids. The highest bidders will now lose their security and these bids will be auctioned again, in case the second highest bidder too refuses to take up the contract.Of the 89 successful bidders, only 43-odd bidders have come forward to deposit the initial 25 per cent security, 25 per cent installment and land compensation charges at the rate of Rs 15 per tonne to the land owners where quarrying of these minor minerals is allowed. None of the bidders, who had made exorbitant bids (almost 30 to 40 times higher than the reserve price for a quarry) has turned up to fulfil the condition for depositing 55 per cent of the bid amount by today evening.Initial data compiled by the Directorate of Mining, Department of Industries reveals that the bids of Rs 51 crore received for the Rail Baramad quarry in Nawanshahr and of Rs 29 crore for Adalatgarh quarry in Pathankot have not been honoured. Officials say most of the bidders, who had made unrealistic high bids, have now claimed that they thought the amount was for the entire five-year contract and had thus made high bids. When they realised that the bid amount was to be paid each year for the next five years, they withdrew.Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that of the total bids for Rs 238.14 crore received for 12 quarries in Nawanshahr, only three have been auctioned and the state received just Rs 27.68 crore. In Pathankot, only one of the five quarries put on the block was auctioned and the state received just Rs 9.51 crore. For Amritsar, total bids of Rs 51.48 crore were made for seven quarries, but only three quarries have finally been auctioned and government received just Rs 9.64 crore.In Ludhiana, one bidder, who made high bids for Dopana, Sikandpur and Razapur quarries (Rs 94 crore in all), backed out and only 13 of 17 quarries were auctioned and the state received just Rs 52 crore against bids of Rs 205 crore. Mohali and Gurdaspur, too, saw the bidders backing off and only Rs 19.82 crore and Rs 14.28 crore was realised today.

Copies of answer sheets online soon

Charanjit Singh Channi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 23

Amid a controversy over 85 per cent re-evaluation or reappear cases in IK Gujral Punjab Technical University(PTU)-affiliated colleges, Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today directed the PTU authorities to offer the facility of providing answer sheets’ scanned copies online on demand to the students.Channi said engineering and management students would thus be able to view the answer sheets before applying for re-evaluation. He said an examiner could face the music if re-checking of a paper led to a variation of more than 10 per cent marks.On his first visit to the PTU campus today, the minister gave strict directions to the affiliated colleges and announced major scholarship offers for the students taking admission on the university campus, government colleges and polytechnics. Technical Education Secretary-cum-officiating Vice-Chancellor Kahan Singh Pannu and various deans were present on the occasion.He said affiliated colleges where examination centres were set up should have CCTV surveillance with control and monitoring at the university headquarters so as to check copying. He said if cheating was reported from a centre, the exam centre head and the invigilator would face strict action.He said Rs 25 crore were being spent on incubation centres wherein PTU, too, could start projects. He said the syllabi of courses being offered on PTU main campus would be on a par with the syllabi of IITs after consultations with the IIT authorities.Scholarship scheme“Under the SC scholarship scheme for four government engineering colleges and polytechnics, those scoring above 90 per cent marks in Class XII will get 90 per cent fee waiver, 80-90 per cent marks (80 per cent waiver) and so on till  50 per cent fee waiver for 50-60 per cent marks.” — Charanjit Singh Channi, Technical education minister

Minister’s kin appointed Gurdaspur DEO

Chandigarh, May 23

Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary’s sister-in-law Rakesh Bala is among the 37 District Education Officers (DEOs) who were transferred or elevated to the post this evening.Bala has been appointed DEO (Secondary), Gurdaspur, the minister’s home district. She is presently serving as the principal of a Government Senior Secondary School. Chaudhary and Bala could not be contacted.Sixty officers were transferred or appointed, including three Circle Officers. Deputy Directors Inderjit Singh and Dharam Singh have been given additional charge of DPI (Elementary Education) and Director (Admin), respectively.

Rules ‘violated’

The department has appointed over six officers as DEOs, who have been recently divested of powers as Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDO). They were among a group of 168 vocational teachers, who were reverted from the post of Principal following a court order in October last year. — TNS

Cong MLA raises banner of revolt

Chandigarh:Congress MLA from Zira Kulbir Singh on Tuesday raised a banner of revolt against the Education Minister, Aruna Chaudhary.He claimed that two DEOs had been posted in Ferozepur despite his opposition. He said he would lodge his protest with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.“If my concern is not addressed, I will hold a press conference on the issue on Wednesday,” he said, adding that it was not only the bureaucracy that was unresponsive, even ministers were not listening to the MLAs. — TNS

BJP indulging in Corporate Governance: Manpreet

Manpreet Badal, Punjab Finance Minister, addresses mediapersons in Shimla on Tuesday. On the left is HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 23

Punjab Finance and Planning Minister Manpreet Badal today said the BJP was indulging in divisive communal politics and rather than coming to the rescue of the distressed farmers they are engaged in “Corporate Governance.”“The BJP might be gloating in the victories it registered in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand but eventually people of India have to decide whether they want this kind of politics or what is in the larger interest of India,” he remarked while addressing a press conference here at the Congress Office today.He said such divisive politics is not in the interest of the nation and it is only a matter of time when people will see through their agenda-based politics.Reflecting on the distress of the farmers and the resultant 35 suicides by them daily, he said the BJP-led NDA regime must implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee report. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise to the nation for not honouring the promise he made to the nation of waiving the farmers debts,” he demanded.Badal accused the Centre of appeasing their select cronies who were being given special favours while the distressed farmers have been left in the lurch. They were left with no option but to end their lives. “The number of farmers, who committed suicide, is on the rise from 12,630 in 2014 to 14,000 in 2016 while loans of business friends, amounting to Rs 1,54,000 crore, written off by the Centre,” he rued.He lamented that while 62 per cent of Indian’s population of farmers was being denied succor, the BJP’s crony friends are prospering through the windfall profit from the premium under the PM Fasal Bima Yojna.BBMB projects: ‘Wouldn’t deny HP its claim’Badal said Punjab would not deny Himachal it’s just and legitimate claim on arrears as per 7.19 per cent share in all Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects.“Though the matter is sub judice as friendly neighbours we must try to look for political solution as such trivial issues can be sorted out through dialogue,” he replied when asked if Punjab would give Himachal its arrears amounting to Rs 4,200 crores. The matter is pending before the Supreme Court but Himachal is yet to get the arrears.However, despite being the Finance Minister Badal declined to give an assurance that Punjab will give Himachal its due. “All such issues concerning the states are discussed threadbare at the Inter-State Council meetings and this too will get sorted out,” he assured.

SYL: Give some, take some

Haryana should concede a part of its share; Punjab can promise implementation

Loosen up: A rigid approach will only prolong litigation and promote political drama.

PUNJAB and Haryana might have missed a historic opportunity to settle their long- standing river water dispute. This opportunity arose on May 12 when Capt Amarinder Singh, the newly elected CM of Punjab, in a meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, offered a negotiated settlement of the SYL dispute. The Haryana Government should have taken up this offer and started negotiations. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead both governments went back to their hard positions, closing the possibility of a dialogue. Predictably, political parties in both states have backed their respective governments. We are back to square one now. At this moment, the Haryana Government feels that it does not need a dialogue, for the law is in its favour. Way back in 2003, the Supreme Court had given a final ruling and had ordered Punjab to build the SYL canal so that Haryana could get its due share of waters. In 2004, the apex court had issued a decree asking the Central government to step in if Punjab does not fulfil its obligations. The then Congress government in Punjab tried to block it by passing a strange law that unilaterally terminated all the earlier water agreements. The law was referred to the Supreme Court and after an inexplicable delay of 12 years, in 2016, the court declared the law as unconstitutional. The Akali-BJP government tried to block this again by de-notifying the land acquired for purposes of building the SYL. The Supreme Court was not amused. Now, the Haryana Government has filed an execution petition requesting for an order for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment. No doubt, the Haryana Government has an upper hand in this legal battle at the moment. This is why political leaders from Haryana are reluctant to engage in a dialogue with Punjab. This is unfortunate and short-sighted. The Haryana Government will in all probability get a favourable order from the Supreme Court. But the implementation on the ground may still be far away. It is quite clear that the Punjab Government, backed by all parties of Punjab, will take every possible measure to delay and deny the construction of the canal and the release of waters to Haryana. This would led to a protracted legal and political battle. It is already more than 40 years since the first river water-sharing award was announced by the Central government. The present path being pursued by the Haryana Government could mean many more years. Even if successful, this path would end up in creating avoidable animosity between the people of Punjab and Haryana.I have repeatedly argued that the water dispute between Punjab and Haryana is a very limited dispute, much smaller than both state governments and their lawyers would have us believe. I have also argued that this dispute is best resolved through political negotiations within the framework of our Constitution. Such a proposal is bound to be misunderstood on both sides. This idea was presumed to be anti-Punjab when I proposed it in 2016, prior to the Supreme Court orders. Now, this may be seen to be going against Haryana’s interests. Nevertheless, let me reiterate the proposal in the spirit of positive nationalism.The essence of the proposal is that the Haryana Government should agree to a lesser share of water than it is entitled to under the previous agreements. Punjab should agree to a swift implementation of the new agreement, including the construction of the SYL. Let me spell this out.Let us remember that there is no dispute over the Sutlej waters. The dispute pertains to only the Ravi-Beas waters. Here too, it is agreed that the pre-existing usage of 2.3 MAF by Punjab and 1.1 MAF by Rajasthan is to be respected. The dispute is only about two issues pertaining to additional waters available in the Ravi-Beas rivers. The differences between Punjab and Haryana on both these issues are fairly limited and there is no reason why a sincere dialogue should not sort it out. On the first issue, Punjab has claimed that the water available for distribution is much less than claimed. The most conservative estimate available for distribution was 15.9 MAF in the 1955 agreement. This initial estimate was revised upwardly to 18.3 MAF in the Eradi Tribunal report of 1987. Punjab has disputed this estimate. Haryana has claimed that a significant proportion of water, up to 3 MAF, is being wasted and allowed to flow to Pakistan. In any case, this is a technical dispute and there is no reason why the existing Ravi Beas Tribunal cannot resolve it. The tribunal has been inoperative for over a decade because of vacancies. The Central government needs to fill these vacancies and let the tribunal give its opinion on this question. This need not hold back the water-sharing agreement which is on a pro-rata basis. The second dispute is about the share of Punjab in the available water. Successive governments of Punjab have argued that Indira Gandhi’s award of 1976, which gave Punjab 22 per cent water was unfair. This was revised to 25 per cent in the agreement arrived at by the CMs of both states in 1981. The tribunal raised it to 28 per cent in its first report. Political leaders from Punjab have argued that even this is unfair. They have inappropriately invoked the privileges enjoyed by the upper riparian states under the international law. They have also resorted to some irresponsible rhetoric of ‘not a single drop available for sharing’.While their reasoning is bad, they face a real problem that needs to be acknowledged. Farmers in the Malwa region are dependent on the additional water that legitimately belongs to Haryana. Once the canal is built, that water will begin to flow to Haryana. Hence this determined, and often illegal opposition, to the canal. Haryana should understand this genuine difficulty faced by farmers of Punjab and should concede some additional water, say 5 per cent, over and above the share determined by the Eradi tribunal. In return, Punjab should give up its intransigence on the building of the canal and agree to its completion within a time frame. In all probability, Punjab will have to agree to this in the Supreme Court. But a political agreement would ensure that there is no further litigation, and no more political drama. Such an agreement would be in the long-term interest of the people of both states. It is time that right-thinking people, activists, intellectuals and farmers’ organisations in both states come together to encourage the governments to come to the dialogue table.yogendra.yadav@gmail.com

Tweaking rules: Congress govt to give DSP’s job to Beant Singh’s grandson

Sambhal (UP), May 19

Family members of Sepoy Sudesh Kumar, who was killed in firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year, today sat on an indefinite fast, demanding the Chief Minister to pay visit to their village.Villagers and family members of Sudesh, who laid down his life on October 16, 2016, sat on a fast in the Pansukha Milak village, claiming that despite promises by BJP leaders, none of them visited the family again.His mother Santosh Kumari said if the Chief Minister did not visit them, she would commit suicide, while his wife Kavita Kumari said many politicians came and made various promises. “But none was fulfilled. I will commit suicide if the CM does not come,” she said.Sudesh’s brother Manoj Kumar said, “We were promised sanction for a petrol pump, construction of a road and memorial in the village and renaming a village primary school in Sudesh’s name, but none of the promises was fulfilled.” — PTI

The face of the Indian Army during last year’s surgical strikes offers first-hand impressions on the Kashmir imbroglio

Indian Army carries out an exercise named Thar Shakti in Thar Desert. PTI

Jaipur, May 16

Nearly 20,000 troops along with tanks, artillery guns and advanced surveillance sensors participated in a month-long military exercise ‘Thar Shakti’ in Rajasthan.In the exercise culminated yesterday, Army’s Chetak Corps carried out the operational manoeuvres in the deserts of the state.General Officer Commanding of the Chetak Corps Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar along with senior officers reviewed the manoeuvres during the culminating phase of the exercise.“The officer expressed his satisfaction over the operational preparedness of the Corps and appreciated the troops for braving the high temperatures and harsh desert environment during the conduct of the exercise,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said.The exercise ended on a high note, having achieved the desired aim with respect to capability development and operational challenges in the contemporary battlefield environment, he said. — PTI 

Lt Umar Fayaz. A file photo

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 12

Even as the Army has asked its personnel hailing from Kashmir to strictly follow the laid down guidelines during vacation, the J&K Police have gone into an overdrive and announced a bounty on the heads of three militants who they say are behind the killing of 23-year-old Lt Ummer Fayaz.The police on Friday pasted posters in Shopian district of three Hizbul Mujahideen militants — Ishfaq Thokar, Gayas-ul Islam and Abbas Bhat, saying the trio was involved in the abduction and killing of Lieutenant Fayaz in Shopian where he had gone to attend a wedding function of a relative.“Any person providing information regarding the criminals will be suitably rewarded and his identity will be kept secret,” the poster read.Lieutenant Fayaz was abducted by two masked men from his uncle’s house in Shopian on May 9 evening during the wedding ceremony. His bullet-riddled body was found the next morning. Later, the police registered a case under Sections 302 (murder) and 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) of the RPC.Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said all efforts were on to track the militants involved in the killing.“We have announced rewards for those who will lead to the arrest or killing of these terrorists. We are making all efforts to neutralise them,” Dinkar said.Meanwhile, in the wake of killing of the young officer, the Army has asked its personnel and commissioned officers from Kashmir to strictly follow the laid down guidelines while on vacation.“Every soldier prior to proceeding on leave is briefed about dos and don’ts. After the brutal murder of the young Kashmiri officer, the soldiers hailing from the Valley have been advised to follow the guidelines strictly,” a defence official said.“As per the set guidelines, the soldiers have to inform nearby Company Operating Base (COB) of the Army and a police station while at home. They also have to share their phone number so that in case there is any trouble, the COB can respond quickly after receiving a phone call,” he added.Over 12,000 Army personnel, including officers, come from Kashmir. A large number of Kashmiri soldiers also hail from four troubled districts of south Kashmir.Last month, amid increasing incidents of militants’ harassing family members of police personnel, the J&K Police had asked its men, especially in south Kashmir, not to visit homes in the next few months.

Now, militants surface in BandiporaSrinagar: In a disturbing trend, a group of suspected militants surfaced in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday. Their appearance came second time in the past one week.Sources said two to four gunmen, most probably foreigners, appeared at the Banger Mohalla Hajin mosque in Hajin Bandipora and one among them addressed the locals for at least 20 minutes. The militant asked the people to stand united. He also warned people not to inform security forces about their presence.“We are here to help,” the unknown gunman, according to the sources, said.After the Friday prayers ended, the locals took out a march and the militants were a part of the rally.Later, clashes erupted in the area between youths and security forces.Two gunmen had also surfaced in the area last week during a protest march. There have been several instances this year where militants, mostly in south Kashmir, have been appearing at the funerals of slain ultras.

Not involved in Lieutenant’s murder: United Jihad CouncilSrinagar: A day after the police said Hizbul Mujahideen militants were involved in the killing of an Army officer in Shopian, the conglomerate of militant outfits based in Muzaffarabad — United Jihad Council (UJC) —  said on Friday that “its militants are not involved in the killing”. In an email to Srinagar-based news agency KNS, UJC spokesman Syed Sadaqat Hussain, quoted the outfit chief, Syed Salahuddin, as saying: “Our militants are not involved in the murder of Lt Ummer Fayaz. Such a killing is condemnable. An officer from a pro-freedom family was murdered by the Indian agencies and militants are being accused of it to shield the real face of the Indian agencies,” he said. — TNS

लेफ्टिनेंट उमर की हत्या करने वाले आतंकियाें पर इनाम

जम्मू/श्रीनगर, 12 मई (हप्र/ट्रिन्यू)

जम्मू-कश्मीर पुलिस ने शुक्रवार को लेफ्टिनेंट उमर फयाज की हत्या करने वाले तीनों आतंकियों के शुक्रवार को पोस्टर जारी कर दिये। साथ ही इनकी सूचना देने वालो को इनाम  और उनकी पहचान गोपनीय रखने की घोषणा की है। पुलिस ने तीनों आतंकियों के ब्लैक एंड व्हाइट पोस्टर जारी किये, जिसमें इन सभी के बारे में उर्दू में सूचना दी गयी है। तीनों आतंकियों की पहचान अब्बास भट्ट, गयास-उल-इस्लाम और इश्फाक ठोकर के रूप में हुयी है। ये पोस्टर शोपियां में कुछ जगहों पर चिपकाए गये हैं। अन्य पोस्टर दक्षिण कश्मीर में जारी किये गये हैं। यहां जम्मू-कश्मीर बैंक की कैश वेन पर हमला कर पांच पुलिसकर्मियों व 2 बैंककर्मियों की हत्या करने और अन्य घटनाओं में संलिप्त आतंकियों के पोस्टर जारी किये गये हैं।

हुर्रियत नेताओं के सिर काटने की धमकी
हिज्बुल मुजाहिद्दीन का आतंकी जाकिर मूसा ने जम्मू-कश्मीर के हुर्रियत नेताओं का सिर काटने की चेतावनी दी है। मूसा ने एक ऑडियो जारी कर यह चेतावनी दी है। ऑडियो में मूसा कह रहा है कि अगर हुर्रियत नेता आतंकी संगठनों के इस्लाम के लिए ‘संघर्ष’ में हस्तक्षेप करेंगे तो उनके सिर काटकर लाल चौक पर टांग दिया जाएगा। हालांकि इस ऑडियो की सत्यता की पुष्टि नहीं हो पाई है। ऑडियो में आतंकी मूसा ने कहा कि उसका संगठन कश्मीर में शरीयत कानून लागू करने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा है न कि कश्मीर मुद्दे के समाधान के लिए। वह कह रहा है, ‘उन नेताओं को समझ लेना चाहिए कि यह इस्लाम के लिए जंग है, शरीयत के लिए जंग है।’ कश्मीर के लोगों से हुर्रियत के ‘पाखंड’ के खिलाफ खड़े होने की अपील करते हुए जाकिर कहता है, ‘हम सभी को अपने धर्म से प्यार करना चाहिए और हमें समझना चाहिए कि हम इस्लाम के लिए लड़ रहे हैं।  हुर्रियत नेता राजनीति के लिए मस्जिदों का इस्तेमाल क्यों कर रहे हैं?’

Jalandhar: The members of the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association have written to the Prime Minister urging him to take revenge from Pakistan for mutilating and beheading of bodies of Indian soldiers. President Lt Col Balbir Singh and Vice President Lt Col Sandesh Kumar have said that the whole community of veterans is with the armed forces at this time when the morale of the serving soldiers and their families could be down. tns

A DHARNA was staged by my district welfare association to protest against barbaric act of Pakistan in mutilating bodies of our soldiers 

 we appealed to d central govt to take revenge before wasting any more so that in future this terrorist country is not able to raise his head against us. 

We also urged d govt to give free hand to our Cdrs fighting on d border so that they can retalaite immediately on any misadventures undertaken by d Pakistan,s army. 

An effigy of Pakistan was also burnt followed by a memorandum to D.C.Jalandhar district. 

Lt Col Balbir Singh

President Punjab Unit

Sanjha Morcha

Jakhar’s comeback

Punjab Congress head faces many challenges

THE Congress high command has done rather well in naming Sunil Jakhar as head of the Punjab Congress, as Capt Amarinder Singh, on becoming Chief Minister, could not possibly continue to don the party hat as well. Jakhar, a three-term MLA, had lost from Abohar in the last Assembly elections, and the Cabinet that formed was thus deprived of a serious talent. Jakhar made a competent leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the last assembly and worked companionably with Capt Amarinder Singh once he took over as Punjab Congress chief. The party high command had, obviously, no problem in accepting the Chief Minister’s proposal that Jakhar take over the organisation’s burden. Jakhar is the right man for the job. Being a Hindu, he helps the party reburnish its secular credentials. An educated, approachable, veteran politician he may well be, but Jakhar faces some tough challenges. Although the party won handsomely in the elections, its organisational health is far from robust. Being in the wilderness for a decade, followed by an abrupt reversal of fortunes, makes it difficult to summon the discipline and diligence to tone up for the next challenge: the 2019 parliamentary elections. Jakhar had made a positive impact on both sides of the aisle as the Leader of the Opposition earlier. As state Congress chief, he can help the Chief Minister rein in MLAs and other functionaries, whose muscle-flexing has led to a spate of violent incidents in the past few weeks; even ministers have overstepped their brief. Apart from what Jakhar does, his very appointment has sent a clear message down the party chain in the state that it is Capt Amarinder Singh who shall have the last word on all party matters. His success will be critically dependent on his ability to resist the ancient rites of factionalism as also his willingness to hammer out a working relationship with the Chief Minister. If the Congress manages to give Punjab a modicum of coherent and purposeful governance, the impact will be felt beyond Punjab. Jakhar’s task is cut out for him.

Need law for organised crime: DGP

DGP Suresh Arora (left) and ADGP Kuldeep Singh at Phillaur.

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Phillaur, May 5

Batting for the enactment of the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA), Punjab DGP Suresh Arora today said this had become all the more imperative to deal with the prevailing law and order situation in the state. He was addressing top police officers at the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy here.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Arora said the proposed legislation was a must as Punjab shared its borders with a hostile neighbour and had also to deal with terrorist attacks besides local gangs of criminals. “The biggest difficulty  is finding witnesses to depose against gangsters. Owing to lack of evidence, a majority of them are released by courts.” The DGP said of the 195 cases involving gangsters, there had been convictions in only 10 and none at all after 2012.Former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had proposed PCOCA too. The move has now been revived by the Capt Amarinder government. As per the proposed Act, loosely based on the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), confessions before an SP-rank officer will be admissible as evidence, all electronic evidence will be “valid proof” for 10 years and an officer of the rank of DIG or above will be eligible to invoke PCOCA,.On the attacks on Akali leaders, Arora said he had asked officers to ascertain if these were cases of political rivalry and resolve them.

Capt orders survey to oust fake pensioners

Capt Amarinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

Adopting a tough stance on ineligible old-age pension beneficiaries, the government today replaced ration cards with Aadhaar cards as identification proof.To ensure that the applicants fall in the eligibility criteria regarding the land ownership, verification will be done by revenue officials.The CM today set in motion the process of enhancing old-age pensions. The process for both urban and rural pensions is being simplified with the applicants only required to provide a self-declaration instead of the current system of verification from the area municipal councillor in case of urban pensioners and two panchayat members in the villages.Acting tough on the applicants who furnish wrong details, the government will recover double the pension amount under the Arrears of Land Revenue Act. To make the system more foolproof, action would be taken against the officer who includes ineligible beneficiaries.The District Social Security Office (DSSO) and the applicants would be intimated of the acceptance or rejection of their applications in a month.The CM also directed the Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development to undertake a survey of the existing beneficiaries which could be clubbed with the ongoing review of the Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries, to weed out the ineligible candidates.All beneficiaries will be required to fill new forms by June-end and will be eligible for drawing pension from April 2017. A provision for five per cent random check by the DC and SDM has been evisaged.It was also decided to introduce a quarterly pension system to bring about greater transparency.

No ration cards

• The government on Friday replaced ration cards with Aadhaar cards as identification proof for old-age pension beneficiaries. The move is aimed to weed out ineligible pensioners.

Punjab to weed out ineligible pension beneficiaries

CM ALSO DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT TO UNDERTAKE A SURVEY OF THE EXISTING BENEFICIARIES

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday set in motion the process of increasing old-age pensions while approving new criteria to ensure that only bona fide candidates benwefit from the state’s financial assistance schemes.

He also directed the department of social security and women & child development to undertake a survey of the existing beneficiaries, which could be clubbed with the ongoing review of the ‘Atta-Dal’ scheme beneficiaries, to weed out the ineligible candidates from the list.

Chairing a department meeting here, Amarinder directed the introduction of new forms, with the new criteria, to be filled up by all pensioners, including the existing ones, in order to streamline the process and free the beneficiaries from the clutches of sarpanches and nambardars.

The existing pensioners, however, will continue to get the pension benefit pending review of the list, it was decided at the meeting.

All existing beneficiaries will be required to fill new forms till June-end to become eligible for drawing pension from April 2017 onwards, with a provision for 5% random check by deputy commissioner, SDM, etc., as per the new norms agreed upon at the meeting.

Disclosing details of the meeting, an official spokesperson said the CM also initiated the process of implementation of the Congress promise to enhance old-age pension.

The meeting decided to introduce quarterly pension to bring about greater transparency in the system.

As per the new criteria, Aadhaar card will replace ration card as certification document for all applicants, who would also be required to verify their land ownership, which would then be re-verified from the Patwari.

The verification process for both urban and rural pensions will be simplified with the applicants only required to provide a self-declaration instead of the current system of verification from municipal councillor in case of urban pensioners and, in case of rural, from one either two Panchayat members or one panchayat member along with sarpanch/numbardar/block samiti member, zila parishad chairperson or member.

All applications would be received by the district social security office (DSSO) and the applicants would be intimated of the acceptance or rejection of their applications within a month, it was further decided at the meeting.

During the check, if an applicant is found ineligible then recovery of the double amount shall be made from those who recommended/certified the case. This recovery shall be made under Arrears of Land Revenue Act.

Capt-Jakhar team will deliver: Rahul

Rahul Gandhi

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said today that he was sure newly appointed PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh would “do wonders” in Punjab.“I’m always there if you need my help for anything, but I’m also sure you and Capt Amarinder Singh will not require me. Both of you are enough as a team…,” Rahul told Jakhar, who met him this evening.Rahul also offered to accompany Jakhar for a meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi tomorrow morning.Speaking to The Tribune after the 20-minute meeting at Rahul’s residence, Jakhar said, “The party vice-president reposed faith in the leadership potential of the new Punjab team comprising myself and Capt Amarinder Singh.”The two discussed the political situation in Punjab, with Rahul asking Jakhar to work for strengthening the state organisation. “He asked me to work for the party cadres and ensure harmony between the government and the organisation. His message was that we need to take everyone along,” Jakhar said.Rahul has been stressing the need to build the Congress bottom up in every state, having realised that it was the party’s booth-level weakness that cost it heavily in most of the elections.

Govt teachers submit memo on syllabus

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 5

Government teachers submitted a memorandum to District Education Officer Indu Simak, demanding opening of pre-nursery classes in government schools and change in syllabus so that their students could also compete with private school students.The main demands of teachers are regularisation of all contractual teachers, promotions of teachers who have completed the mandatory period, transparency in transfers to curtail political interference, implementation of the old pension scheme and the recruitment of required staff in government schools.“The government should make the required changes in the syllabus of schools so that government school students can compete with students of private schools,” said Harjit Singh, district president, GTU.He also demanded that the government should provide required facilities to schools.

PROBE INTO PREPARATION OF FAKE BLUE CARDS

Food & Civil Supplies doing it for namesake only

RTI activist Varun Sareen approaches DC, seeks speedy investigation

Tribune News Service

amritsar, May 5

The Food and Civil Supplies Department is conducting an inquiry into the preparation of blue cards for fake beneficiaries just for “namesake” only. This was alleged by Varun Sareen, an RTI activist, who had filed a complaint in this connection.He has now approached Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha to depute administrative officials to probe the matter in an impartial manner.Sareen had alleged that a large number of blue cards of fake beneficiaries were prepared in Ward No.14-B of the Old Cantonment area and this was done to in order to siphon off a huge quantity of government wheat.A resident of the Sadar Bazaar area, falling under the Old Cantonment, had alleged that over 60 per cent names of beneficiaries that figure in the list of ration depot holders of the ward, are suspected to be fake. “There are only a few families belonging to the Sikh community that live in the Old Cantonment area. But the list taken out from a website named a large number of Sikh families in the list of beneficiaries. Ironically, there is no address of the beneficiaries given in the list. I live in the Old Cantonment area and I don’t know the people whose names are given in the list,” he said.The ration allocated to the beneficiaries was also disbursed to another depot holder in the Putlighar area. This has raised suspicions. He claimed that this is beyond doubt that there was some hanky panky going on.He alleged the officials of the department were going in the area and said whether they had got any wheat. But my question was who had prepared those cards and what are the residential addresses of the beneficiaries in the list which was given online.Food and Civil Supplies Department officials said the probe was on and anything in concrete could be said only after the completion of the inquiry.

What the issue is

• A probe by the Food and Civil Supplies Department into the preparation of blue cards for fake beneficiaries is underway
• RTI activist Varun Sareen says the investigation is nothing more than a formality
• Sareen had alleged that a large number of fake blue cards were prepared in Ward No. 14-B of Old Cantonment area to siphon off a huge quantity of government wheat

Capt opts for ‘compassion’ to rehabilitate drug addicts

CHANDIGARH: In his fight against drugs, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh is now set to change the government strategy for treating and rehabilitating the addicts while making the use of the existing infrastructure.

The first step in this direction was taken on Friday with Captain setting up a two-member committee to prepare a comprehensive de-addiction and rehabilitation plan after studying the new model suggested by Dr Kanwar Ajit Singh Sidhu, a US-based drug therapist and consultant, during a presentation.

Additional director general of police (ADGP) Harpreet Singh Sidhu, who heads the newly formed special task force (STF) against drugs, came up with the idea to involve the addiction psychiatrist in the ambitious drive. Sidhu, an Indian citizen, has many awards to his credit.

The principal secretary, medical education, and his counterpart in the health and family welfare department will develop the new model along with specialists from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh, based on the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) model suggested by Sidhu.

WHAT IS OOAT MODEL?

The proposed OOAT model focuses on cure through compassion and is designed to prevent relapse. A panel of six psychiatrists will implement the model, with one monitoring 10 centres. Specially trained duty medical officers will be deputed at each de-addiction centre to supervise the five-stage treatment: induction, stabilisation, maintenance, termination and follow-up. The patients will also have to mark biometric attendance.

“Peer involvement will be integral to the programme. These former addicts will keep motivating the patients,” Sidhu told HT, adding that societies such as Narcotics Anonymous and Indian Drug User Forum will assist the authorities in hiring them.

Sidhu envisages a separate division to run the programme, which will also involve services of nearly 200 counsellors and other staff. They will be trained by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Dr Sidhu told Captain.

Capt Amarinder Singh with new Punjab Cong chief Sunil Jakhar.

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 4

Eyes on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today appointed Sunil Jakhar, former minister and a staunch Capt Amarinder Singh loyalist, as the new president of the Punjab unit. Jakhar, 63, who lost the Assembly election, will replace Capt Amarinder, who took oath as Chief Minister this March 17.Jakhar was Capt Amarinder’s choice for the post. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi both endorsed it.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Jakhar said he would act as a bridge between the government and the party and ensure the grassroots connect of the Congress stayed intact.Jakhar’s appointment is strategic as the central leadership wants complete coordination between the government and the organisation to ensure a strong footing in the state where the party has only three Lok Sabha seats (Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar) of 13.“We have challenges ahead. The LS poll of 2019 are just two years away. The organisation has to be strengthened. I will endeavour equally to ensure that election manifesto promises are fulfilled,” Jakhar said.He said he had sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi for tomorrow. A former minister in the Amarinder Singh cabinet, a three-time MLA from Abohar, and until recently Congress’ Legislature Party Leader in Punjab, Jakhar has been a diehard Amarinder loyalist.On the eve of Punjab elections, he was the one to consistently urge the Congress leadership to replace Partap Bajwa with Capt Amarinder as state chief. When that finally happened a year before the state polls, Jakhar was dropped as the CLP leader and Bajwa as state chief. While Rahul Gandhi sent Bajwa to Rajya Sabha, Jakhar was left in the cold only to be unsuitably placated later by being named party’s chief spokesperson in Punjab. In between, on poll eve, Jakhar was sour with his mentor Amarinder Singh, who today redeemed his friend politically.In Congress circles, Jakhar is known for his straight talk and is someone who has always spoken his mind frankly even in meetings chaired by Rahul Gandhi. His appointment, sources say, indicates that the Congress won’t ignore regional satraps anymore and will value their opinion. Besides, the move is important as the Congress has given Hindu leaders a pride of place in its Punjab scheme. The state has 45 per cent Hindus, who backed the Congress to victory this time.Jakhar, when asked how he saw his appointment, said, “I have received the affection of all communities. It’s up to you to analyse my appointment politically.” As the son of former LS Speaker Balram Jakhar, he realises he has a lot riding on him. His acid test will be organisational strengthening ahead of the 2019 LS poll.

Rule by favours

Amarinder needs to say ‘no’ to nepotism

FROM threatening police officials to attempts to have favourites in key positions, Congress MLAs in Punjab have now directly placed an appeal in the durbar of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to let them have a say in district-level postings. This comes within a month of the Chief Minister making a show of dismantling the “halqa” system that had institutionalised nepotism under SAD rule. The pattern of Congress MLAs’ demands fits in well with the continuing, if not increasing, violent attacks on political rivals by associates of the ruling party. Panchayat politics or the transport sector, nothing seems to be beyond murderous rivalry. Gangster violence and armed robberies, too, seem to have been timed to the inaugural month of the Congress government.None of this, however, should be surprising. Every time an Akali or Congress government has been thrown out in Punjab since 2002, it has been because of charges of corruption and self-serving interests of the individuals in power. So much so, lack of development has hardly been an issue. The political leadership, though, can be blamed for this only to an extent. Distributing favours on the lines of family, mohalla, district, party and constituency — if not caste and religion — is a thing that is done no less than it is expected. Claims on government attention from the public are initiated on these very lines. There is an obnoxious word, “works”, which is actually a euphemism for illegitimate favours an MLA has either arranged for “his people” or not. And that is about all an MLA is expected to do. Of course, if he is also able to ask for a consideration for the services rendered, it becomes a mutually beneficial transaction.Capt Amarinder Singh could not have asked for a stronger position than he is in today in Punjab. He declared before the elections this would be his last contest. If he still cannot draw the line for his party men, he better ensure no one uses for him the prefix “Maharaja”, for that has conjured an image of firm and fair governance in many a voter’s mind.

Sukhbir dissolves party units

Ruchika M. Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 4

Amidst desertion by several party workers and local leaders in district units, and reports of fuelling rebellion within Shiromani Akali Dal, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal today dissolved the organisational structure of the party. The party has dissolved its parliamentary affairs committee (PAC), working committee, various wings, general council and district-level committees, while all office-bearers have been removed. The new committees will be formed within a month, after the seniormost Akali leaders meet workers at the grassroot level and take feedback on who they would want to lead. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Though the party leaders deny any desertions or a brewing rebellion, sources say there were attempts by some SGPC members, along with some Akali leaders from Rajpura and Patiala, to break away from the party. These leaders were reportedly also supported by some other extreme right-wing Sikh bodies. Other than this, the party has witnessed a spate of resignations at the ground level, where many of their men have switched loyalties to the Congress. Many of the former Congress workers and leaders, who had jumped on to the Akali bandwagon during their rule, too, are learnt to be planning to go back to their parent party.  SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, however, denied that there was any desertion or a rebellion. “We have simply decided to remove the deadwood from the party and people who opposed our official candidates during the Assembly election. Whosoever harmed the party cannot be entrusted the responsibility of leading the party now.”  He said the original Akalis continued to remain loyal to the party, while it is the “riff raff” and “imports” that were breaking away. The idea behind the revamp of the party’s organisation is also to reward the party loyalists, he said.

Sidhu suspends 10 Improvement Trust officials

Probe finds irregularities in Bathinda realty project

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu greets Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu in Chandigarh on Thursday. The minister discussed mutual co-operation in education and sports sector with the envoy. PTI

Tribune News Service

Chandiagrh/Bathinda, May 4

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today suspended 10 employees of Bathinda Improvement Trust for alleged irregularities in the construction of the Manmohan Kalia Enclave, comprising 96 flats, located on the Goniana road in the city.The suspended employees who have been handed over the charge-sheet are Junior Engineers Gurbinderpal Singh and Jasbir Singh, Assistant Trust Engineers Mukhtiar Singh and Gur Raj Singh, Trust Engineer Rakesh Garg and Executive Officers Harinder Singh Chahal, Gora Lal, Kulwant Singh Brar, Jawahar Lal and Baljit Kumar.Three more accused on the list are retired employees — Zora Singh, Kanwar Balbir Singh and Hans Raj Sharma.The officials concerned issued the completion certificate and refunded the security of the contractor without a survey of the building.Manmohan Kalia Enclave Flat Allottees’ Association led by former media incharge of the state BJP Sunil Singla had lodged a complaint with the minister, following which a probe was marked.The minister said: “The guilty will not be spared in any of the trust allotments where people have been befooled”.The matter had been hanging fire even after three Vigilance inquiries giving adverse comments on the project execution.It was stated that in 2010, the Bathinda Improvement Trust had invited applications for the allotment of flats in the Manmohan Kalia Enclave and offered 96 multi-storey apartments with all amenities. The possession was to be handed over to the allottees by October 20, 2013.The complainants alleged that the flats were still not in a position to be occupied and the material used was sub-standard.In a related development, the National Consumer Disputes Commission, on April 21, allowed a compensation of Rs 10,000 per month to a set of complainants from the date from which the possession was to be given till the date of actual possession. The aggrieved party in this case included owners of 60 of the 96 flats.Singla, meanwhile, said: “We will appreciate if we are refunded the entire amount as the quarters are not worth living.”

DGP to meet SSPs today

Chandigarh, May 4

A day after Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh reportedly expressed concern over the increasing activities of gangsters in the state, DGP Suresh Arora has called a state-level meeting of the SSPs and other senior officers in Phillaur tomorrow to take stock of the situation.In the last two days, a group of gangsters looted a cash van near Banur and another robbed a bank in Muktsar.Police sources said senior officers of the Bureau of Investigation, Law and Order wing and the Special Task Force against gangsters would attend the meeting. The meeting would review specific incidents as well as the general crime trends. An official spokesperson termed it as a routine monthly review meeting.The sources said the Chief Minister had discussed the recent crime incidents with the DGP. — TNS

2,667 primary, upper primary schools don’t have enough teachers

CHANDIGARH: Punjab education minister Aruna Chaudhary scrapped the deputation orders of government school teachers last week for their proper utilisation.

HT FILEAdverse pupil­teacher ratio in state schools is affecting the learning process.

But this is just the first small step. The Congress government, which promised rationalisation of teacher deployment to impart quality education in state-run schools, needs do much more, given the serious imbalance in deployment of teachers in elementary and secondary schools in the state.

The education department, which has 74,782 teachers at primary and upper primary levels, has a comfortable overall pupil teacher ratio of 16 students per teacher as against the RTE norm of 1:30 for primary classes and 1:40 for upper primary. However, 2,667 primary and upper primary schools still lack adequate number of teachers in the state.

Of 12,997 primary schools (classes 1 to 5), 1,728, which comes to about 13%, have adverse pupilteacher ration (PTR). At upper primary level (classes 5 to 8), 15% schools do not have adequate number of teachers. Adverse PTR means more students per teacher than the norm and has been seen to affect teachinglearning processes.

Also, 28% upper primary schools do not have the subject teachers as per the norms prescribed under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, according an analysis of teacher deployment in the state carried out by the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) recently.

Though there has been improvement in teacher deployment in the past three years with the education department bringing down the number of such government schools, the number of 2,667 schools with adverse PTR is seen as “high”. The situation is not any better at secondary level where there is severe shortage of teachers and deployment is not balanced.

Punjab Government School Teachers’ Union general secretary Balkar Valtoha, who welcomed the education minister’s move to scrap the deputation orders of teachers, said there is discrepancy in deployment of school teachers across the state. “There is severe shortage of teachers in schools in rural and border areas. In Khalra village of Tarn Taran district alone, the government school has 4-5 teachers for over 400 students. It is the same story in several schools in the district. At the same time, several schools in urban areas of the state have more teachers than required,” he said.

Additional chief secretary, school education, GR Vajralingam, could not be contacted despite efforts. However, an education department official blamed political interference in teachers’ transfers over the years for this situation. “There is influence peddling at times or attempts to give favourites stations of choice. The department has been trying to rationalise deployment. And that’s how things have improved in the last two-three years,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Canadian PM Trudeau’s presence at event with Khalistani flags upsets India

ORONTO: While vitriolic attacks on Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh at the annual nagar kirtan in Vancouver riled the Indian government, there is consternation over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s presence at a Toronto event that featured Khalistani flags and posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

CANADIAN PMO)Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at a ‘nagar kirtan’ that featured Khalistani flags and posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in Toronto .

The Toronto nagar kirtan on Sunday also celebrated the carrying of a motion in the Ontario assembly last month that described the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as “genocide”.

A senior Indian official described Trudeau’s presence at the Khalsa Day event as “surely a matter of concern”.

Trudeau was the first Canadian prime minister to attend the event since Paul Martin in 2005.

Bhindranwale, an extremist leader who was at the forefront of the Khalistan movement in the 1980s, was killed when the Indian Army carried out Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to remove extremists who were holed up in the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Though defence minister Arun Jaitley had expressed India’s concerns about the Ontario assembly motion to his Canadian counterpart Harjit Sajjan last month, the organisers of the nagar kirtan in Toronto honoured Harinder Malhi, Liberal member of the provincial parliament or MPP (equivalent to an MLA), who moved the motion, during the event.

The organisers, Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council, also felicitated New Democratic Party MPP Jagmeet Singh, who had moved a similar motion in 2016 that was defeated. These developments have boosted the morale of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada. For instance, Sukhminder Singh Hansra, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (A) Canada, said in response to an emailed query: “I am glad that the organisers who represent a larger segment of the Sikh community have reminded the world of the peaceful struggle for Khalistan.” He added: “In Toronto, all floats are prepared by the organisers, at least two floats were dedicated to the events of 1984, including flags and banners of Khalistan. I along with many others walked with these floats with Khalistani flags.” He described the honouring of the two lawmakers as “the highlight of the nagar kirtan” in Toronto.

The celebration came in the wake of the event in Vancouver on April 22 where Amarinder Singh was attacked in a speech.

While the Indian government has notified Ottawa of its concern, Canada has consistently maintained that such a protest, as long as it remains peaceful, is part of freedom of expression.

The Vancouver event too was welcomed by rejuvenated proKhalistan groups. Sikhs for Justice, a hardline activist group, described India’s complaint as “a nefarious attempt to curb the freedom of expression of Sikh separatists living in Canada”.

Pro-Khalistan elements from Canada issues threats to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

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Not Bothered by Threats to My Life: Amarinder on Threats by Khalistani Groups

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Sikh radicals in Canada issue threats to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

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File photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3

The government tonight notified the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) with revised emoluments for the three armed forces, while addressing a few core anomalies and leaving out some for resolution later on.

The pending ones include non-functional upgrade (NFU), a kind of pay increase without promotion as given to civilian employees. Also on the pending list is higher military service pay (MSP) for junior commissioned officers (JCOs).

They rise from the lower ranks (jawans). The 7th CPC has clubbed the MSP of JCOs and jawans at Rs 5,200. The demand is to have it at Rs 10,000 for the JCOs.Announcing the changes, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the issue of NFU was sub judice but added three of the demands had been accepted.Jaitley listed these saying the pay matrix had been extended from 24 to 40 stages (allowing the pay scale to grow); the index of rationalisation of pay for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels will be fixed at a ratio of 2.67 instead of 2.57; and pay protection for Major Generals, who on getting promoted from the rank of Brigadier used to see their pay getting reduced.The Cabinet also approved the retention of percentage-based regime of disability pension implemented post 6th CPC, which the 7th CPC had recommended to be replaced by a slab-based system.A slab-based system would have resulted in reduction in the amount of disability pension for existing pensioners and a reduction in the amount for future retirees. T

he benefit of the proposed modifications will be available with effect from January 1, 2016, that is the date of implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations.The CPC for the forces had been held in abeyance since August when the Chiefs of the three armed services — Army, IAF and Navy — collectively wrote to the PM seeking redress.

Pension revision formulation

The Cabinet has approved changes to the method of revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners based on suggestions made by the committee chaired by Secretary (Pensions) constituted with the approval of the Cabinet. The modified formulation of pension revision approved by the Cabinet will entail an additional benefit to the pensioners and an additional expenditure of Rs 5,031 crore for 2016-17 over and above the expenditure already incurred in revision of pension as per the second formulation based on fitment factor. 

Key decisions

• Pay matrix extended from 24 to 40 stages
• Pay rationalisation index for Lieut-Colonels, Colonels fixed at ratio of 2.67
• Pay protection for Maj-Generals
• Percentage-based regime of disability pension retained, no to slab-based system