Governor VP Singh Badnore addresses the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan
Current Events :
China is like the proverbial cat on the hot tin roof as far as the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh is concerned. China has accused India of obstinacy that has caused “serious damage” to bilateral ties after the Dalai Lama began visiting the “disputed” parts of Arunachal Pradesh. India’s outwardly resolute stand should gladden the cockles of nationalists, especially in light of the RSS top brass calling for an overhaul of India’s China policy because Beijing has not reciprocated India’s friendly overtures. In addition to maintaining that the Dalai Lama is a religious leader and enjoys freedom of movement in any part of the country, the nationalists argue, not without reason, that there was no adverse fallout when the Dalai Lama had last visited Arunachal Pradesh in 2009. But 2017 is not 2009 in many respects: the number of high-level Sino-Indian summits that could reduce tensions is fewer, serious differences exist on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), India was rebuffed when it contrived to send the Dalai Lama to Mongolia and China is more upfront in thwarting India’s great power ambitions. India had earlier bought insurance against Beijing’s adventurism by getting co-opted in Barack Obama’s “Pivot to Asia”. But Donald Trump is yet to spell out his China policy and his meeting with Xi Jinping months before an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be a sign of things to come.Indian diplomacy does not have a fallback option if China accepts New Delhi’s gauntlet. The multiple power centres have blunted the creativity in implementing foreign policy. Indian diplomacy is in a freeze because of the PM’s accent on an unremittingly muscular foreign policy. South Block is trying to keep China in good humour by highlighting the potential for economic partnerships. But this strategy comes up short because India opposes CPEC, the crown jewel in Beijing’s Belt and Road initiative. Diplomacy must help creatively wriggle out of strategic immobilisation. Some forthcoming regional summits will see China and India sitting across the table. Both sides must grab the chances for partnership in other areas to ensure that security disputes remain within manageable proportions.
The killing of three stone-throwing youths at the encounter site in Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday, unfortunate and avoidable as it was, comes days after the Army Chief, Gen Bipin Rawat’s warning to the civilian protesters not to hamper counter-terror operations and directions to the security forces to deal with such interventions sternly. The security forces, when engaged in operations against gun-wielding militants, by the very nature of their assigned task of rooting out terrorism, cannot be expected to be sitting ducks in the shower of bullets from one side and stones from the other. Simultaneously, what needs to be understood that why these protesting youths rush to the gun battles. Such is the level of radicalisation in Kashmir that young motivated villagers, throwing caution to the wind, rush to the place of encounter to rescue the “mujahideen” or holy warriors. They consider it a religious obligation. The original movement that centred on political freedom from India has transformed into a religious movement against the PDP-BJP alliance, which is seen as representing the RSS-backed Hindu state. This expansion of Islamic radicalism in which the identity of Kashmiris as part of the Muslim “ummah” across the world transcending all physical and political boundaries has led to the ascendancy of religion over political issues. The peace constituency is in retreat because its stakeholders side with the radical narrative. The stone-throwers are unarmed civilians but their religious indoctrination and the spirit to overwhelm the Army makes them risk their lives. Emotions have got ingrained in this religious movement. It is a depressing scenario. These killings do not give the security forces the upper hand. They get “coal rolled” by political and human rights groups. Besides, these give legitimacy to the Hurriyat call for shutdown and protests. The militants’ deaths stand excluded from such protests, which are also aimed at drawing global attention to the movement. The stakeholders in peace should counter this by some real-time action on the ground to win the peace-loving masses to their side, rather than echoing the tired rhetoric of dialogue and peace.
Guv addresses Assembly, showcases financial bankruptcy of Punjab
Governor VP Singh Badnore addressing the first session of the 15th Vidhan Sabha. Tribune photo
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
Showing Punjab a financially-collapsed economy with an abysmally-high revenue deficit of Rs 13,484 crore and the fiscal deficit of Rs 26,801 crore, Governor VP Singh Badnore on Tuesday said the government is committed to “restoring the financial position of the state and to once again put it on a high-growth trajectory”.He was addressing the first session of the 15th Vidhan Sabha here.
Badnore, in his 35-minute speech, said, “Punjab’s financial health has been under stress for some time on account of ballooning salaries and wage bills of employees, mounting debt burden, slow growth of revenue receipts as compared to revenue expenditure and loss-making public sector units (PSUs).While the SAD MLAs arrived a little before the start of the session at 11 am and exchanged pleasantries with the Congress legislators, the AAP MLAs, along with Bains brothers of the Lok Insaaf Party, arrived last.The major opposition had walked out of the House on Monday in protest against the Speaker not allowing debate on the Governor’s address.Badnore said, “During the last five years (2012-2017) the projections/targets of the state excise and VAT revenue were never achieved. During the last 10 years, the total debt of the state had increased from Rs 48,344 crore to Rs 1,82,537 crore at the end of 2016-2017. The government had borrowed Rs 15,632 crore on behalf of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited alone. In order to settle the gap in Cash Credit Limit (CCL) for foodgrains, the government agreed to term loan which further burdened the state. Even the atta dal scheme and urban and rural missions were taking credit from banks.“At the moment the government is trying to come to grips with the financial mess it inherited; implementation of poll promises will be visible in the coming budget (2017-2018),” he said.“As a step towards easing debt of farmers who are forced to commit suicide, the government will enact a legislation to prohibit ‘kurki’ and sale of farmers’ lands by lending agencies. The government will continue to provide free power to farmers. It will establish an Agriculture Board (APB) responsible for contract farming in the state. The state will take all administrative and legal measures to defend the water rights of the state.“Spelling strict action against drug dealers, the government will pass the Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act besides setting up a special task force which will report directly to the Chief Minister for daily monitoring.”Taking a dig at the earlier SAD-BJP government, Badnore said the state witnessed deterioration in the quality of governance with increased political governance through ‘halqa incharges’ in forcible occupation of government and private businesses, both in transport and mining. The government is committed to simplifying the processes to deliver services through a new Governance Reforms and Ethics Commission (GREC).The Governor said all MLAs and MPs would be required to declare details of their immovable properties on January 1 each year. For the current financial year they will be required to provide the details by July 1. Fresh surveys will be carried out for providing the government endeavour of providing ‘ghar ghar mein naukri’.The Governor also underlined a complete revamp of the police and change in attitude of law-enforcing agencies. Territorial jurisdiction of police stations will be rationalised and police will follow a schedule of fixed duty hours except in case of emergencies.Badnore said the government would make all efforts to commission the Shahpur Kandi hydel project and Mukerian II hydel project to increase the generation capacity of the state from the current 13,960 MWs. The government proposes to assign increased role to the private sector in providing transport facilities to citizens. Clearly hinting at the ministers in the last government, he said “all illegal and ineligible permits will be cancelled”.“The government will ensure 30 per cent reservation for SCs in allotment of houses, and residential and commercial plots. The government will also provide 30 per cent reservation to women in government jobs.”The Governor forgot to say ‘the House is adjourned’ before walking out of the House after the national anthem when his speech concluded. The AAP leaders sat for five more minutes before leaving the House.
Capt Amarinder Singh takes on Parkash Singh Badal on CPS issue
Capt Amarinder Singh. Tribune file
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday took on former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on the chief parliamentary secretaries issue.Speaking after the Governor’s address, Amarinder said the Akalis had made more political appointments, including 30 advisers/OSDs.He said the CPS bill would be brought after proper legal scrutiny in the next session. The CM said he favoured a good technocrat to head the PSPCL as its CMD.
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Lal Singh to be the Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, orders Meanwhile, the Punjab government declared the second half of Tuesday as holiday in all its offices, educational institutes, corporations and boards throughout the state and Chandigarh in view of the death of former agriculture minister Gurdev Singh Badal.
No change in red beacon policy, says Punjab CM
Posts on offer
IAS gain, technocrats’ loss
Power engineers are set to lose the post of CMD of PSPCL to the IAS lobby. When the Punjab State Electricity Board was split, they were agitated over the unbundling but were pacified with the assurance that the top posts in the new utilities would stay with them. No matter how competent, engineers can hardly match IAS officers with life-time experience and expertise of being on the right side of politicians. Henceforth, the CMD post, it is reported, will remain with the IAS. Technical qualifications of an IAS officer cannot equal a technocrat having long hands-on field experience.There is much that is wrong in Punjab’s power sector but the Amarinder Singh government has taken on priority the task of replacing the previous Akali Dal-BJP government favourite at the helm of PSPCL with an officer of personal choice. For that the rules are being rewritten. In this respect not much seems to have changed. The Badal regime had gone out of the way to keep KD Chaudhri on the job. Merit does not matter when loyalty is involved. With an IAS officer as CMD and a retired IAS hand as the regulator it would be business as usual on the power front. None would question frequent tariff hikes to cover up inefficiency or pilferage, the growing mountain of debt on PSPCL, non-recovery of dues from government departments, delays in subsidy payments or slow implementation of the Centre’s UDAY scheme. The IAS biradari is most comfortable in the maintenance of the status quo — unless the political class sends out signals to the contrary.Politicians rewarding loyalists is a countrywide phenomenon but in Punjab it extends to the creation of unnecessary posts that carry ministerial status and burden the depleted treasury. Rules are being tweaked to accommodate candidates of choice. The proposal to revive posts of Chief Parliamentary Secretary mocks the high court ruling on the issue. It is amusing to see former CM Badal and present CM Amarinder Singh quibbling over who has created more posts. Both have experience in buying loyalty and keeping political peace at the state expense.
White Paper on state’s fiscal mess: Guv
Says govt committed to restoring financial position of state and putting it on high-growth trajectory
Governor VP Singh Badnore addresses the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh with his Cabinet colleagues in the Assembly.
Blaming the earlier SAD-BJP government for the “collapsing” economy with an alarming Rs 13,484 crore revenue deficit and a fiscal deficit of Rs 26,801 crore, the Punjab Government today said it would bring out a “White Paper” on development works, governance reforms and the state’s financial state to “apprise the common man on the present (pitiable) situation inherited by the government.”Addressing the Vidhan Sabha, Governor VP Singh Badnore said: “The government is committed to restoring the financial position of the state and to once again put it on a high-growth trajectory.”In his 35-minute speech, he said, “Punjab’s financial health has been under stress for some time on account of rising salaries and wage bills, mounting debt burden, slow growth of revenue receipts as compared to revenue expenditure and loss-making public sector units (PSUs).”The SAD MLAs arrived a little before the start of the session at 11 am. They were seen exchanging pleasantries with Congress legislators. The AAP MLAs and the Bains brothers of the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) arrived last. Badnore said, “During the last five years (2012-2017) the projections/targets of the state excise and VAT revenue were never achieved. During the last 10 years, the total debt of the state had increased from Rs 48,344 crore to Rs 1,82,537 crore at the end of 2016-2017. The government had borrowed Rs 15,632 crore on behalf of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited alone. In order to settle the gap in the cash credit limit (CCL) for foodgrain, the government agreed to term loan, which further burdened the state. “At the moment, the government is trying to come to grips with the financial mess it has inherited; implementation of poll promises will be visible in the coming Budget (2017-2018).” He said to prevent debt-trapped farmers from committing suicide, the government would enact a legislation to prohibit ‘kurki’ and the sale of farmers’ land by the lending agencies. It would continue to provide free power to the farmers, establish a board for contract farming, and take administrative and legal measures to defend its water rights.To fight the drug menace, he said: “The government will pass the Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act besides setting up a special task force which will report directly to the Chief Minister.” Blaming the deterioration in governance on “political interference through halqa heads” during the SAD-BJP regime, he said the government was committed to simplifying processes for better services through a new Governance Reforms and Ethics Commission (GREC).He said all MLAs would be required to declare details of their immovable property on January 1 each year and for the current financial year by July 1. Fresh surveys would be carried out for the “ghar ghar mein naukri’ endeavour.The Governor, underlining the need to revamp the police and a change in the attitude of law-enforcing agencies, said the territorial jurisdiction of police stations would be rationalised and the policemen would have fixed duty hours, except in case of emergencies.Badnore said the government would make efforts to commission the Shahpur Kandi hydel project and the Mukerian-II project to augment power generation that now stood at 13,960 MW. The government proposed to give a greater role to the private sector in providing transport facilities. “All illegal and ineligible permits will be cancelled”.He said the government would ensure 30 per cent reservation for SCs in the allotment of houses and residential and commercial plots, besides 30 per cent quota for women in government jobs.At the end of the speech, the Governor forgot to say ‘the House is adjourned’ and walked out after the National Anthem. The AAP leaders kept sitting for five minutes and then left.
Governor’s Address retrograde: BadalChandigarh: Former Chief Minister and SAD stalwart Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said he had been saddened by the address given by the new government to the Governor to read as it was “a directionless, visionless and retrograde step that contains no outline for growth, development and prosperity of the state”. In a statement, he said: “The address sounded more like a cry-baby’s list of grievances than a sound policy and vision statement of grown-up and mature administrators. It is a fault-finder, not a path-finder. It shows that at least up to now, the government proposes to just push blame for their failures to their predecessors.” TNS
Bill on CPS post in Budget session, says Amarinder
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said the Bill for the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSes) and Parliamentary Secretaries would be tabled during the Budget session in June.Earlier, there were reports that the proposed Bill would be tabled in the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session.Taking on former CM Parkash Singh Badal, who has announced to oppose the Bill, Amarinder said: “How can the former CM speak on the issue when 18 CPSes appointed by the SAD-BJP were termed illegal by the Punjab and Haryana High Court?”He said the Bill would be legally vetted and the points raised by the High Court while quashing the appointment of the CPSes would be taken into account. He maintained that the ministers had a lot of work and attaching Parliamentary Secretaries of their choice would help them. The CM, however, refused to share the number of Parliamentary Secretaries to be appointed.Speaking after the Governor’s Address, Amarinder said while the SAD-BJP government had appointed nearly 30 OSDs and advisers, the Congress had so far made 14 political appointments.Talking to The Tribune, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said: “First, the remaining ministers have to be inducted, only then can the CPSes will appointed.”On bringing transparency in government functioning, Amarinder said the Lok Pal would be made more effective and the CM and ministers would be brought under its ambit.On his commitment to end the drug menace in four weeks after coming to power, he said: “Already 200 persons involved in drug trafficking have been arrested in 10 days. We are not waiting for the STF to become operational. The ADGP-rank officer of the SFT, Harpreet Sidhu, would be joining by next Friday and he would have a clear mandate to act against peddlers.”
Bir Devinder, Arshi ask govt not to give vehicles to MLAs
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
The heavy debt burden on the state notwithstanding, Punjab is the lone state in this part of the country which provides vehicles to its MLAs.“The practice of giving vehicles to MLAs by the government began in 1992 when militancy was at its peak. These vehicles were given for security purpose. However, this practice was not discontinued post-militancy. It should be stopped immediately,” said Bir Devinder Singh, a former Deputy Speaker.“Now, peace reigns and there is no need of such largesse to the MLAs,” he added.Former MLA Hardev Arshi said he had written to the government, opposing the move. He said there was no logic in giving vehicles to MLAs when they were given Rs15 per km for travelling in private vehicles.Under the free travel facility provision, they can charge up to Rs3 lakh per annum for travelling by road, rail and by air. For them, travelling allowance by air is same as admissible to Class I officials. For MLAs and ex-MLAs, there is facility for free travel in state-owned buses.Arshi said the practice of giving official vehicles to MLAs should be discontinued.Sources said some newly elected MLAs refused to accept gypsies and have asked for luxury vehicles.An MLA gets Rs25,000 per month as salary and an equal amount as constituency and secretarial services allowance. Besides, he gets Rs5,000 per month as compensatory allowance, Rs10,000 as office allowance, Rs4,000 as sumptuary, electricity allowance. There is a provision of Rs10,000 as telephone allowance and Rs10,000 as secretariat allowance.The MLA is also entitled to Rs50 lakh as loan for building or purchasing a house and Rs15 lakh to buy a car. There is also provision of pension for the MLAs. A person, who has served as Member of the Assembly is entitled to a pension of Rs15,000 per month plus DA for the first term and an additional pension of Rs10,000 per month plus DA for every subsequent term irrespective of his/ her tenures in the Vidhan Sabha. Before 1992, the Assembly did not complete its term most of the time.
Liquor vend draw today
Excise policy fails to enthuse contractors, few apply
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
The Capt Amarinder Singh government faced its first roadblock after its much touted excise policy, which was announced 10 days ago, failed to enthuse liquor contractors who have shied away from applying for vends in seven districts of the state.A few applications have been received by the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department for Ludhiana, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Moga, Faridkot and Bathinda. Applicants have shown interest in buying vends in only some parts of these districts, while most of the other liquor vends have no takers.Sources said the applications were nearly half of the total vends in these districts. Even in parts of the three holy districts — Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Muktsar — where there is a restriction on the opening of vends near holy shrines and now on vends near highways, the applications received are much less than the actual number of vends that the government wants to allot.Officials in the state Excise Department said among the worst hit was Ludhiana, where applications were received in rural areas, not much in urban areas. The annual liquor business in Ludhiana is estimated at Rs 700 crore and with few takers for the vends here, the business could be hit badly.The Excise Department had initiated the process of allotting liquor vends last week. Yesterday was the last day for receiving applications and the compilation of all applications received by the government was being done today so that the draw of lots for the liquor vends can be done on Wednesday.Vivek Pratap Singh, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said: “Though the response had been lukewarm, we will again invite applications for the leftover vends.” “If we do not get any response, the policy allows us to give a 5 per cent concession in the licence fee for these vends. If this also fails, we have the option of running the vends on our own. The roadmap of the government itself running the vends is ready and will be presented only after we exhaust all options,” he said.
Lal Singh is Mandi Board Chairman
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 28
Senior Congress leader Lal Singh was today appointed Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board with the Cabinet rank.A party functionary said Lal Singh, senior vice-president of the PPCC, had been “compensated” for being denied ticket from Sanaur due to the one family, one ticket norm during the recently held Vidhan Sabha elections. His son, Rajinder Singh, who was given the ticket, has won from the Samana Assembly segment.Once opposed to Capt Amarinder Singh, Lal Singh later mended ways with him.In politics since 1977, Lal Singh has fought eight elections and was elected MLA six times. He has worked with three Chief Ministers — Late Beant Singh, Late Harcharan Brar and Capt Amarinder Singh (2002-07).Apart from working as acting president of the PPCC, Lal Singh has handled the work of the campaign committee of the PPCC during the recently Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections.Sources, meanwhile, said more appointments in boards and corporations were in the offing.
Govt to observe Tohra’s death anniv
Chandigarh: The state government has decided to commemorate the 13th death anniversary of panthic leader Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra with a state-level function at his native Tohra village in Patiala district on April 1. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered that necessary arrangements be made for organising the event. He has deputed his Cabinet colleague Sadhu Singh Dharamsot to attend the function, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s office said here on Tuesday. tns
Farmers get auction notices, want debt waiver expedited
Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, March 28
Even as the Congress government has set up an expert group to accelerate the process of farm debt waiver, several banks continue to issue auction notices to farmers who defaulted on the repayment of loans.Several organisations have asked the Punjab Government to issue directions to the banks against the auction of farmers’ properties to prevent any clash between them and government officers.“Banks are still harassing farmers and threatening to auction their land to recover debt. We request the government to issue a notification to waive all farm loans at the earliest. Thousands of farmers have already committed suicides in the state. The government must act immediately to prevent the situation from deteriorating further,” said Bikramjit Singh, district president, Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ekta, (Sidhupur).Some bank officials told The Tribune that they had not been told to stop the recovery of debt from the farmers.During the election campaign, the Congress had got forms filled by the farmers under its campaign “Karza kurki khatam, fasal di poori rakam”. Recently, members of the BKU Ekta (Ugraha) prevented the auction of land of a farmer, Balwant Singh of Kheri village in the district.
Delay in services defy purpose of Sewa Kendras
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 28
Even though the Sewa Kendras, which were set up by the government to ease out the process of giving birth and death certificates, are not being able to deliver on promises. The issuance of certificates takes at least 30 days, when these are meant to be issued within seven days from the date of application.Even employees at Sewa Kendras ask applicants to visit after the Kendra after 30 days, so that they do not have to return empty handed. “The time mentioned on the receipt is seven days, but we do not get certificates before at least 30 days. A lot of time is consumed at the Birth and Death Registration Office of the Municipal Corporation,” said an employee.Sources at the MC’s Birth and Death Registration Office said the lack of sufficient manpower with the office and incomplete digitisation of records resulted in delay of services.Even though the Right to Service Act empowers applicants to file a complaint if they fail to get the service within stipulated time frame of seven days, there are seldom any complaints. The lack of awareness on the part of applicants about the appellant authority with which complaint is to be filed and the apprehensions of inconvenience result in almost no complaints.“A month’s time has almost become a norm. If the MC gets fully equipped to deal with such applications, it will help people get certificates quickly,” said an applicant, Joginder Singh.Sources at the Birth and Death Registration Office said they get nearly 400 applications daily through Seva Kendras, most of which are related with name entry, correction in spellings and issuance of new certificates. “Before the certificate is issued, the office is responsible to check all facts which takes time,” said an official.
No Badal-bashing by guv, but focus on ‘inheritance of loss’
My govt proposes to bring white paper on development, governance reforms and financial position of state to apprise the common man of what we have inherited VP SINGH BADNORE, Punjab governor
CHANDIGARH : In his first address for the new Congress government, Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, formerly with the BJP, did not face many hiccups. There was no reference in his address to previous government as either Prakash Singh Badal government or that of SAD-BJP. But the Captain Amarinder Singh government, through the governor, did dwell on its “inheritance of loss”.
Badnore started by congratulating people of Punjab for showing “exemplary vision, maturity and commitment” during the recent elections by giving a historic mandate to this government. Nothing more than a reiteration of party’s poll manifesto promises already approved by the state cabinet in its first meeting, the governor spoke of ending “monopoly” of the powerful without naming Badals or their businesses.
“The state has seen deterioration in quality of governance due to increased political interference of halqa in-charges, forcible occupation of government and private businesses, both in transport and mining. The claims of governance reforms have also not been fully borne out by the plight of the common man. My government will also end cartelisation of cable TV networks by bringing a cable authority act,” he saiD
Badnore then went on to highlight empty coffers and rising debt of Punjab. “My government has inherited an empty treasury with revenue deficit of Rs 13,484 crore and fiscal deficit of Rs 26,801 crore. Large borrowings aggravated the financial stress and the total debt has increased from Rs 48,344 crore in 2006-07 (when previous Amarinder government went out of office) to Rs 1.82 lakh crore by end of 2016-17. My government is trying to come to grips with the financial mess it has inherited and the promises made to people will fully be reflected in the coming budget,” he said.
He also spoke of inheriting ₹31,000 crore term loan due to previous government accepting it as gap in cash credit limit for foodgrain procurement, “huge borrowings” for atta-dal scheme, urban and rural missions and pending pensions, scholarships and power subsidy bills. “My government proposes to bring white paper on development, governance reforms and financial position of state to apprise the common man of what we have inherited,” he said. NO MENTION OF SYL
Without mentioning the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the governor said the previous government “failed” to protect interest of Punjab in the distribution of river waters by not properly defending the legal cases.
“The state shall take all possible administrative and legal measures to defend its rights over river waters,” he said. The Amarinder government also gave a miss to demanding Chandigarh as state capital, a staple in every governor’s address during Badal’s tenure.
‘LIP SERVICE TO DALITS’
Accusing its predecessor of paying “lip service” to welfare of Dalits and OBCs, the Amarinder government promised to ensure 30 percent reservation in allotment of houses, residential and commercial plots for SCs.
OMBUDSMAN FOR NRIS
The governor announced a special portal for NRIs and an ombudsman to monitor action on their complaints.
Time ticking on poll promise, govt says 485 drug dealers nabbed in 10 days
CHANDIGARH: Racing against time on its promise of eradicating drug menace from Punjab in four weeks of coming to power, the Captain Amarinder Singh government on Tuesday claimed arrest of 485 drug traders and peddlers in a multi-agency crackdown across the state since it took over.
Speaking to reporters after the governor’s address, Amarinder said the crackdown has started and ADGP Harpreet Sidhu has taken charge of the special task force. “I am seeking daily reports on the crackdown,” he said.
Later, the chief minister’s office in a statement said SHOlevel teams, backed by CIA and anti-narcotics cell units, have been formed in every district and state special operations (SSOP) cells have also joined the drive. The CM directed state agencies to coordinate with central agencies, such as Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and customs department, to check smuggling of drugs into the state from other parts of India and abroad.
The CMO spokesperson said in the period between March 16 (the day the new government was installed in the state) and March 27, a total of 3.9-kg heroin was recovered during raids by the special teams, including 1-kg by the BSF. In addition, the seizures included poppy husk (622 kg), smack (528 gram), charas (2.22 kg), opium (24.39 kg), bhang (1.879 kg) and ganja (65.6 kg). The special teams have also recovered 133 bottles of syrup, 1,075 injections and 90,993 capsules/ pills packed with drugs, besides 11.2 kg of intoxicant powder in the said period, he said.
JALANDHAR TOPS IN DRUG SEIZURES
Maximum number of 63 cases have been registered in Jalandhar (rural) district, from where maximum recovery of 7.25-kg opium and 1-kg heroin was made by the BSF along the border. The Jalandhar police have launched its own helpline number, appealing to the public to come forward with any information on drugs smuggling and supply. All police stations have been directed to make lists of drug peddlers and bootleggers, who have been booked at least twice in the past 10 years and put them under surveillance. Seminars and educational programmes in schools and colleges, along with ‘nukkad nataks’, road shows are also being organised for which the government is also roping in NGOs, youth clubs and Nehru Yuva Kendras.
Capt govt gives in to pressure, halts VIP security review
UTURN Govt puts process on hold till further orders, many Cong leaders among those who have objected to the review order
EARLIER, OFFICERS WERE TOLD TO PREPARE LIST OF VIPs AND TRIM THEIR SECURITY COVER; IN THE FIRST PHASE, 50 MLAs, EXMINISTERS, 100 VIPs WERE COVERED
CHANDIGARH: The much-hyped review of VIPs’ security —ordered by the newly elected Congress government soon after assuming power — has been put on hold till further orders. Reason: “Political pressure.”
In its latest letter (a copy in possession of HT), the Punjab Police headquarters has asked its field officers to keep the withdrawal (of security) orders in abeyance.
Earlier, the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government had told its officers to prepare a list of VIPs and trim their security cover. In the first phase, security cover of more than 50 MLAs, former ministers and over 100 “VIPs” was pruned or completely removed.
The latest decision comes in the wake of “political pressure” mounted by VIPs . Though ADGP (security) BK Bawa could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, senior police officials confirmed the latest development and said the earlier orders were issued in “haste”.
Sources in the chief minister’s office said there were allegations of “discrimination” too. It is alleged that in some cases, various appointees of the SAD-BJP government were accommodated whereas the security of member of Parliaments was pruned.
The two Congress MPs from Punjab, Santokh Chaudhary and Ambika Soni, who also lost their pilot vehicles in the earlier orders dated March 21, have also objected to the review.
“I have raised my apprehensions after I got to know that MPs would get only four security personnel. We had fought terrorism in Punjab too and threat from such (radical) elements remains there,” said Chaudhary.
Former Congress MLAs Kewal Dhillon and Lal Singh’s security has also been reduced.
“Pick-and-choose policy was followed in the earlier review. While the security cover of a media adviser in the previous government was completely removed, the other was allowed few gunmen. Son and cousin of Union minister Vijay Sampla were also allowed to keep two gunman each,” said a senior IAS, whose two gunmen were withdrawn.
All eleven security personal guarding General JJ Singh (retd), who fought assembly elections against Amarinder were also withdrawn.
Faux pas by transport dept leaves Cong govt red-faced
CHANDIGARH: Hardly a fortnight after the Punjab cabinet decided to do away with beacon atop vehicles, the state transport department on Tuesday committed a faux pas and issued an “order” permitting its use for the chief minister and cabinet ministers.
The purported order, which also allowed the beacons for chief justice and judges of the Punjab and Haryana high court, was withdrawn when it went viral on social media and people started taking potshots at CM Capt Amarinder Singh, who after the first cabinet meet had announced to shun VIP culture
By the evening, the CM had to intervene and a government spokesperson issued a clarification, denying any change in his government’s policy against use of beacons, categorically ruling out dilution of the stance.
The spokesperson said the transport department had “erroneously put out a part of the (Congress) poll manifesto, which the social media had picked up and published as an official notification”.
Following a cabinet decision on March 18, the CM and his council of ministers stopped using red-beacon lights on their cars. Though the chief minister and ministers were exempted in the party’s manifesto, they had decided to bring themselves within the decision’s ambit, a spokesman had then said.
Sources said the goof-up occurred on the part of office of the state transport secretary as the actual noting of the Congress manifesto was not read properly. The file regarding the notification, sources revealed, was also signed by transport secretary Sarabjit Singh, who did not respond to repeated calls and text messages by HT.
Amarinder also talked to chief secretary Karan Avtar Singh and ordered to issue a fresh notification. Sources said the chief secretary also pulled up officials of the transport department, which withdrew the “purported order”.
ONE CPS COSTS ₹3 LAKH A MONTH; BADALS’ 23 CPSes COST ₹9 CRORE ANNUALLY
CHANDIGARH: At a time when the Captain Amarinder Singh government is making all the right noises, be it ending VVIP culture or crackdown on drugs, it finds itself in an unenviable position of meeting aspirations of party leaders and workers waiting for spoils of power after dry run for 10 years.
The spree of political appointments in the chief minister’s office — six OSDs, four advisers (one cabinet rank, two minister of state rank and one ADGP rank) and four secretaries — has raised eyebrows about the financial implications of the move on the cash-starved state.
There is clamour among not just Amarinder loyalists for posts of ministers of state and chief parliamentary secretary but also some young and restless MLAs who want to be “groomed” for bigger roles. That explains the hurry of the government to bring a legislation to appoint CPSes, which has been deferred to the budget session slated in June.
Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, who had appointed 24 chief parliamentary secretaries ignoring the constitutional cap of 18 for Punjab cabinet, on Monday said he would oppose any move of the government to appoint CPSes. In addition, Badal as CM and his son Sukhbir Badal as deputy CM had a fleet of advisers and OSDs, one for every move they made.
Hitting back, Amarinder defended both the political appointments in CMO and proposed CPS legislation while speaking to mediapersons after the governor’s address on Tuesday. “How can Badals object to CPSes? They made them first. The number of advisers appointed by me is also less than by the Badal father-son duo. Badal as CM had 16 advisers and OSDs and Sukhbir had 14. Which makes it 30. Look at Sidhu (minister Navjot Singh Sidhu), he has three departments with him — local government, tourism and cultural affairs. Does he not need a CPS to help him?” Capt said.
But it is not just the numbers game. All the CPSes appointed by the Badal government were stripped of their posts following Punjab and Haryana high court verdict holding them as “unconstitutional”. Also a matter of concern is Punjab’s precarious finances. Sources in the finance department said the Badal government’s 24 CPSes cost the state ₹9 crore annually. “Each CPS costs the state ₹3 lakh per month (including his pay, perks and car). If the Amarinder government appoints 18 (one each with a cabinet minister), it will still be around ₹7 crore,” they said.
Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal, who wants both the symbolism of austerity and actual gains of low salary bills, had a different reason for the government not tabling the bill in the current session. “First the cabinet has to be expanded for CPS to be appointed. Who will they be attached to otherwise?” he said. Amarinder’s legal hawks too may have advised against a hasty move that can hit a legal roadblock, and till then the carrot will keep dangling for wannabe ministers and CPSes.
Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 28
Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today, demanding 10 per cent reservation in security forces for youths from Punjab’s border villages.He suggested a “second line of defence” in border villages of Punjab by recruiting youths aged between 18 and 40 years. “They can act as vigilant groups and help the Army and BSF to check cross-border infiltration,” he said.During the meeting, which lasted for about 15 minutes, the Congress leader urged Modi to intervene in the completion of 40-km Qadian-Beas rail link sanctioned in 2013 during the UPA rule. He handed over two letters in this connection.Bajwa said the Prime Minister was receptive and assured of positive consideration on the matter.He said, “Every small and large village (approximately 1,000 in number) in Punjab stretching from Pathankot to Fazilka (six districts) within a radius of 5 kms from the border can have its own force. It can comprise of 20 to 50 youths living there. They can be given training and equipped with .303 rifles which are not in use by the Punjab Police, besides some honorarium.”Infiltration, Bajwa said, had increased in Jammu and Kashmir in one year and Punjab had also witnessed two terrorist attacks. “I foresee international radical forces attempting to disturb peace in Indian and increase in terror activities,” he submitted to Modi.On the rail link, Bajwa said, “The project is of significance because Qadian is the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslims. Beas is the headquarters of the Radha Soami sect.”
Vikram Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 27
Around 1,100 porters — 500 from Jammu, Samba and Udhampur and 600 from Pathankot and Himachal Pradesh — who were hired by the Army to port ammunition, food and medicines in Ladakh region during the 1999 Kargil war are still unemployed despite being promised jobs after the war.Devender Singh, 51, a resident of Samba, passed a stringent test conducted by the Army as a recruitment procedure for the post of porter and took the challenge in the hope to get a job so that he could earn livelihood for his family.“I am a conductor with a matador and have lost all hopes,” said Devender Singh.The porters allege that they were promised preference in recruitment in the Army but the government didn’t keep its promise.“Today, stone-throwers are a privileged class in our state who hit Army personnel, get compensations and are given government jobs. We helped the Army during the war as true nationalists but the government failed to recognise our contribution,” said Romesh Kumar, president, All-India Porters’ Union (AIPU).During the Kargil war of 1999, the Army had called for civil services from all over the country for a support system in porting medicines, food, ammunition and other essential supplies to various posts in the mountainous terrain of Kargil.Active participation came from porters of Jammu, Pathankot and Himachal Pradesh while the whole of the Kargil town stood in frontline as a guide to porters for scaling difficult terrain. No porter from the Valley volunteered for the service, he said.The AIPU president said for the services provided by them to the Army in Kargil, the government fixed an amount of Rs 3,600 per month which they got during the five months of war.“Thereafter, we were given certificates and an assurance that in any civil or Army recruitment, we will be given preference but it was a hollow claim,” he said.
Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman has tabled the motion in the House of Commons. — AP/PTI file
London, March 27
A motion has been tabled in the UK parliament condemning Pakistan’s “arbitrary” move to declare the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering disputed PoK, as its fifth province.Bob Blackman, a Conservative Party MP, who regularly speaks out in support of the rights of Kashmiri Hindus in the House of Commons, tabled the Early Day Motion (EDM) titled ‘Annexation of Gilgit-Baltistan as by Pakistan as its fifth frontier’ on March 23.
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EDMs are formal motions tabled in the House of Commons as a means of drawing attention to a particular issue or cause.The motion said Gilgit-Baltistan has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947 and the country is attempting to annex the already disputed area.The EDM reads: “That this House condemns the arbitrary announcement by Pakistan declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as its Fifth Frontier, implying its attempt to annex the already disputed area.”It noted that “Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947, and where people are denied their fundamental rights including the right of freedom of expression.”It further said the attempts to change the demography of the region in violation of State Subject Ordinance and forcibly and illegally to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which further aggravates and interferes with the disputed territory.”Other British MPs are expected to sign the EDM during the course of this week as a show of support to the motion.A spokesperson for Blackman’s office indicated that a formal debate on the issue is also likely to be proposed in coming weeks.Pakistan’s minister for inter-provincial coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada on March 14 told Pakistani media that a committee headed by Adviser of Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had proposed giving the status of a province to Gilgit-Baltistan.He also said a constitutional amendment would be made to change the status of the region, through which the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes.India has termed as “entirely unacceptable” any possible attempt by Pakistan to declare the Gilgit-Baltistan region, bordering disputed PoK, as the fifth province.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson said any such step would not be able to hide the illegality of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir which it must vacate, forthwith.Gilgit-Baltistan is treated as a separate geographical entity by Pakistan. It has a regional assembly and an elected Chief Minister.Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh are the four provinces of Pakistan.It is believed that China’s concerns about the unsettled status of Gilgit-Baltistan prompted Pakistan to change its status. — PTI
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 26
Indigenous standards and testing parameters are being developed to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of protective gear against bullets, bombs and improvised explosive devises (IEDs) that would be specific to the Indian environment. These would replace foreign standards that are at present being relied upon.“At present, we are using standards and parameters in vogue with NATO countries to evaluate the performance of bulletproof jackets, mine-protected vehicles and other protective gears like helmets and ballistic shields,” a senior officer associated with the project said. “Since the technical specifications of weapons and ammunition being used in the Indian Subcontinent, many of which are of Soviet origin like the AK-47, are different from that being used in the West, application of NATO standards to test protective gear brought in inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the evaluation process,” he added.The project was initiated by the NITI Aayog and it involves various stakeholders, including the armed forces, Bureau of Police Research and Development, Defence Research and Development Organsiation, Ordnance Factory Board as well as private manufacturers. “The new standards are expected to be certified and issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards in four to six months,” the officer said.According to experts, stipulated standards for protective gear vary around the world and these should be in accordance with the threats found locally. Several countries have developed their own testing models, some of which have been adopted by others.“For example, the types of IEDs that our mine protected vehicles are exposed to in counterinsurgency operations are different from IEDs used in other parts of the world due to different kind of explosives or materials,” an officer said. “We have been collecting data and carrying out scientific analysis on IED blasts to determine specifications best suited for us,” he added. “The same is for bullets. Weight, material and velocity varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and from batch to batch, effecting ballistic performance and force of impact,” he added.
THE MILITARY TRANSPORT HERITAGE PARK IN BENGALURU DISPLAYS VEHICLES WHICH HAVE SERVED THE ARMY WELL SINCE INDEPENDENCE
Melville de Mellow in his famous broadcast on the Chhamb battle described him as ‘A Sikh officer with enough josh (spirit) to set the (River) Tawi on fire’. Jasbir Pal Singh Randhawa was commanding 8 Jammu and Kashmir Militia (now Light Infantry) tasked with defending the hilly areas on the right flank of the Chhamb sector in December 1971. On the night of the 3rd, the enemy’s 2 POK Battalion and Zhob Militia attacked Picquet 707 held by Randhawa’s Alfa Company after an intense artillery bombardment. The Militia were beaten off but the POK wrested a foothold in the forward trenches. At one time, the situation was so desperate that the company commander called for Red over Red (artillery fire on one’s own position). Randhawa seized the initiative, reached the defended locality with his commando platoon and personally led the counter-attack which cleared the enemy from the post. Probes launched against all three company localities the next day were also beaten back. Two infiltration attempts on December 5 by 6 POK Battalion were detected and repulsed.
Again, on the night of the 6th/7th, very heavy artillery fire preceded a major attack by 2 AK Battalion on Charlie Company holding the Laleali feature. Emboldened by the successful beating back of successive enemy assaults and inspired by their live-wire commanding officer’s example, the men took a heavy toll of the enemy while repelling them. Delta Company holding Dewa fell back to the depth locality the next day, but not before inflicting heavy casualties. Randhawa was awarded the Vir Chakra with his battalion being awarded battle honours for both Picquet 707 and Laleali.
Randhawa belonged to the Isapur military family and was a direct descendant of Baba Buddha, a venerated figure in Sikhism. Commissioned in 5/8 Gorkha Rifles, he retired as a Brigadier. A charismatic commander, the age factor prevented him from advancing to what would’ve been his true level. RIP. General Rakesh Anand, a Signals officer, recently took over as commander of Dakshin Bharat Area. An MTech from IIT, Delhi, in his last appointment as ADG, Signals Staff, he implemented the project for complete online documentation for JCOs and ORs and e-learning and online examinations as part of the Army’s ongoing thrust towards complete computerisation. Headquartered in Chennai, Dakshin Bharat Area supervises the largest military region of the country comprising most of the peninsular India.
AIR MARSHAL AMIT TIWARI
The new Commandant of the Air Force Academy, Dundigal is Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, a 1982-commissioned fighter pilot. The Air Marshal’s flying experience encompasses 3,500 hours including flying on Ajeet (Gnat) interceptors and Mig-27 variable-geometry groundattack aircraft. He has been the team leader of the Suryakirans, the formation aerobatics team of the IAF. Tiwari has also served as the country’s Air Attaché in Afghanistan.
MILITARY TRANSPORT HERITAGE PARK
Envisaged as an acknowledgment of the vital role and yeoman service provided by the mechanical warriors of the Army’s transport fleet, a Military Transport Heritage Park has been inaugurated at the ASC Centre and College, Bengaluru. At the moment, all kinds of vehicles operated by the Army and more specifically the ASC since Independence have been showcased in the park. A welcome move, the Army is showing greater interest in preserving its legacy.
Tribune News Service
Haridwar, March 23
A helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing at Rajaji Tiger Reserve here today. An Army Major and Captain were on board when the chopper (IA 3106) had to land due to some technical glitch in the dense forest terrain at Baniyawala, Chillawali Range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve.The chopper had taken off from Haldwani for Solan in Himachal Pradesh. Its first abrupt stoppage was at Raiwala. After the snag was fixed, the chopper flew for its destination, but it had to land once again at Baniyawala after the pilot sensed some error. Finding it tough to resolve, another helicopter from the nearest Army Cantt area in Raiwala was called with a technician.Komal Singh, wildlife warden, Haridwar Range, Rajaji Tiger Reserve, said two Air Force officials — Major BP Singh and Captain Abhinav — were aboard when the chopper made emergency landing. “They are safe. After getting technical assistance, the fault was rectified and the IAF helicopter took off for the further journey in the evening. An alert had been sounded in the range area when news about it flashed,” he added.
