Dharamsala, April 18, 2013: Brij Behari Lal Butail, Speaker, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha met Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan at Jaipur last evening. It was a courtesy call.

The Speaker effectively raised the issue of Pong Dam, a dam on river Beas in Kangra district of Himachal) oustees with the Chief Minister and requested him to provide all possible help to them and initiate measures regarding rehabilitating them. He said that the Himachal Pradesh government was serious to give displaced people their due right.

Gehlot assured that the Rajasthan Government would provide appropriate assistance and would provide adequate land to Pong Dam oustees according to the list of displaced persons as received from Himachal Pradesh Government. Butail honoured the Chief Minister of Rajasthan with traditional Himachali cap and shawl. Gehlot gifted a 'Coffee Table Book' based on the art, cultural and traditions of Rajasthan to the Speaker.

Brij Behari Lal Butail, Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha also met his counterpart, Deependar Singh Shekhawat, Speaker, Rajsthan  Vidhan Sabha at Jaipur  last evening.

Shekhawat detailed Butail about the working of Rajasthan State Legislative Assembly and also regarding the on-line system adopted in Rajasthan for Vidhan Sabha questions. Shekhawat presented a memento and also a book containing information about literature and history of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. Ram Narayan Mina, Deputy Speaker, Vidhan Sabha and MP Gopal Singh Shekhawat were also present.

New Delhi / Jalandhar, April 18, 2013: Reports have been published in a newspaper today alleging that CBI’s Press Note was sent to PMO 12 hours prior to release to media.

This news item is completely false and misleading. No press release of the CBI was vetted by any person outside the Bureau.

It is further clarified that no such press release was either prepared or sent on 15th April, 2013 to PMO or PIB as alleged in the news item, the CBI release from Delhi said.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal presenting a bouquet to Parnab Mukerjee, President of India at New Delhi on Thursday.

Dharamsala, April 19, 2013: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh paid obeisance at famous shrine Mata Jawalamukhi in Kangra district on the auspicious occasion of 9th Navratra/Ram Noumi  on Friday .

He prayed for the wellbeing and prosperity of the people of the state.

MLA Jawalamukhi  Sanjay Rattan, former MLA Kangra Surinder Kaku, Deputy Commissioner C. Palrasu, other dignitaries and prominent leaders, officers of the state government were also present among others.

Ludhiana, April 19, 2013: Sikh Forum has submitted a Memorandum on Thursday, on behalf of the members of the Sikh Forum and other Intellectuals to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for commutation of Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment. 

The Sikh Forum has requested  Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that Mercy Petition of  Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar for commuting Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment be given most sympathetic approval. 

This Memorandum has been signed by Maj. Gen. M.S. Chadha –President, Dr. Anup Singh- Vice President, Wg. Cdr. R.S. Chhatwal- Secretary, Pritam Singh Gupta-Treasurer,   Manohar Singh Batra, Dr. Maheep Singh, Dr. A.S. Narang, Col. Manohar Singh, Tirlochan Singh- IAS Retd. 

This has the approval of vast number of other intellectuals, Scholars, Advocates, Businessmen, Educationist and Professionals in various fields.

Dharamsala, April 20, 2013: The State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga has solved the case of mysterious fire ball which fell in Jadrangal, a  village near Dharamsala on March 21 this year.

The forensic experts have confirmed that it was a low explosive which contained radicals of Barium nitrate, Aluminum and Iron oxide was used in incendiary projectiles.

In a first-of-its-kind incident, two women sustained minor injuries as a mysterious fireball fell from the sky at village. 

According to Dr. Arun Sharma, Director, State FSL, Himachal Pradesh who visited the spot alongwith Dr. NP Dubey, Assistant Director and Dr. Vijay Kumar (Chemistry and Toxicology division) from Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala, the incident took place around 9.15am and eyewitness to the incident said that suddenly an object like fireball of around 12 inches fell from the sky that split into several parts after hitting the ground. Two women were doing some household work when the fireball hit the surface and some of its parts fell on the women after splitting and sustained burn injuries on arms and back. The women heard the sound of an aircraft passing by and a few moments after that a burning object fell near them. It fragmented into several small pieces and some of which fell on them. The rumours of it being a meteorite started spreading soon after the incident. However, Dr. Arun Sharma has earlier ruled out the theory.

Dr. Surender Kumar Pal, Assistant Director and Media Officer Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala said that the grey ash and a burnt piece of rubber like material were found on four spots and the forensic team collected them as physical evidences. The material collected by the forensic expert from Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Dharamsala was sent to State Forensic Science Laboratory at Junga in Shimla for further analysis.

According to Dr. Pal, the analysis was done by Naseeb Singh Patial, Scientific Officer, Physics and Ballistics division of SFSL Junga under the supervision of Dr. Arun Sharma, Director, State FSL, Himachal Pradesh. The material was examined physically, chemically and X ray fluorescence spectroscopy.  According to Patial such kinds of projectiles are prohibited for general public. The effective range of the projectile could be around 350 yards.

Ludhiana, April 21, 2013: Different Hindu organisations held a joint meeting here on Sunday and constituted `Hindu Sanyukt Morcha’, to make a strategy against those forces, which were trying to seek clemency for Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.

The meeting was attended among others by Anil Sharma and Saurav Kharbanda (Bharatiya Antakwad Virodhi Morcha), Rajiv Tandon and Rakesh Kapur (Shiv Sena Punjab), Krishan Sharma and Amar Takkar (Shiv Sena-Hindustan), Varun Mehta and Gagnesh Prabhakar ((Hindu Morcha Punjab) and Ajay Bahl (Hindu Jagrati Morcha).

Addressing the meeting, Varun Mehta and others strongly condemned the move of Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal making appeals at different levels, seeking clemency for Bhullar.

Mehta said terrorists did not have any religion. He said making appeals for clemency of those who had killed innocent people was a great disrespect to those who laid down their lives for peace and unity and integrity of the nation. He added people of Punjab had earned a very bad and tragic experience during the long era of militancy in Punjab. Thousands of innocent people were killed at the hands of militants during this black era in Punjab, he recalled.

Further, Mehta regretted that certain forces in connivance of certain foreign powers were again trying to disturb hard earned peace of Punjab. However, they would never allow anybody to let disturb peace in Punjab, he asserted. He said this was why they had constituted `Hindu Sanyukt Morcha’, which would chalk out future strategy to ensure that all those involved in terrorist activities should get punished without any kind of soft approach.

Mehta announced that `Hindu Sanyukt Morcha’ would take out a protest rally here on April 23, and submit a memorandum to President of India, through Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, April 21, 2013: A meeting of  Shri Amarnath  Barfani  Langars Organisations (SABLO)  was held  here on Sunday, for  distribution of  permission  letters issued by Shrine Board to the members of SABLO for setting up langars during  forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2013.

The meeting was presided by Vijay Thakur, President of the Association.

Stage was conducted by Rajan Gupta, General Secretary.  

At the outset, Rajan Gupta, General Secretary welcomed the Chief Guest Navin Kumar Choudhary, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (CEO-SASB) and the members of Langar Organisations from all over the country. 

All the members gave a standing ovation with thundering applause and slogans of “Bam Bam Bhole”, “Har Har Mahadev”, “Barfani Baba Ki Jai” on the occasion. 

Flower bouquets and mementos were presented to the Chief Guest Navin Kumar Choudhary by Sarvshri Vijay Thakur,  Rajan Gupta, Pawan Saboo, Puran Ahuja (Holy Cave), H K Chugh, Charanjit Shama (Panchtarni), Tirlok Oberoi, Shanker Verma (Sheshnag), Parveen Bindal (Zojibal), Surinder Kumar (PissuTop), Surinder Garg, Raj Kumar Garg (Chandanwar), Sandeep Kapur, Madam Prem Karwal, Dr. Manora Bhardwaj (Nunwan), Mohinder Goyal, Sanjay Arora, Pawan Singla, Surinder Singla  (Baltal), Ajay Kumar Tony, Kapil Kapoor, Ram Lok Choudhary (Domail),  Chander Nagpal (Railpathri) and Amar Goyal (Brari Marg).   

Rajan Gupta  highlighted the activities of the SABLO to the members including the meetings the representatives of SABLO had with Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) N. N. Vohra alongwith CEO on December 22 last year, March 4 this year and April 17 this year at Raj Bhawan, Jammu wherein many suggestions were given by SABLO to simplify the procedure for getting Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) and registration of “yatris” (pilgrims), improve the infrastructure and facilities for the convenience of yatris like increasing the medical facilities, widening of tracks, creation of one way tracks for smooth movement of yatris, provision of atleast 2,000 more toilets at various camps and en-route, ensuring their regular cleaning by deputing dedicated sweepers, increase in time of darshans at Holy Cave, well organised queue system for darshans at Holy Cave to increase the number of yatris to pay their obeisance at Holy Cave and to improve the facilities for NGOs including availability of sufficient stocks of essential items like Kerosene Oil, Sugar, LPG, wheat flour and rice, power supply to Langars, street lights, widening and strengthening of roads from Rangamorh to Domail  well before the start of yatra.  

Navin Kumar Choudhary IAS, CEO of SASB - Chief Guest in his address, applauded the role of  Bhandara Organisations in successful conduct of  Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2012 and informed the members that the process of registration of Yatris for this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra has already been start from March 18 this year through designated Branches of J&K Bank and Yes Bank and also added 101-SBI branches, 100 PNB Branches and 50 HDFC braches, where the yatris can registered themselves.  At present total 422 registration centres in all over the country and he stressed that the registration centres will also be increased in the next year. 

He  further stressed that Bhandara Organisors must adhere to the food menu provided by SASB in the interest of pilgrims and provide only simple, non oily, non greasy, nutritious and digestible food suitable according to the climatic conditions and altitude  instead of fried, heavy, junk, spicy food which created health hazards for yatris. Simple non oily food as per the prescribed menu should be served to yatris if the langar organisations really wanted to serve better to the yatris. All the NGOs assured the CEO by raising their hands to serve simple, nutritious and desired food to yatris from this year onwards.   However, Rajan Gupta, General Secretary on the persistent demands of the members requested the Chief Guest, Naveen K. Choudhary, to get the food menu amended from the special committee and permit the stuffed pranthas and halwa, which is offered as parshad.  Choudhary assured that he will try to get the food menu amended. 

Navin Kumar Choudhary IAS, CEO of SASB - Chief Guest of the day urged all the members of NGOS present  that Langar Organisations should also maintain  hygienic conditions in and around  all Langars, during the entire period of  Yatra, for  protecting the   environment  of  the area, to help in spreading the message to the intending Yatris that they should not undertake the Yatra without  getting themselves properly registered after getting the Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) to avoid any inconvenience during the Yatra.  He also assured that he will remain available not only to Representatives of SABLO, but also to the organisers of Langars at different camps. Choudhary informed that  of online registration cannot be granted because CHC in original is required for registering the pilgrims, which is not possible if the registration is done online.

Navin Kmar Choudhary, informed that lot of improvement has been made particularly on Kaali Mata Marg and Brari Sangam track.  At holy Cave one way stairs system has been introduced and new stairs of equal width have been constructed one for going to Holy Cave and other for coming back.  He further stated that Medical facilities are being upgraded and increased in a big way.  Replying to the demand of SABLO for increasing the no. of toilets on the twin tracks, Choudhary informed that last year 2,100 toilets were installed and this year 1,500 more toilets added, which will make in total no. of toilets 3,600 this year.  Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), which have been operating in the open in the past are being upgraded and set up underground.  CEO requested all the bhandaras organisations to send the list of sewadars for preparation of identity cards immediately and ensure that the lists are sent to SASB atleast one month before the commencement of yatra to avoid inconvenience and heavy rush. 

CEO further advised that Bhandara organisers should not bring their sewadars on vehicles carrying langar material, as this will result that traffic police will issue their challans and he expressed his inability to help in this regard.

Langar Permission letters were  distributed by Navin Kumar Choudhary to 107 Langar Organisations for setting up Langars during   Amarnathji  Yatra  2013.

Vijay Thakur, President of SABLO requested the CEO to hold a joint meeting of officers deputed to manage the yatra and the camp heads of langar organisations for a better co-ordination between the officials and volunteers of NGOs for the smooth conduct of yatra. The CEO assured that a meeting will be arranged before the start of the yatra.

Vote of  thanks  was  given by Vijay Thakur.  

Thakur thanked N. N. Vohra Chairman, Choudhary CEO,  Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, Shrine Board  for  accepting  the  suggestions of  SABLO from time to time and also assured full support and cooperation on behalf  of the  Langar Organisations for smooth conduct of Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2013. He also extended deep gratitude to the hosts of this meeting Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust, Jai Baba Balak Nath Amarnath Samiti, Om Shiv Shankar Sewa Mandal, Panchtarni Amar Shakti Samiti and Shree Mangla Gauri Amarnath Samiti all from Ludhiana for organising this meeting very well.

Pawan Saboo, Puran Ahuja from Holy Cave, H K Chugh, Charanjeet Sharma (Babaji) from Panjtarni, Parveen Bindal from Zojibal, Tirlok Oberoi, Surinder Kumar from Sheshnag, Surinder Kumar from Pissu Top, Surinder Garg from Chandanwari, Sandeep Kapoor, madam Prem Karwal from Nunwan, Amar Goyal from Brarimarg, Surinder Singla, Mohinder Goyal, Ram Lok Choudhary, Kapil Kapoor, Sanjay Arora, Pawan Singla, Bharat Bhushan 'Rinku' Ram Lubhaya were the prominent among the other 350 members present from more than 100 Bhandara Organisations.    

Dharamsala, April 21, 2013: Rain in the middle and lower areas and fresh snow in the  higher , brought down the temperature in the entire state of Himachal Pradesh, by 4 to 8 degree Celsius.

Dharamsala was wettest in the region with 13 mm of rains while Gaggal (Kangra) recorded 12 mm rains followed by Kufri and Mandi 9 mm each, Jogindernagar 8 mm, Una 6 mm, Sundernagar 5 mm and Kotkhai 4 mm.

In Shimla the minimum temperature dropped from 13.4 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius, while maximum day temperature dropped from 23.9 degree Celsius to 17.5 degree Celsius, 4 degree Celsius below normal.

The maximum temperature dropped 37.8 deg C to 30.4 deg C at Una which was hottest in the region while Nahan recorded a high of 28.3 deg C against 31.9 deg C yesterday.

The maximum temperature dropped from 32.1 deg C and 25.7 deg C at Sundernagar and Bhuntar to 24.4 deg C and 20.8 deg C respectively.

Solan recorded a high of 29 deg C, followed by Dharamsala 24.4 deg C and Kalpa 17.4 deg C.

Keylong was coldest in the region with minimum temperature at 1.4 deg C, 2 deg below normal while Kalpa and Manali recorded a low of 3.6 deg C and 5.6 deg C respectively, followed by Bhuntar 10.4 deg C, Solan 12.3 deg C, Sundernagar 13.6 deg C, Una 15.2 deg C and Nahan 15.7 deg C.

The state weather  office has predicted rains or snow in the region during the next 24 hours due to an induced cyclonic circulation extending upto 2.1 km above sea level over North Rajasthan and adjoining Haryana while a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) as an upper air system likely to affect the western Himalayan region from April 23 onwards.

Ferozepur, April 22, 2013:  The increasing frequency of  rape cases in the capital and the rest of the country is putting a big question mark on the working of the government especially the police in lacking the courage and the sensitivity needed to deal with issues like security of women.  There has been nationwide protests demanding to give death sentence of those guilty of raping minors and involved in brutal rapes by incorporating the provisions in the anti-rape law, in view of recent rape of five-year-old girl in Delhi.

Manoj, the main accused has been arrested from Bihar and as per the preliminary investigations, he was not alone and his accomplice has also been arrested from the designated place.  The heinous crime has been condemned by one and all and rare of the rarest punishment is the voice from every corner.  Even the wife of Manoj wants harsh punishment if the allegations were found true.

Human Rights Legal Service Welfare Society, Ferozepur Unit, besides condemning the rape of a minor girl, has decided to financially help the victim’s family, has prepared a questionnaire for the police to be answered when no clear-cut statements are coming from the government. 

HRLSWS, President, Mohinder Kumar Kureel has demanded immediate action against the rapist through Fast Track Court so that a message could go to the society and repetition of such crimes is curbed as such crimes and persons are a blot on the society as well.

Q1 : What else proof are required by the police when the rapists have been named by the victim and doctors have confirmed the brutalised rape with severe injuries…..?

Q2 :  When sufficient proofs are available, why DNA test to delay the justice process?

Q3 : In case the DNA report is negative, will the rapists will be made escort-free?

Q4 : Why the father of the `Gudiya’ was being bribed for Rs.2,000 to hush-up the case and what action has been taken on this statement?

Q5 : Why the Delhi police is using the delaying tactics by floating the legal points?

Q6 : Are the available witnesses and proofs are not sufficient enough to award punishment under the law to the rapist?

Q7 : What measures the police is taking to further stop the crimes?

Q8 : What moral responsibility is owned by the police officers on failing to register the FIR in such cases?

Q9 : What action has been taken on the police officer who slapped the girl protesting against the brutal crime?

Q10 : What police reforms are proposed in the event of poor conduct of the police personnel?

Q11 : What time factor is being fixed by the police to put the challan in such sensitive cases?

Jalandhar, April 22, 2013: The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Ranchi has convicted two accused persons Bihari Singh and Kamta Singh (both private persons) U/s 396 and 201 of IPC and sentenced them to undergo Life Imprisonment with a fine of Rs.10,000 in the murder of Lalit Mehta, then Secretary, Vikas Sahyog Kendra (NGO), Chattarpur, District Palamau (Jharkhand).

CBI registered the case on August 7, 2008 U/s 302, 201 and 34 of IPC on the request of Jharkhand Government and further Notification from Govt of India.

The case was earlier registered by Police Station Bishrampur (Jharkhand) vide No.71/2008 corresponding to GR No.804/2008 U/s 302/201/34 of IPC against unknown miscreants on the allegations that Lalit Mehta, Secretary, Vikas Sahyog Kendra(NGO), Chattarpur, District Palamau (Jharkhand) was murdered on May 14, 2008 and his dead body was found by a Choukidar at Fatlahi Forest Bishrampur More at 3.45 PM.

CBI took up the investigation. It was established during investigation that the accused persons, for the purpose of committing a dacoity  had detained Lalit Mehta on May 14, 2008 at about 8.30 PM who was coming on a motorcycle. After robbing him of cash of Rs.6,500, a Nokia Mobile Phone and a Bajaj Motorcycle, the accused killed him by strangulation and crushed his face to avoid identification.

After thorough investigation, CBI filed a chargesheet on October 7, 2008 U/s 396, 201 and 34 of IPC and subsequently, a supplementary chargesheet on 23.10.2009 U/s 396, 201 and 34 IPC in the Court of Special Judge, CBI Ranchi against Bihari Singh, Kamta Singh and three other persons (all five private persons).

 The Trial Court convicted two persons and acquitted two other persons. The case against one person was abated, since he expired.

Ferozepur, April 23, 2013:  The former Director, CBI and member Interpol, Joginder Singh, on his visit to his home town at Jalalabad, while speaking to the media persons said, the increase in crime against women is due to weak judicial system introduced during the period of British.

He was accompanied by Dr. Tilak Raj, social worker, Gurbachan Singh Madan, prominent Punjabi writer, Dev Raj Sharma, National Awardee teacher, Kashmir Singh Chawla, former Tehsildar and Dyal Singh Pyasa, former President Sahit Sabha.

Joginder Singh pointed out that the anti-rape Bill to stop the rape with the women is mockery with the people as it has no sanctity without the amendment in the judicial system.  There is a need to decide the heinous crime of rape within three months with maximum punishment of death sentence. 

He, however, admitted that CBI works under the centre government and CBI should be given the autonomous charge.  Stating the five year imprisonment to the noted firm star, Sanjay Dutt too less, he should be given the maximum punishment as per the law, he added.

In reply to the question over the increase of terrorist attacks in the country, he said, “The centre government is keeping a very low budget on the security of the country.  The job of installing of CCTV cameras in the capital of India has not yet been completed besides on roll of only 50,000 employees with the intelligence agencies for the internal security of the country which is too less in comparison to the population of the country.”

Joginder Singh further said, “In case the whole of the country is brought under the surveillance of CCTV cameras by making the intelligence system so strong like that of America, the terrorists’ attacks in the county can be stopped.”

In another reply to the question about the delay in submitting the closure report and solving the biggest murder mystery of ‘Arushi murder case’, he said, “Due to the mistake of Noida police, there had been delay in bringing on surface before the public, the details of the case as the case was transfer after 15 days of the incident and the delay was because of lack of evidence.”

Jalandhar, April 23, 2013: The Army Recruiting Office  Jalandhar will be organising an Army recruitment rally for the categories of Soldier General Duty, Soldier Technical trades and Clerks/Store Keeper Technical for candidates belonging to the districts of Kapurthala, Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur with effect from May 2-4 at Dogra Ground, Jalandhar Cantt.

Candidates belonging to the districts of Kapurthala, Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar and Jalandhar will be screened on May 2, whereas the candidates hailing from Hoshiarpur will be screened on May 3.  Screening for Soldier Technical category for the candidates of all castes of Punjab and for Clerks/Store Keeper Technical of all districts of Punjab will be held on May 4.

For the category of Soldier General Duty, candidate should be between 17 ½  to 21 years of  age ie born between May 2, 1992 to November 2, 1995. Height minimum 170 cms (166 cms for Kandi Area). The candidate should have passed 10th with 45% marks in aggregate and 32 % in each subject or 10+2 pass.

For the category of Soldier Clerk/Store Keeper Technical (SKT), candidate should be between 17 ½  to 23 years of  age ie born between May 2, 1990 to November 2, 1995. Height 162 cms and weight 50 Kgs. The candidate should have passed 12th class with  40 % in each subject and 50 % in aggregate.

For the category of soldier Technical,  the candidate should be between 17 ½  to 23 years of age ie born between May 2, 1990 to November 2, 1995.  Height minimum 170 cms (166 cms for Kandi Area). The candidate should have passed 12th class in Science with English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.

The candidate should bring 12 copies of latest passport size photographs on sky blue backgrounds,  whereas Sikh candidates are required to bring 12 copies of their photographs with turban and 12 copies without turban. In addition, candidate should also bring their original copies of documents such as education certificate, residence certificate, Caste certificate, religion certificate, character certificate, unmarried candidate certificate, relationship certificate for sons of ex-serviceman. Kandi area certificate by Kandi area candidates etc.

It is to inform that recruitment into Army is a free service. Candidates should not pay bribe to anyone for recruitment as it is based purely on individual merit.

Delhi/Jalandhar, April 23, 2013:  The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Bangalore has convicted   T. Mukthamba, IAS (Retd), the then Project Director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS), Bangalore and three others G. M. Renukaiah, the then Technical Assistant Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ;  Bharat B. Ostwal, Proprietor of Rahul Pharma, Bangalore and Jeetendra Kumar M Ostwal, Proprietor of Life Associates, Hubli and sentenced them to undergo three years simple imprisonment with fine of Rs.1,40,000. 

The investigation, by the CBI, revealed that National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, (Govt. of India) New Delhi had sanctioned a grant for purchase of consumable items for 17 Additional blood banks @ Rs.1.25 lakh per blood bank.  The Deputy Director (Blood Safety), KSAPS had sought permission of Project Director for utilising Rs.10 lakhs from the fund towards purchase of 17,000 of 350 ml blood bags approximately costing of Rs.62 per blood bag and for another Rs. 10 lakh for purchase of HCV Elisa Test Kits and HCV Tridots. 

The Deputy Director had deliberately kept the amount to be spent on purchase of blood bags as Rs.10 lakh, to avoid inviting of National Competitive bidding and to facilitate National Shopping Process in which quotation from any three suppliers was required.  The note of Deputy Director was allegedly approved by the then Project Director T. Mukthamba on same day.  Accordingly, quotations were called and supply order was given to Rahul Pharma for supply of 17,000 Blood Bags at the rate of Rs.62 per blood bag. The act of the accused persons had caused a wrongful loss of about Rs.11,05,320.

The spokesperson CBI  said that CBI had filed a charge sheet after completion of investigation against six accused persons i.e T. Mukthamba, IAS (Retd), the then Project Director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ;  the then Deputy Director ; G. M. Renukaiah, the then Technical Assistant both of Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bangalore ;  Bharat B.Ostwal, Proprietor of Rahul Pharma, Bangalore and Jeetendra Kumar M Ostwal, Proprietor of Life Associates, Hubli U/s. 120B r/w 420 IPC and 13(1) (d) and 13(2) of PC Act, 1988.   The Deputy Director died during the course of trial.

The Trial Court  found all the five accused guilty and convicted them.

Chandigarh, April 25, 2013: Taking strong exception to the media reports of intrusion by the Chinese armed forces in the territory of Indian Border, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Centre to act swiftly with resilience and commitment to prevent the further movement of Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Talking to the media persons on the side lines of a function jointly organised by the State Water Supply and Sanitation Department and World Bank to honour 22 Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committees here at Kisan Bhawan, the Chief Minister in unequivocally terms said that the Centre should not be complacent on the issue of safeguarding nation’s territorial integrity. At the same time he cautioned the Government of India (GoI) to immediately resolve this matter of Chinese incursion across the LAC otherwise it could adversely impact the national security. He however said that the Congress led UPA government had miserably failed in checking the growing cult of internal as well as external aggression.

Citing the problem of Naxalism and wide spread incidents of terrorism in different parts of the country, the Chief Minister said that it was an alarming signal which had already put our sovereignty in peril. He urged the GoI especially the Ministry of Defence to initiate all possible measures in defending the Indian borders besides maintaining national security at all costs.  

Slamming the Centre for arbitrarily thrusting its decision to impose wealth tax on the Agricultural land within the jurisdiction of Municipal limits, the Chief Minister termed it as a ‘Retrograde step’ to crush the distressed peasantry due to low returns from agriculture as profession. He cited an example of a farmer in Jalandhar who has been rendered bankrupt due to the draconian clause of Wealth tax imposed by the union government. He apprehended that the wealth tax must be abolished by the centre forthwith lest it would ruin the beleaguered farmer, who was already overburdened with heavy debt and several such farmers had forced to commit suicides. Therefore he impressed upon the centre to immediately roll back the decision of wealth tax which had badly hit the farming community adding he said that due to the anti-farmer policies of the UPA, the Punjab farmer was reeling under a heavy debt of Rs 32000 crore and now the levy of this tax would further aggravate the situation. 

Replying to another query regarding the proposed investments of Tata group in the state, the Chief Minister said that the Chairperson of Tata Sons Cyrus P Mistry had evinced keen interest in infrastructure, tourism, IT and Agriculture sectors. He said that a joint committee of senior officers of the state government and representatives of the Tata Group would work out modalities in this regard in due course of time.   

Earlier addressing the Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committees, the Chief Minister appreciated them for the good work done in this regard and further called upon them to continue their relentless efforts in providing safe potable drinking water in the rural areas to prevent the people from being inflicted with various water borne diseases. He said that the state government has already initiated path breaking steps in this direction and got the 13739 drinking water samples from various sources such as canals, tube well etc. tested, of which 1166 samples could not comply with the stipulated parameters of quality and thus rendered unfit for human consumption. He resolved firmly that it was the endeavor of the state government to provide quality and safe drinking water to each and every citizen of Punjab.

The Chief Minister mentioned that out 15170 villages and Dhanis, 14313 have been covered under the various drinking water schemes and the remainder 857 would be covered during the current fiscal. Making a scathing attack on the officers of the state government indulging in malpractices of corruption and nepotism for favoring sub standard contractors for allotting works for pecuniary motives, Badal said that when our responsible officers and engineers indulge in such immoral activities by wasting the already scarce funds by making use or  recommending poor quality material in the execution of the water supply and sanitation schemes in connivance with local contractors was nothing less than a sin which could never be forgiven by anyone even the God. He impressed upon them to work sincerely and diligently with utmost honesty and missionary zeal to serve the mankind because using the spurious quality material in these projects was not only hazardous to the public health but also amounted to sheer wastage of hard earned tax payer’s money.

In his address Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Suresh Kumar said that the department was committed to provide the quality safe drinking water free from the presence of heavy metals and other poisonous elements in every nook and corner of the state. He urged the people to closely monitor these projects initiated by the department and if they come across any shortcomings or lacunae in the implementation of these schemes these must be brought to our notice instantly for prompt action. Suresh Kumar also asked the officers to work zealously in the larger public interest. He said that there had been 35% increase in the allocation of funds for the implementation of these schemes during the current budget adding that Rs 393 crore would be spent on it during the current fiscal. 

On the occasion Chief Parliamentary Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Virsa Singh Valtoha proposed a vote of thanks saying that today’s function would go a long way in motivating the other village panchayats to replicate the success model of these schemes in their villages and urged them to make judicious use of water by creating awareness amongst the people.

Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Project Director DS Cheema besides the senior officers of the Water Supply and Sanitation department and World bank.      

Doraha (Ludhiana), April 25, 2013: Mata Narinder Kaur Gill, mother of senior Congress leader Jagjeevanpal Singh Gill expired here today after a brief illness.

She was 76.
Mata Narinder Kaur Gill was the niece (sister’s daughter) of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.
Her mortal remains were consigned to flames in the afternoon. A large number of people belonging to different sections of the society and political parties attended the funeral.
Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. A special wreath was laid on his behalf on her body by his OSD Karanpal Singh Sekhon. He was accompanied by Congress leader Jagdeep Sidhu.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari also sent his condolence message as he was busy in the parliament session.
Expressing profound grief over the death, he said, this was an irreparable loss to the family and prayed for the peace to the departed soul.
Punjab Congress general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna also expressed his condolences to the bereaved family. He said, he was shocked and grieved to learn about the sudden and untimely death of Mata Narinder Kaur saying he stood by the family in this hour of grief.
Ludhiana District Congress Committee President Pawan Dewan has also condoled the death of Mata Narinder Kaur. He expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.

Delhi/Jalandhar, April 25, 2013:TheCentral Bureau of Investigation has arrested seven persons in an on-going investigation into the alleged murder of Ziaul Haque, former Circle Officer, Kunda (U.P) on March 2 this year.

In this case, four persons have been arrested earlier on April 13 this year. The seven persons arrested yesterday include four associates and two neighbours of the earlier arrested persons and one person, a private guard in the household of an ex-Minister.

The CBI had registered four cases on 07.03.2013 relating to alleged murder of three persons, including Ziaul Haque, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Uttar Pradesh and two other persons, namely Nanhe Yadav and his brother Suresh Yadav, both of District Pratapgarh (UP) in separate incidents on March 2 this year on the request of UP Government and after Notification by Government of India.

CBI has taken up the investigation of these cases which were earlier registered by Uttar Pradesh Police.

Further Investigation is in progress to examine the role of other accused/conspirators in these cases.

Ludhiana, April 26, 2013: UP Orthopedics Association has honoured by presenting the prestigious Dr. T.P. Srivastava Oration to city-based Dr. N.K. Aggarwal in UPORTHOCON 2013 held in Aligarh recently.    

Dr Aggarwal did his MBBS in 1977 and MS in 1981 from BHU, Varanasi. After working as a senior resident, he started his academic career in 1982 as a Lecturer in MGIMS, Sewagram. Subsequently he was promoted as Assistant Professor and deputed by Govt. of India in 1984 to work at Kabul, as an International Expert in Orthopedics Surgery.

In the war torn Afghanistan he obtained extensive experience in management of complex trauma and war injuries. Also developed and designed a unique External Fixation System during the course of management of war injuries. Returned to India 1986 and joined Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. The fixator designed by him was used extensively in clinical practice and later tested in labs of the Department of Clinical Engineering the Royal Liverpool hospital, where he did his prestigious M.Ch. Orth. In 1991. Later on he served as Professor and head of Orthopedics Department at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana till 1997 when he shifted to Dayanand  Medical College as first ever Professor of  Arthoplasty and Traumatology, and is now involved in setting up of the Orthopedics Department at AMISR Bathinda.

He is credited with introducing most of the modern techniques being Practiced in Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery in the Punjab and surrounding areas. He is credited with revolutionising the management of polytrauma in his area during last 20 years.

Apart for being Life member of IOA, ASSI,WOC and SICOT he is a founder member of Indian Arthoplasty Association and National Association of Interlocking Surgeons.(NAILS).

He is also an overseas fellow British Orthopedics Association.

Dr Aggarwal has remained an EC member of IOA for than 12 years, Chairman of Professional Indemnity Committee of IOA for 4 years and President of NAILS for two years.

Apart for having work in India, Afghanistan and the UK had fellowships at centers of excellence of India, Europe and USA including Chernley's Hip center at Writington.

He has published papers both in National and International Journals, traveled widely and presented papers and delivered guest Lectures at conferences/ symposiums/workshops around the world. His work presented at regional and National conferences have been given best Paper Awards and A.A. Mehta Gold Medal.

Chandigarh, April 26, 2013: The Punjab Council of Ministers today requested the Governor Shiv Raj Patil to convene an emergency session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on May 3, 2013 to discuss the “extremely dangerous and critical situation that has arise out of the Centre’s decision to impose wealth tax on agriculture lands in the country.

An emergency meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also urged the Centre to immediately withdraw any proposal to impose wealth tax on agriculture tax in the garb of declaring all lands falling within the aerial radius of 8 Kilometers of municipal limits as “urban lands”.

A resolution passed at the meeting said that the farming community in Punjab was already reeling under an unbearable and crippling burden of farm indebtedness to the tune of over Rs.37,000 crore.  The plight of the farmer all over the country was shocking.  The decision of the GoI would prove to be the death warrants for the farmers in the country”. 

The resolution further said that the decision would not only “crush and destroy the farmers” of the country but would also dealt a deadly blow to the national economy on the whole.  The entire chain of business, trade, industry and marketing chain, including shop keepers and arhtias, would be seriously destabilised and brought to the brink of total annihilation by this decision. 

While talking to the mediapersons, Badal urged all the regional and national parties to rise above political divide to save the bread-winner of the country. He said he had already taken up this issue with BJP National President Rajnath Singh and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

Badal warned of a “grave social disorder as a consequence of this decision”.  The Chief Minister and his deputy and SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal would lead a delegation to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to urge him to withdraw the government’s decision in this regard and not to push forward with the proposed amendments in the Finance Bill. He further said that by levying the wealth tax the Union government was forcing the farmers to shun the agriculture which would put the food security of the country in the peril.

Questioning the relevance of imposing this tax on the farmers, the Chief Minister pointed out that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had as the Finance Minister of the country in year 1992 made it clear that the Productive assets would not be brought under this ambit of this tax. He said that agricultural land was one of the most productive assets of the country and the Union Government must refrain from levying this anti-farmer tax on it. He said that this move of the Congress led UPA government would lead to putting an additional burden of minimum Rs 30,000 per acre on the farmer of the state annually, which was much more than income earned from this land.

The Chief Minister said that SAD was committed to safeguard the interests of the farmers and they would not allow the Centre to implement this decision. Training guns against State Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa, the Chief Minister said that the move of state Congress leadership to meet the Union Minister over the issue was a mere formality as they were hardly concerned over getting this matter resolved. He said that the Congress had imposed this tax just to ruin the economy of the state and now the Congress leaders were trying to cover up the matter by such gimmicks.  

RESOLUTION

“The Punjab Cabinet expresses deep concern and anguish over the decision of the Union Government to impose Wealth Tax on the agriculture land in and around the city. This decision, which will have far reaching consequences, is like a 'Death warrant' for the distressed peasantry of the state which was already confronting huge economic crisis. This anti-farmer and anti-poor decision will ruin the economy of the country thereby leading to complete anarchy and chaos in it. This tax will be much than the meager income of the beleaguered farmer who was already reeling under heavy debt due to the high rate of inflation and extreme poverty. The imposition of Wealth tax was unlawful as it violated the established law of the country according to which Wealth tax could not be imposed on the Productive assets.The Cabinet totally rejects this anti-farmers decisionand impresses upon the Union government that the Agricultural land should be kept out of the jurisdiction of this tax.

The Cabinet also urges Honourable Governor of Punjab Mr. Shivraj V Patil to immediately prorogue the session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on May 3 to discuss this serious and delicate issue.”

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal addressing the media persons immediately after the cabinet meeting at Chandigarh on Friday. Media Advisor to Chief Minister on National Affair and Media Harcharan Bains is also seen in the picture.

New Delhi/Jalandhar, April 27, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case under sections 120 B r/w 420 of IPC and 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) d of PC Act against  a Delhi based Steels and Mining Private Limited Company, Pushp Steel and Mining Pvt. Ltd; its two Directors Atul Jain and Sanjai Jain  and some unknown Public Servants and unknown others in connection with the allegations related to getting Brahmapuri coal blocks allocated on the basis of misrepresentations and false claims in the applications, presentations and connivance/lack of due diligence on part of unknown others.

It was alleged that the said Delhi based private company was recommended the allocation of Brahmapuri Coal Block by the Screening Committee for its proposed Sponge Iron End Use Project in District Durg (Chhattisgarh). The allocation of this coal block was done on the basis of alleged false information that it had a Iron Ore Mining Lease while it had none. It was further alleged that the company did not have any experience in steel manufacturing and the net worth of the group companies/firms was around about Rs.3.01 crores, which was insignificant.

Searches were conducted today at 10 places in Delhi, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Faridabad, Narwana (both in Haryana) and Raipur (Chattisgarh). These places included the office and factory premises of said private company; residential premises of its Directors and the office premises of its sister concerns/group companies. Certain incriminating documents recovered during searches from these places pertaining to the allocation of the coal block including the computer hard disks are presently under scrutiny. Further investigation is in progress.