Jalandhar, May 7, 2013: The Sikh Regimental Centre, Ramgarh Cantt is conducting a rally for  re-enrolment of Ex-servicemen of the Sikh Regiment and its affiliated Territorial Army Battalion into Defence Service Corps (DSC) at Ramgarh Cantt (Jharkhand) with effect from 20 May 2013.  Candidates should report to The Sikh Regimental Centre, Ramgarh Cantt by 19 May 2013.

The candidates appearing for re-enrolment into DSC should be SHAPE-1 in medical category and their character should be Very Good/Exemplary.  Age of the candidates should be below 48 years and gap between discharge from former service and re-enrolment should be 5 years or less.  Candidates should not have more than one red ink entry during last five years of service and not more than two red ink entries during entire service.

Willing and eligible Ex-servicemen are required to report to Sikh Regimental Centre Ramgarh Cantt on 19 May 2013.

Ludhiana, May 8, 2013: A meeting of national body of International Namdhari Sangat held at Vishavkarma Chowk here, in which representatives from almost every parts of Northern India participated.

The meeting held discussions in many issues. Mainly, it was decided to hold three-day peaceful “panthic ekta” (panthic unity) function around May 15 near Katani turn (Sri Bhaini Sahib).

The sole objective of this function is to urge upon Mata Chand Kaur, Thakur Uday Singh and Sant Jagtar Singh to sit at any place and listen to the Sangat, so that panthic unity may take place as early as possible to save Namdhari panth from disunity, said a release.

On the occasion, a laboratory was inaugurated in the premises of M/s Bagga Singh and Sons, on Vishavkarma Chowk. The facility of blood test will be available at reasonable rates at this newly opened laboratory.

On the occasion, Baba Chhinda Singh Muhawa, Dr. Sukhdev Singh Amritsar, Sant Jasvir Singh Bittu, Amrik Singh Samana, Jarnail Singh Bathinda, Darshan Singh Raisar, Tirath Singh Mukerian, Palwinder Singh Jalandhar, Jawahar Singh Jalandhar, Manmeet Singh Phillaur, Gursev Singh Moli, Jathedar Gurdeep Singh Sri Bhaini Sahib, Jathedar Amrik Singh Luharan, Palwinder Singh Delhi, Lakhwinder Singh Delhi, Hardeep Singh Delhi, Baldev Singh Delhi, Chet Singh Yamunanagar, Davinder Singh Yamunanagar, Jeet Singh Jiwan Nagar (Sirsa), Chairman Jaswinder Singh, President Navtej Singh, Cashier Gurmel Singh and others present .

New Delhi, May 8, 2013:  A delegation of national and regional political parties from all across the country today accompanied the patron of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to the President Pranab Mukherjee seeking his personal intervention to the direct the Union government for filing a fresh appeal against Sajjan Kumar and expediting investigation against Jagdish Tytler, for perpetrating incidents of violence against innocent Sikhs in 1984 genocide.

The delegation included the former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader LK Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, TDP Leader Namo Nageshwar Rao, Shiv Sena leader Anant Gangaram Geete, TMC leader K. D. Singh and INLD leader Ch. Ranveer.

Earlier, Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal besides senior leaders, members of parliament and legislators of SAD BJP from Punjab had called on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and presented a memorandum demanding expeditious and exemplary punishment to all the guilty responsible for 1984 massacre, including the key culprits Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and others.  The Akali leaders also met the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in this regard at his office here in North Block, who assured the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister that action against the accused of 1984 massacre would be expedited.   Shinde also promised expeditious follow up in the case that has been sending against Sajjan Kumar since 1987.

The All India non-Congress party delegation primarily demanded setting up of SIT (Special Investigative Team) under the direct command of the Supreme Court to conduct a day-to-day hearing against those responsible for killing thousands of men, women and children in the 1984 massacre. 

Divulging the contents of memorandum handed over to the President, the high powered delegation said that the genocide of Sikhs during November 1984 in the national capital and various other parts of the country hardly have any parallel, as between November 1 and 3 innocent Sikhs were killed every minute on the roads of the capital. These merciless killings of the Sikhs made thousands of women widows and orphaned thousands of children. But the law enforcing agencies rubbed salt into the wounds of the Sikhs by making all out efforts to shield the guilty instead of delivering justice to the victims by booking the accused. Sikh community in particular and the nation in general were anguished on the failure of the Government to deliver justice to them till date.

SAD Patron and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal apprised the President that a ray of hope was seen when some cases were lodged against the guilty and subsequently trials were initiated, but to the utter surprise of Sikhs, the CBI gave clean chit to one of the prime accused Jagdish Tytler while another one Sajjan Kumar was acquitted. He said that it was rather appalling that while some of the accused have been convicted, the master mind Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted despite cogent and conclusive evidence against him including the unflinching testimony of eye witnesses. Badal said the blatant misuse of the system and the Government machinery to shield the culprits and failure to punish them has eroded the faith of victims and the Sikh Community across the globe besides all law abiding citizens of the country. The Chief Minister further said that the credibility of the CBI which investigated the case was already at its lowest ebb.

Urging the immediate intervention of the President to provide justice to the victims of the 1984 genocide and assuage the feelings of the Sikh community thereby instilling a sense of confidence in them, the delegation requested him to the direct the Union government that an independent and impartial investigation be conducted in the case. The delegation further said that the initial delay on the part of Police in registering the cases has directly helped the accused therefore it was necessary that an extra-ordinary procedure be followed even at this late stage so that justice was not denied in perpetuity.

The delegation also demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), under an officer not less than the rank of IG, from outside the Delhi Police should be constituted to investigate the cases threadbare pertaining to genocide against Sikhs in 1984. This SIT should not only investigate the pending cases but also look into the cases where either the FIRs were not registered or if registered, were closed by the Police itself besides the cases which were not prosecuted properly resulting in acquittal of the guilty.  The SIT should also investigate the role of the Police Officers and these investigations should be monitored by the Supreme Court of India.

The delegation also requested the President that the state must immediately file an appeal against the acquittal of Sajjan Kumar and the Government should take all necessary steps to ensure day to day hearing and disposal of the appeal within three months besides engaging an independent lawyer to argue the appeal. Likewise challans of the cases in which the investigations have already been completed should be presented in the Court of Law. The delegation informed the President that in FIR no. 67 / 1987 registered in Police Station Nangloi, New Delhi, Sajjan Kumar was accused and the investigation had completed but the filing of challan was pending since 1992 so the challan must be filed immediately in the courts.

The delegation also urged that investigation against Jagdish Tytler should be conducted expeditiously and challan should be presented as the court has already rejected cancellation report against Jagdish Tytler. The delegation apprised the President that though the loss of families, who had lost their dear ones in the genocide, could never be compensated but expediting these action would go a long way to instill a feeling of justice being done to them besides reposing the faith of Sikh Community in the judiciary.

Later talking to the media persons outside Rashtarpati Bhawan, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal resolved firmly to ensure justice to the victims of 1984 Sikh massacre, adding he  unequivocally said: “The party will continue its crusade against the Congress led UPA government at Centre for their sinister designs to give umbrage to the guilty under its nose thereby compelling the Congress government to ensure exemplary punishment to all its leaders responsible for this inhuman and heinous act against mankind”.

Prominent amongst others who were the part of the delegation including BJP leaders Menka Gandhi and Shah Nawaz Husain, Chander Kant Khare, Subhash Wankhede, Bhavna Gawli (all Shiv Sena leaders), Sheilendra Kumar, Neeraj Shekhar (all leaders of SP), Sanjeet Kumar (leader JMM), Sultan Ahed Nadeem Ul Haq (leaders of TMC),) Arjun Sethi, Tathgaty Satpathy, D. Mehtob (Leaders of BJD), Vishwamohan Kumar, Kaushailender Kumar and Vaidnath Prashad Mahanto (Leaders of BJD)

Apart from these, Member Parliament from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal, President Youth Akali Dal and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and several Cabinet Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, MPs, MLAs and senior party leaders of SAD-BJP and Members SGPC were also present on the occasion. 

Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab along with a delegation of MPs and MLAs of Shiromoni Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janta Party from Punjab and leaders of other party called the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

New Delhi, May 8, 2013:  Responding to an appeal made by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, the victim of 1984 Sikh massacre Bibi Nripjit Kaur today ended her five-day long fast after taking a glass of juice offered by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Chief Jathedar Avtar Singh this afternoon. 

Addressing a mammoth gathering of Sikh community assembled here at Jantar-Mantar to express solidarity with the victims of 1984 Sikh Genocide besides demanding exemplary punishment to all those responsible for the merciless killings of thousands of the innocent Sikhs especially the culprits like Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, whom the UPA led Congress government was deliberately shielding them in one way or another, Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the Sikh Panth was replete with countless sacrifices to uphold the moral and ethical values of humanity besides safeguarding the rights of poor and oppressed.  The endless saga of unprecedented valour which protected the dignity of mankind through the supreme sacrifices of Sikh Gurus and warriors would always act as a beckon to guide our destiny especially to keep us in high spirits (chardhi kalan).  

Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh in an emotional appeal asked Bibi Nripjit Kaur to immediately call her fast off in view of the tenets of Sikhism which refrains Sikhs to undertake fasts as a part of their crusade against tyranny and oppression, rather he said we should confront any situation bravely by ever remaining in high spirits.  He said the entire Sikh community was with her in this hour of crisis and hoped they all would succeed in their mission to prevail upon the Centre to punish the guilty of 1984 Sikh massacre and achieving the ultimate goal of seeking justice for the victims of this tragedy. 

In his address, the Patron of Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the teeming crowds of Sikhs converged here at Jantar-Mantar in support of seeking justice for victims of 1984 tragedy and ensuring exemplary punishment to the Congress leaders involved in Sikh genocide was reflective of their state of mind to be ever in high spirits. 

Lauding the enormous contribution of Punjabis especially the Sikhs in national freedom struggle, defending the country’s as a sword arm and ensuring national food security as nation’s food bowl, Badal said that the role of Punjabis in opposing the black era of emergency during Congress regime besides suffering the brunt of partition in 1947 need not to be over emphasized.  He said that Sikh community had always been meted out a step motherly treatment by successive Central government’s therefore, Sikhs were left with no other option but to launch Morchas against the regime of arrogant Congress Party in the form of Dharamyudh Morcha.  He cited an example of Operation Bluestar when the nation Army’s entered Sri Harmandir Sahib - the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. 

Lashing out at the national Congress leadership for perpetrating planned anti-Sikh riots in 1984 in Delhi, Kanpur and other cities in which nearly 3000 people were killed, Badal said that these attacks on the innocent Sikhs were not only pre-planned but orchestrated at the behest of top Congress leaders by instigating the mob.  Sikhs were singled out, their houses burnt and innocents were butchered in this frenzy across the country. The response of the then Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi who took these violent incidents casually and out of arrogance, he made a derogatory statement “When a full bloom tree is uprooted the earth trembles”, quoted Badal.  

The Sikhs had been demanding justice under the nation’s legal system for these inhuman and heinous acts of brutal violence which had been eluded so far to them thereby making a sheer mockery of democracy.  The Centre’s apathy towards the Sikhs was evident from the fact how it stone walled every such move of to thwart justice to the victims of 1984 riots by keeping the reports of various commissions constituted by it to probe into these riots such as Ved Marwah, Tarkunde, Nanavati and subsequently country’s premier agency CBI under the wraps.  The eye witnesses to these incidents have been threatened and the investigations were not filed, adding he said if investigations were completed then challans were not filed in any case.  

Badal said not going into the merit of the cases, the common perception brewing not only in the minds of Sikhs but also in the entire right thinking citizens of the country was that the guilty were going scot free.  He said that the Sajjan Kumar has been acquitted giving the benefit of doubt despite the witnesses identifying him as the ring leader of the rioters.  Adding salt to the wounds the court have found the evidence of the witnesses to be good enough to sentence the others six, but when it come to Sajjan Kumar the same witness & evidence was found wanting and  "benefit of doubt" was used to acquit Sajjan Kumar.

Speaking on the occasion, President SAD and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the crusade launched by the Sikh Panth to ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits of 1984 riots would be taken to its logical conclusion.  He said that Badal along with him today led a high powered delegation of national and regional parties to the President Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and handed over copies of memorandum to them for filing a fresh appeal against Sajjan Kumar and expediting investigation against Jagdish Tytler, for perpetrating incidents of violence against innocent Sikhs in 1984 genocide, besides setting up of SIT (Special Investigative Team) under the direct command of the Supreme Court to monitor a day-to-day hearing against those responsible for killing thousands of men, women and children in the 1984 massacre.   The President SAD also said that they have called on Union Home Minister and demanded an action against the guilty of 1984 massacre. Responding positively, Shinde assured them of an expeditious action in this behalf and also promised an immediate follow up in the case that has been pending against Sajjan Kumar since 1987.

Addressing on the occasion, the President of the Youth Akali Dal and Punjab Revenue & Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia showered praises on the victim of 1984 massacre Bibi Nripjit Kaur for mobilizing the Sikh Panth to create a public opinion against the Congress led UPA government for shielding the guilty Congressmen and demanding exemplary punishment to them so that the justice could be given to the victims even after a long period of 30 years. Majithia said he adored Bibi Nripjit Kaur as his sister and another victim Bibi Jagdish Kaur as his mother as both of them played a vanguard role in sensitising the Sikh masses to envisage their unstinted support and cooperation in this crusade for ensuring justice for victims of 1984 Sikh massacre. 

Several MPs, MLAs, senior party leaders and workers of SAD-BJP, members of SGPC and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee were also present on the occasion.  

Jalandhar, May 8, 2013: The Central Bureau of investigation has registered two cases against certain officials of Postal Department and private persons in the alleged appointment of Gramin Dak Sevaks in Sitamarhi and Samastipur on fake Certificates.

According to CBI Spokes person, It was alleged that between the years 2008 and 2012, the Postal Department had appointed more than 17 Gramin Dak Sevaks in Sitamarhi and more than 13 in Samastipur.

He said that  the merit list was prepared on the basis of marks obtained in Class-X, irrespective of Boards.  All these 30 candidates were prima facie appointed on the basis of fake Madyama Certificate purportedly issued by Sanskrit Shiksha Board.

It was also alleged that each candidate has paid Rupees two to three lakh as bribe to get  an appointment.

The CBI sleuths conducted Searches and raids at 16 different locations, which yielded recovery of various objectionable documents, records and registers from Sanskrit Shiksha Board Bihar, Patna. He said further investigation is going on in the matter.

New Delhi/Jalandhar, May 8, 2013: The Central Bureau of investigation has registered a case against certain officials of Delhi Development Authority, Vikas Sadan, New Delhi and other private persons U/s 120B IPC r/w 420, 467, 468,471 IPC and 13(2) r/w 13 (1) (d) of PC ACT 1988.

It was alleged that certain officials of DDA hatched a  conspiracy with property dealers/brokers wrongfully revived cancelled flats under various categories i.e. LIG, MIG and HIG/SFS.

According to the CBI spokes person it was further   alleged that in 2007-2008, the concerned allottees were contacted by the brokers who in conspiracy with the accused DDA officials, moved applications to DDA in the name of allottiees.

The master mind persons, The allottees had mentioned in their applications to DDA about the change of their residential addresses but had not received the allotment letters. They sought afresh allotment of flats at old rates.

After the registration of the case, searches at various places have been conducted at Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon.  During searches conducted so far incriminating documents have been recovered along with documents relating to movable and immovable property of accused.

Chandigarh, May 9, 2013: To apprise UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about the pathetic condition of former spies and their families, a delegation of Espionage Victims’ Association (EVA) would be taken to New Delhi to meet them, soon.

This was stated by Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar after meeting a representation of EVA on Thursday.

Gaurav Bhaskar, Convenor EVA in detail informed the worst living conditions of various spies and their families to Jakhar and demanded uniform policy to award due respect and rehabilitation package for them.

Opinder Nath and Paramjit Singh, duo former Indian spies revealed various tortures that they had suffered in various jails of Pakistan.

Not the agony at the hands of Pakistani authorities made them upset but the alleged ignorant attitude of successive and present state as well centre governments further deteriorated their condition, rued duo.

After giving a patience hearing to the delegation, Jakhar advocated their concerns and assured to put concrete efforts to not only raise-up the issue with senior Congress leadership and Prime Minister but also get it done on the humanitarian grounds.

EVA Submitted a Charter of demands including Every Spy or his family should be treated at par with Sarabjeet and those who had been killed or died declared ‘martyr' and respectable rehabilitation package with due respect in the national spectrum, Rs. 1 crore as compensation to those who had been killed and rest be Rs. 5 lakh per year be awarded, a government job should be given to one of the dependent of the spy who went on espionage mission to any nation, demand a uniform policy in giving the honour present, past and future,  reservation quota at the lines of freedom fighters, ex-servicemen or martyrs for them in educational institution and government jobs, Sainik Welfare Board be assigned the job to cater the needs of families of spies in case of his/her death, surviving spies or their wives be given pension of Rs.15,000 per month, diplomatic channels be explored to ensure safety of all Indian spies languishing in various jails out of nation and ensure release of all those who have completed their sentence there, insurance policy for serving spies worth Rs.50 lakh be done at the time of recruitment and formation of separate working board for spies to redress their grievances and demands.

Dharamsala, May 11, 2013: This hilly area experienced heavy rain, storm and fresh snowfall on Saturday. As a result, the temperature has dipped.

The rain started in the noon with the daylight reduced to zero. The strong winds uprooted some trees disrupting the traffic and electricity supply in the city.

The day temperature came down below 20 degree from 28 in the morning.

The reports of rain are also coming from other parts of the Kangra district.

Besides, fresh snowfall took place on Dhouladhar ranges in Dharamsala today.

(For Current Ludhiana News; pl. visit: www.ludhianatribune.com)

The strong winds uprooted some trees disrupting the traffic and electricity supply in Dharamsala on Saturday.

City Air News photo: Arvind Sharma

Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran), May 11, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that had the Congress led UPA government at the centre acted timely and diligently then the precious life of the martyr Sarabjit Singh could have been saved. 

Addressing a mammoth gathering here to pay homage to the martyr Sarabjit Singh at his bhog ceremony, the Chief Minister said that the state assembly had passed resolutions four times and send it to the Centre urging them to take prompt action for ensuring the early release of the martyr Sarabjit Singh from Pakistan jail but the Union government had not taken the matter seriously. However he said that the entire country in general and the Punjab government in particular was with the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh in this hour of crisis.

Badal while handing over the cheque of Rs 1 crore to Shaheed Sarabjit’s family said that the state government was committed for their well being.

The Chief Minister categorically said that the martyr Sarabjit Singh was a national martyr, who had suffered endless agonies in the Pakistani jail for being an Indian. He also announced that the elder daughter of the martyr Sarabjit Singh would be recruited as Naib Tehsildar in the state government whereas the younger daughter would be given the post of teacher adding that the Cabinet clearance for both these posts would be given by the Council of Ministers in the very next meeting. He said that lending a helping hand to the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh was the moral duty of the state government.

Acclaiming the efforts made by the family of the martyr Sarabjit Singh to get him released from the Pakistani Jail, the Chief Minister said that due to their concerted efforts the entire country had prayed for the release of the martyr Sarabjit Singh who had spent more than 23 years in Pakistan jail. Showering praise on the martyr Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbeer Kaur for her pledge to secure the release of other prisoners lodged in Pakistan Jail, Badal said that the state government would extend wholehearted support and co-operation to her in this noble cause.   

Addressing the gathering Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, while sharing his heartfelt condolences with the family said that the state government would extend all sort of support and co-operation to them whenever needed by them. Majithia lauded the efforts of the martyr Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbeer Kaur in launching a massive nationwide campaign by mobilising people’s opinion to mount pressure on the national governments of India and Pakistan for seeking clemency for him, who was on death row adding he said that we should make concerted efforts to secure the release of innocent Indians lodged in various jails across the Pakistan.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Ministers Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Chunni Lal Bhagat and Gulzar Singh Ranike, Chief Parlimentray Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha, Member Parliament Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala and State BJP Chief Kamal Sharma.  

New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 12, 2013: The Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Statistics and Programme Implementation, Srikant Kumar Jena, has said that he would take up the issue of setting up a plastic park for the downstream industries of Panipat Refinery in Haryana under the Central Government’s plan to set up such parks all over the country.

Speaking after inaugurating the building of the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) at Murthal in Sonipat District, on Saturday, Jena also announced that the classes for B. Tech, post-graduate and under-graduate courses in the CIPET would commence from the next academic session. He was accompanied by the Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Jena said that the CIPET building had been constructed on the campus of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology at the cost of Rs. 25 crore. The entire expenditure on the construction of the building has been borne by the state government.

Apart from this, the state government has also provided 10 acres of land for the purpose.

The Panipat Refinery, having beautiful campus, raw material and ample manpower, offered an ideal place to locate a plastic park, Jena said. Haryana is emerging fast in the industrial sector and the entrepreneurs could also take the initiative to set up ventures in the state.

The minister said he would ensure that the students of Haryana got 25 per cent reservation in admission to the CIPET, Murthal.  He recalled that when the foundation stone of the building was laid in 2009, the Chief Minister had demanded that 25 per cent seats should be reserved for the students of Haryana. Besides, he also demanded that B.Tech, post-graduate and under-graduate courses should also be introduced in CIPET.

Jena said that CIPETs were rendering great service to the industries throughout the country. People thought that plastic polluted the environment but the truth is that plastic plays a vital role in our day-to-day life. He said that the use of plastic bag accounted for only 0.1 per cent of pollution.

While appreciating the facilities made available in the institute, Jena said that jobs were assured to all the students who pursued their studies in this institute. “Industry is expanding and you have such machinery, which is not even available in big industries,” he said, adding that after training, industry would come to you instead of you reaching out to industry.

The Hooda-led state government had created an industrial and entrepreneur-friendly atmosphere in the state.

Describing  Hooda as a stalwart, the Union Minister said that under his leadership, education had got a tremendous boost in Haryana. He had taken the initiative to upgrade the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram College of Science at Technology to the level of university. Besides, a number of other universities have also been set up with his efforts.

Education, health care facilities, infrastructure and road network were pivotal for the growth of any country or state and he was happy to learn that Haryana is way ahead in all these spheres.

While thanking the Union Minister for his assurance to get a Plastic Park approved for Panipat,  Hooda said, “We are developing an industrial estate along the Panipat Refinery and it would be an appropriate place for locating such project.”

The CIPET is a premier national institute devoted to academic, technology support and research activities for the growth of plastics and allied industries in the country. Hooda said that with the inauguration of this institute, the number of CIPETs in the country had reached to 23.

It is a matter of happiness that the institute which was started with just 32 students today has 700 students on the rolls with 100 per cent placement of students passing out from this centre. He hoped that this centre would be a boon to the plastics industry and allied industries not only in Haryana but also in the neighbouring state.

Hooda pointed out that any meaningful industrial development could not sustain itself in the absence of a dependable pool of skilled manpower. Therefore, our focus has been to invest in educational and professional institutes for skill development amongst our youth. The state government has opened 489 technical institutes in the last eight years. As a result, there has been an addition of 1.15 lakh seats in various technical courses. A number of prestigious institutes had already been set up in the state, Hooda said.

Hooda disclosed that the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, would lay the foundation stone of the National Defence University in Gurgaon on May 23. Similarly, the foundation stone of the National Institute of Design (NID) is also going to be laid very shortly.

Earlier, Jena and Hooda went round the CIPET campus and viewed the facilities available there.

Dharamsala. May 12, 2013: Heavy to moderate rain occurred at many places in Himachal Pradesh during last 24 hours. This unprecedented rain was due to yesterday’s Western Disturbance (W.D.) as an upper air system over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir persists.

The reports said that yesterday’s induced cyclonic circulation was over Haryana and neighbourhoods still persists.

According to weather report of the state  Dharamsala and  Jubbal received the maximum rainfall of 32 mm each, while Saloni got 21, Gaggal-19, Dalhousie-18, Solan-15,  Chamba-14, Jogindernagar-11, Kufri and Shimla-10 each, Seobagh-9, Sundernagar-8, Bhuntar and Jubbar Hatti-7 each, Theog-6, Mandi, Bangana and Hamirpur-5 each and  Kalpa-4mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

The maximum temperatures in the state decreased by 4 to 5 degree Celsius and minimum temperatures decreased by 2 to 3 degree Celsius in last 24 hours. The lowest temperature recorded at Keylong (the headquarter of Lahoul and Spiti), was 6.40 Celsius and  highest at Una  40.6° Celsius.

The weather may clear out on May 14, said weather office.

Shimla, May 12, 2013: Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was on Friday unanimously appointed president of the All India Jat Maha Sabha.

A unanimous resolution to this effect was passed at the executive meeting of the Maha Sabha here today.

Moving the resolution, the secretary general of the Maha Sabha Yudhvir Singh said, it was the proud privilege of the community to elect Capt Amarinder as the president.

He said, Capt Amarinder was one of the few icons of the community who was not only known across the country, but outside India as well.

He expressed confidence that under his leadership the Maha Sabha will be able to successfully get implemented all the pending issues.

Delegates from several states and their respective presidents were present during the passage of the resolution. The states included Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttrakhand.

Expressing his gratitude to the members of the Maha Sabha, Capt Amarinder said, he felt privileged and honoured about being unanimously elected president of the Maha Sabha. He said, he had been associated with the Maha Sabha for last 30 years as its patron since 1980 when Capt Bhagwan Singh was its president.

Asserting that Jat Maha Sabha was an apolitical organisation with the sole agenda of reforming the community and fighting various social evils, he said, it had members subscribing to different political ideologies.

He said, the Jat community should get the reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He said, due to the shrinking of land holdings quite a number of people belonging to this community, otherwise believed to be affluent, were reduced to penury and poverty.

He clarified that the Jat Maha Sabha was demanding reservation only for those who need it and not those who were known as the creamy layer. Quoting examples from Punjab he said, the educated youth belonging to the community were not finding jobs and with the result they were getting trapped in various social evils like addiction. He said, from his preliminary inquiries from delegates coming from different states he had found that the situation there was no different.

He clarified that the Sabha was a non-political organisation and there were people in it who belonged to different political parties be it the Congress, BJP, the Lok Dal or any other organisation. Moreover, he said, it was not a sectarian organisation as the Jats were spread in different religions including the Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims.

The former Punjab Chief Minister maintained that when the reservation had been implemented by the government of India in Rajasthan why it could not be implemented nationwide. Several states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh have already provided reservation to the Jat community.

Giving brief history of the Jat Maha Sabha, Yudhvir Singh said, it had been founded in 1906 and had great leaders associated with it like Sir Chhotu Ram, Sardar Baldev Singh, Dara Singh and others.

Prominent among those present included Raja Ram, Rakes Tikait, Gen SS Ahlawat, Shakti Singh, Harpal Singh, Renu Daljit Singh, Surinder Kaur Sandhu and others.

Dharamsala, May 15, 2013: Air India landed its 48-seater at Dharamsala airport as a regular Delhi-Dharamsala flight from Wednesday .

The passenger flight resumed here after more than nine months when Kingfisher Airlines stopped its flights to Himachal Pradesh,.

This also comes in the wake of Dharamsala getting two IPL matches on  May 16 and 18. In fact Kings XI Punjab team travelled from Delhi in today’s inaugural flight .The flight carried back beside others, transport minister G S Bali too.  

Bali said, “This is because of the continuous efforts of the state government, which is lead by Virbhadra Singh.”

State Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma said Spice Jet is also keen to start its regular flight from Delhi to Dharamsala, the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. "Spice Jet is awaiting approval from the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," Sharma, who is also the MLA from Dharamsala, said.

V C Pharka, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, said: "This is good news for Himachal Pradesh as the state government has been persistently asking the Centre to help the state get air connectivity."

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had written twice to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh last month and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in regard to the matter. Veteran BJP leader Shanta Kumar and MP Anurag Thakur, had also met Ajit Singh and demanded resumption of air connectivity.

Jalandhar / New Delhi, May 19, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested its SP and one Inspector both posted in New Delhi and two other private persons in an alleged bribery case.
A case was registered by CBI on May 17, 2013 under various sections of law against two CBI  officers posted  in New Delhi and two private persons on the allegations of demand and acceptance of illegal gratifications for settling a matter of two private parties by exercising undue influence.
CBI laid a trap and one CBI officer was caught red-handed while he was accepting a packet of Rs. 7 lakh. Another packet of Rs. 7 lakh meant for delivery to another CBI officer and Rs. 1 lakh was recovered during investigation. All the four accused including the two private persons who offered the bribe and another CBI Officer were arrested.
Searches were  conducted at the residential premises and other places associated with the  accused persons which yielded a recovery of certain cash alongwith incriminating materials.
Further Investigation is in progress.

Jalandhar / New Delhi, May 19, 2013: According to Spokesperson of the CBI: “It is clarified that CBI has not ordered any internal enquiry against any of its officer/official in connection with alleged  prior 'leakage' of information pertaining to searches conducted  in Chandigarh in the Bribery for Promotion Case in the Railways . Such reports and allegations therein are incorrect, baseless and of malicious intent.”

This has been stated in a release issued today by CBI.

Jalandhar / New Delhi, May 21, 2013:  The Central Bureau of Investigation has yesterday arrested a private person, a resident of North Circuit House Area, Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) in a case relating to an alleged malpractice in Rajya Sabha Biennial Elections during March, 2012 in the state of Jharkhand, for which he was a Contestant.

According to the CBI spokesperson the accused was evading investigation since 1st week of April 2013. After a notice was issued for taking his clarification with regard to evidence brought on record against him, he evaded and filed application for Anticipatory Bail which was rejected on 5th April 2013. The person then registered his appearance before the Court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi and prayed for bail.

He said the Magistrate granted him bail to on the ground that the FIR has been lodged under bailable sections of IPC. The bail order was challenged in the superior court and the Court had canceled the bail order.

The CBI revealed that after the cancellation of his bail order, he was never found on his permanent address at Jamshedpur and was evading investigation.

He was also accused of having bribed the Members of Jharkhand Legislative Assembly for getting his nomination proposed and also for vote at election. Unaccounted cash worth about Rs. 2.15 crores was allegedly recovered from the employees of his son - in - law at Ranchi on the date of election.

However, this case was registered by CBI on a reference from the Election Commission of India with the directions of Jharkhand High Court relating to an alleged malpractice in Rajya Sabha elections during March, 2012 in the State of Jharkhand.

CBI took up the investigation in this case which was earlier registered under State Police at Namkum Police Station a Case (No.58/12 dated 30.03.2012) U/s 171(F), 188 r/w 34 of IPC, was registered.

The spokesperson said that the investigation process is in progress in the matter.

Jalandhar / New Delhi, May 22, 2013: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Safety In-charge of Indian Oil Corporation, Ambala cantt (Haryana) for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.6,000 from the Complainant.

CBI, on a complaint registered a case  under Prevention of Corruption Act on a complaint alleging demand of bribe of Rs.6,000 by Safety In-charge, Indian Oil Corporation, Ambala Cantt., for issuing safety certificate/green cards in respect of 5 vehicles/oil tankers of the complainant, failing which he will ban the vehicles/oil tankers of the complainant.

CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed while demanding & accepting bribe of Rs.6,000 from the complainant

Further investigation is on.

Dharamsala, May 22, 2013: President of India Pranab Mukherjee is visiting Himachal Pradesh a three-day visit from May 23 to 25.

At Shimla, Mukherjee will address the Members of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on May 24. On the same day, he will inaugurate the Tagore Centre for the Study of Culture and Civilisation and deliver the first Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Lecture at Indian Institute of Advanced Study.

He will also attend the annual convocation of Himachal Pradesh University on the same day.

On May 25, the President will be chief guest at the inaugural function of Maharaja Agrasen University at Kalujhanda in  Solan district.

Gurgaon (Haryana), May 23, 2013: Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh today laid the foundation stone of country’s first Indian National Defence University (INDU) at village Binola in Gurgaon district of Haryana.

Those present on this occasion, included Haryana Governor  Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister  Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Defence Minister  A.K. Antony, Foreign Affairs Minister  Salman Khurshid, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kumari Selja, Minister of State for Defence  Jitender Singh, Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjeet, Chief Parliamentary Secretary of Haryana  Dharambir, Badshahpur MLA Rao Dharampal,  Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Defence Advisor Shivshankar Menon and others.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that India faces a wide spectrum of security challenges, as it lives in a difficult neighborhood. There is a pronounced change in Asia, where multiple security challenges  on account of intersection of fragile states, internal conflicts, proliferation of arms and terrorist groups are existing. Besides this, we must also be cautious of our strategic opportunities. Although,  India’s security has never been so strong as it is today, yet it is imperative that our defence professionals remain abreast of the complex environment we face. Therefore, we must ensure that our thinkers and policymakers understand the complexities of the situation, the regional and global trends along with new and emerging technologies and developments in defence capabilities and strategies. It is with this point of view that the Committee headed by late Dr. K. Subrahmanyam proposed the establishment of the National Defence University to educate and adequately prepare national security leaders to look at security challenges holistically.

Dr. Manmohan Singh thanked the Haryana Chief Minister  Hooda for his generous support for the project of University and in particular for providing land in Gurgaon.

Haryana Chief Minister,  Hooda thanked the Prime Minister and Government of India for choosing Haryana as the venue of the prestigious Indian National Defence University. Setting up of the Defence University is a tribute to all soldiers of our country, he said.  Hooda said that there is an urgent need today, more than ever before, for creating awareness about the security concerns as well as challenges confronting the country. Defence University will be educating the leaders on matters of security and multi-disciplinary strategy. Hooda assured of all possible help and cooperation from Haryana Government for this University.

Hooda said that during past eight years, Haryana has made remarkable progress in almost every field. Today, it is number one state in per capita investment and also number one state in per capita income among bigger states. The credit of such an unprecedented progress goes to the able guidance of the Prime Minister and blessings of UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi, he said.

Hooda appreciated the gesture of the people of the two villages, Binola and Bilaspur for giving land for this prestigious University and announced Rs. 1 crore each for the development of the two villages.

Defence Minister, A. K. Antony said that laying of foundation of stone of Defence University shows the priority that the government attaches to the national security. He said that INDU will promote and nurture intellectual strength to our security concerns and cater to our needs of Defence Technology and Management. The University will be of international level and will be ready by 2018-19.

The need of having a National Defence University had been felt since long. Subrahmanyam committee prepared its blue print. About 200 acres of land for this was provided by the Haryana Government.

The four existing Defence Institutions- National Defence College, New Delhi, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune are proposed to be brought under the ambit of the Indian National Defence University. Initially, Four colleges related to Defence Studies, Defence Technology, Defence Management and Distance Learning to be set up in the University complex in Gurgaon.

(The author is a Jalandhar-based Journalist.)