DERECOGNIZE CONGRESS PARTY FOR INVOKING
RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS –TIKSHAN SUD URGES ELECTION COMMISSION
Chandigarh, July 16: Senior BJP leader and Punjab's Medical Education
Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud today urged Election Commission of India
demanding de-recognition of Indian National Congress for invoking
religion for securing votes of Members of Parliament for ensuing
No Trust Motion in Lok Sabha.
Mr. Sud referred to the statement of Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal,
President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, letter written by
Capt. Amarinder Singh ex-Chief Minister and scores of other Congress
leaders appealing to Shiromani Akali Dal MPs to vote and support
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister because he is the first Sikh
Prime Minister of India. He also referred to the statement of
various Congress leaders appealing to Akal Takhat to issue edict
to all Sikh Members of Parliament to vote in favour of Dr. Manmohan
Singh in Parliament.
The BJP leader said that Election Commission should immediately
intervene to de-recognize Indian National Congress as no political
party was supposed to entice voters or Members of Parliament to
vote on the basis of a particular religion or region as it was
against the basic spirit of our secular Constitution.
Expressing surprise over appeals emanating from Congress Party
on securing vote on total communal and regional lines, Mr. Sud
said that how a party seeking votes of MPs on pure communal and
regional lines could claim itself leading a secular and National
front? The BJP leader said that Congress MPs were riding a sinking
ship and rats of ally parties have already started deserting the
ship.
Mr. Sud said that BJP as a Nationalist Party has always worked
for unity and integrity of country and always fought against communal
and regional tendencies raising their ugly head. He said that
this appeal of Congress party securing votes on communal and regional
basis has exposed the real face of this morally bankrupt party.
CABINET APPROVES TO SLASH VAT ON CFLs
AND KARYANA ITEMS FROM 12.5% TO 4%
CHANDIGARH JULY 16, 2008
In a significant move to save electricity and encourage consumers
to use Compact Florescent Lamps (CFLs), the Punjab Government
today decided to slash the rate of VAT on Compact Florescent Lamps
(CFLs) under the Punjab VAT Act, 2005 from 12.5% to 4%.
Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr.
Harcharan Bains said that a decision to this effect was taken
in a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by the Punjab Chief
Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. The decision came into wake
on the persuasion of PHD Chamber & Commerce & Industry
during its recent meeting with the Chief Minister to reduce the
rate of VAT on CFLs in view of its growing popularity amongst
the consumers being energy saving lamps to conserve power.
The Cabinet also approved to reduce the rate of VAT on Mentha
oil from 12.5% to 4% in order to promote this crop in the state.
Likewise, the rate of VAT on the Karyana items like hing, khaskhas,
magaz of all kinds, singhara, darau kuttu, gond katira, kamarkas,
chasku, anardana, amla, ampapad, amb kutra, isubgol, guggal, hallon,
shikakai, sabudana, shora, soya, nishadar, fatkari, mushkapur,
methi patta and gari burada had also been reduced from 12.5% to
4%. The Cabinet also approved to reduce the VAT on Desi Ghee and
Sweetened Flavoured Milk from 12.5% to 4% to boost the dairy industry
in the state apart from considerable increase in the existing
revenue.
The Cabinet also gave approval for amending Section 3 and 3A
of Punjab Entertainment Tax (Cinematograph Shows) Act, 1954 through
a promulgation of an Ordinance for exemption in entertainment
tax to the Cinema owners in Punjab as extended to multiplexes
announced by the state Government.
The Cabinet also gave go ahead to the grant of exemption from
levy of VAT on raw materials and consumable procured by or sold
to Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
The Cabinet also approved to levy lumpsum tax on Dhaba owners
at the rate of Rs.10,000/- in case if their turnover was Rs.5
lac and above but less than Rs.15 lac, Rs.22,500/- in case if
their turnover was Rs. 15 lac and above but less than Rs.30 lac,
Rs.40,000 in case if their turnover was more Rs.30 lac and above
but less than Rs.50 lac, Rs.75,000/- in case if their turn over
was Rs. 50 lac and above but less than Rs.1 core, Rs.1,25000/-
in case if their turn over was Rs.1 crore and above but less than
Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.1,75000/- in case if their turn over was Rs.1.5
crore and above but less than Rs.2 crore.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab Agricultural Produce
Markets Act, 1961 through an Ordinance to extend the period from
six months to two years with effect from 18.5.2007 for reconstitution
of market committees by the government thereby vesting powers
for reconstitution of these committees upto 17.5.2009.
The Cabinet also gave a green signal amending the Punjab Entry
of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2000 that would now encompass the
items like Iron and Steel as mentioned in Section 14 of the Central
Sales Tax Act, Dyes & Chemicals, Job Work, and Shoddy and
Waste yarn.
Keeping in view the acute shortage of staff in the Information
& Public Relations Department, the Cabinet gave its approval
to recruit 16 Information & Public Relations Officers, 24
Assistant Public Relations Officers on regular basis besides supporting
staff on contract basis. Likewise, the Cabinet also approved to
fill up the 5 vacant posts of Food Inspectors by direct recruitment
in the Health & Family Welfare Department.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Punjab Civil Services
(Executive Branch) (Class-I) Rules, 1976 for enhancement of the
age limit from 45 years to 54 years for nominating officers/official
who are to be inducted to PCS (EB) through Register A-I, A-II,
A-III and 'C'. The Cabinet also approved to amend the Rule 19
of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules,
1970.
The Cabinet also approved to enhance the monthly maintenance
grant to Operation Blue Star affected 27 soldiers (Dharmi Faujis)
from Rs.1500 to Rs.3000 per month and their 93 dependents of killed
or untraced faujis from Rs.2500 to Rs.5000 per month.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab Municipal Election
Rules, 1994- as per observations and recommendations of Committee
on Subordinate Legislation of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Apart from
this the Cabinet also approved the amendment in Rules, 1996 of
Old Age Pension and other Financial Assistance Schemes of Punjab
State.
The Shiromani Akali Dal today declared
that it will vote against the anti-Panth, anti-Punjab, anti-poor
and anti-farmer Congress party in the trust vote in parliament
on July 22.
Chandigarh July 16, 2008
The Shiromani Akali Dal today declared that it will vote against
the anti-Panth, anti-Punjab, anti-poor and anti-farmer Congress
party in the trust vote in parliament on July 22.
"The hand of the Congress is spattered with the blood of
thousands of innocent Sikhs and Punjabis who had made unparalleled
sacrifices for the country. There is no way the SAD or anyone
who loves Punjab can side with it. The Congress led government
has lost the confidence of the nation and must be voted out for
its miserable performance on all fronts over the past four and
half years.," a party statement issued after a meeting of
the Core Committee held here yesterday late night.
Endorsing the statement issued by the Punjab Chief Minister
and party patron Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the Core Committee said
that his party 'expresses complete lack of trust in the Congress
that had rolled tanks into the Golden Temple, massacred thousands
of innocent Sikhs in 1984, systematically discriminated against
the Sikhs and Punjabis on all economic, political, territorial
and river waters issues'.
The Congress is the number one enemy of the Sikhs. How could
any conscientious Sikh or Punjabi endorse the army assault on
the holy Akal Takhat Sahib and forgive the Congress for depriving
Punjab of its legitimate rights. The Core Committee further said
that the Congress
conspiracy to weaken the Panth were still on as was evident from
the efforts of the Congress government in Haryana to break the
SGPC, the apex body of the Sikhs by setting up a parallel religious
body," said the Core Committee statement.
The four and half year term of the present Congress government
had bled the poorest of the poor with inflation hitting a record
13%, the highest in the past sixty years, and unemployment
assuming alarming proportions. The galloping prices had broken
the back of the common man. "By Congress' own admission,
thirty per cent of the country's population lives on less than
Rs twenty a day. This government deserves to be voted out on the
issue of price rise alone."
The Committee lashed out those who wanted the party to back
the anti-Punjab Congress on the trust vote. "The Congress
party had consistently followed policies that crushed Punjab's
peasantry,
forcing thousands of them to resort to suicides. Do they expect
us to condon the economic exploitation of and discrimination against
the state in agriculture debt waiver? Does Congress deserve our
vote for giving just one percent of the agricultural debt waiver
to the Punajbi
farmer who contributes nearly 60 per cent to the national food
kitty? Should we vote in favour of the Congress-led UPA government
which turned down the recommendations fo the Agricultural Prices
Commission for paddy MSP of Rs. 1000 and gave only Rs. 850 per
quintal. This is
the first time that the government fixed MSP much below the recommendations
of the APC. The government imported food-grains at Rs. 2000 p.q.
while it paid only Rs. 1000 p.q. to our own farmers.
This is a cruel joke with the country's beleaguered peasantry.
The Congress govt. had completely mismanaged the economy. Can
a party that had presided over the collapse of the economy have
a right to manage the national affairs for even a day longer?
And can a party that consistently denied justice to the state
deserve any sympathy from the Sikhs and Punjabis?
The statement said that the state had been subjected to a policy
of deliberate discrimination through the denial of any major industrial
project to the state, and by weakening the Punjab economy by giving
special concessions to its neighboring states. Punjabis in general
and
the Sikhs in particular had been deprived of even their legitimate
place in the armed forces through consistent scaling down of their
presence. By voting for the Congress, we would be endorsing the
Congress act of trying to cut the very life line of the state's
economy, the river waters. Such a government should be voted out
at he earliest.
YOUTH AKALI DAL COMES TO THE AID OF FIVE
BASE BALL PLAYERS
Chandigarh July 16, 2008
It was dream come true for five women players of Indias' National
Team, selected to represent India in Women World Base Ball Championship
to be held in Japan from August 24 to August 29, as Mr. Bikram
Singh Majithia, Patron Youth Akali Dal handed over to them bank
drafts of Rs 50,000 to each player totaling to 2.5 lacs to enable
them to participate in the tournament.
Navdeep Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Kuljeet Kaur, Sukhjit Kaur and
Daljit Kaur were thrilled when they were given the honor to represent
India in Base Ball World Cup in 18 members squad selected after
trials in the month of November last year. But their joy was short
lived. They were informed by the members of Sports Council of
India that Union Government would not be paying any money to enable
them to participate in the World Cup and they would have to shell
out Rs. 50,000 each from their own pocket to represent India.
All girls from middle class background were shell shocked as collecting
Rs. 50,000 was beyond their wild imagination. Their plight was
highlighted by a section of media.
The case was brought to the notice of Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia,
Patron Youth Akali Dal when he was in Ludhiana to inaugurate mass
blood donation camp organized by Youth Akali Dal. Mr. Majithia
promised to ensure safe passage of these players to Japan as Youth
Akali Dal under the leadership of S. Sukhbir Singh Badal was committed
to harness the full potential of Punjabi Youth and channelise
their energy in a fruit full endevours. He said that though it
was the responsibility of Union Sports Ministry to ensure passage
of these players to Japan but keeping in view urgency in this
case Youth Akali Dal decided to contribute Rs. 2.5 lac for this
noble casue.
Within 24 hours the cadre of Youth Akali Dal led by S. Bikram
Singh Majithia collected 2.5 lac and today girls joy knew no bounds
as they were handed over Rs. 50,000 each by Mr. Majithia.
Speaking on this occasion Mr. Majithia said that it is the most
touching moment in my life when I have been able to realize the
dream of five budding players of my state. Mr. Majithia said that
besides money, the Youth Akali Dal was sending them the good wishes
of 2.5 crores Punjabis who want that a team represented by five
Punjabi Players should bring laurels for the country.
Recounting their experience the players said that they could
have never thought that cadres of a political party would come
forward to enable them to participate in World Cup. All the five
players belong to Guru Nanak Khalsa College for women Ludhiana
and have represented country in six school national, six open
junior national, two senior national, two inter-college and one
University tournament.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included
S. Sharnajit Singh Dhillon MLA, Inderbir Singh Bularia MLA(Amritsar
South), Harsakhinder Singh Bubby Badal, Simranjit Singh Bains
president Youth Akali Dal Ludhiana, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Darshan
Singh Shivalik, Balwinder Singh Fatehpur, Parminder Singh Soma,
Jagbir Singh Sokhi, Kamaljit Singh (all councilors).
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO SET UP FOUR WATER
TREATMENT PLANTS TO SAVE KALIBEIN FROM POLLUTION
CHANDIGARH JULY 16, 2008
The Punjab Government today decided to setup four water treatment
plants to fight water pollution in the river Kalibein of great
historic and religious importance, as a part of the on-going onslaught
against environmental threats in the State. The four water treatment
plants would setup in at Bhulath, Begowal, Tanda and Dasuya towns
along the banks of the river Kalibein. The entire project would
involve a cost of nearly Rs.27 crore.
A decision to this effect was taken here today a meeting between
Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal and Sant Balbir Singh
Seechewal of Nirmal Kuteya Seechewal in Jalandhar district, who
had been actively involved in the cleansing of river Kalibein
through Karsewa for past many years and won several accolades
both at national as well as international level.
Mr.Badal assured Sant Seechewal that the State Government would
extend fulsome support and cooperation to him for this mission.
He also informed Sant Seechewal that State Government would allot
one motor connection in each village along the banks of river
Kalibein to pump out pond water for irrigation and to check its
flow into the kalibein. Mr. Badal also called upon other voluntary,
social, religious and non government organizations to come forward
to tackle the menace of water pollution in the state which had
caused an enormous threat to the very existence to the human beings.
Prominent among others, who attended the meeting included Chief
Secretary Mr.R.I.Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,
Mr.D.S.Guru, Coordinator Kalibein Project Mr.P.Ram, Secretary
Housing & Urban Development Mr.Arun Goel, MD PIDB Mr.S.S.Sandhu,
Executive Director Punjab State Council for Science and Technology
Mr.N.S.Tiwana, besides the officers of Irrigation, Local Government
and Water Supply and Sanitation Departments. Sant Seechewal was
accompanied by Sant Surjit Singh on this occasion.
CABINET APPROVES TO SLASH VAT ON CFLs AND KARYANA ITEMS
FROM 12.5% TO 4%
CHANDIGARH JULY 16, 2008
In a significant move to save electricity and encourage consumers
to use Compact Florescent Lamps (CFLs), the Punjab Government
today decided to slash the rate of VAT on Compact Florescent Lamps
(CFLs) under the Punjab VAT Act, 2005 from 12.5% to 4%.
Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr.
Harcharan Bains said that a decision to this effect was taken
in a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by the Punjab Chief
Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. The decision came into wake
on the persuasion of PHD Chamber & Commerce & Industry
during its recent meeting with the Chief Minister to reduce the
rate of VAT on CFLs in view of its growing popularity amongst
the consumers being energy saving lamps to conserve power.
The Cabinet also approved to reduce the rate of VAT on Mentha
oil from 12.5% to 4% in order to promote this crop in the state.
Likewise, the rate of VAT on the Karyana items like hing, khaskhas,
magaz of all kinds, singhara, darau kuttu, gond katira, kamarkas,
chasku, anardana, amla, ampapad, amb kutra, isubgol, guggal, hallon,
shikakai, sabudana, shora, soya, nishadar, fatkari, mushkapur,
methi patta and gari burada had also been reduced from 12.5% to
4%. The Cabinet also approved to reduce the VAT on Desi Ghee and
Sweetened Flavoured Milk from 12.5% to 4% to boost the dairy industry
in the state apart from considerable increase in the existing
revenue.
The Cabinet also gave approval for amending Section 3 and 3A
of Punjab Entertainment Tax (Cinematograph Shows) Act, 1954 through
a promulgation of an Ordinance for exemption in entertainment
tax to the Cinema owners in Punjab as extended to multiplexes
announced by the state Government.
The Cabinet also gave go ahead to the grant of exemption from
levy of VAT on raw materials and consumable procured by or sold
to Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
The Cabinet also approved to levy lumpsum tax on Dhaba owners
at the rate of Rs.10,000/- in case if their turnover was Rs.5
lac and above but less than Rs.15 lac, Rs.22,500/- in case if
their turnover was Rs. 15 lac and above but less than Rs.30 lac,
Rs.40,000 in case if their turnover was more Rs.30 lac and above
but less than Rs.50 lac, Rs.75,000/- in case if their turn over
was Rs. 50 lac and above but less than Rs.1 core, Rs.1,25000/-
in case if their turn over was Rs.1 crore and above but less than
Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.1,75000/- in case if their turn over was Rs.1.5
crore and above but less than Rs.2 crore.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab Agricultural Produce
Markets Act, 1961 through an Ordinance to extend the period from
six months to two years with effect from 18.5.2007 for reconstitution
of market committees by the government thereby vesting powers
for reconstitution of these committees upto 17.5.2009.
The Cabinet also gave a green signal amending the Punjab Entry
of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2000 that would now encompass the
items like Iron and Steel as mentioned in Section 14 of the Central
Sales Tax Act, Dyes & Chemicals, Job Work, and Shoddy and
Waste yarn.
Keeping in view the acute shortage of staff in the Information
& Public Relations Department, the Cabinet gave its approval
to recruit 16 Information & Public Relations Officers, 24
Assistant Public Relations Officers on regular basis besides supporting
staff on contract basis. Likewise, the Cabinet also approved to
fill up the 5 vacant posts of Food Inspectors by direct recruitment
in the Health & Family Welfare Department.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Punjab Civil Services
(Executive Branch) (Class-I) Rules, 1976 for enhancement of the
age limit from 45 years to 54 years for nominating officers/official
who are to be inducted to PCS (EB) through Register A-I, A-II,
A-III and 'C'. The Cabinet also approved to amend the Rule 19
of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules,
1970.
The Cabinet also approved to enhance the monthly maintenance
grant to Operation Blue Star affected 27 soldiers (Dharmi Faujis)
from Rs.1500 to Rs.3000 per month and their 93 dependents of killed
or untraced faujis from Rs.2500 to Rs.5000 per month.
The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab Municipal Election
Rules, 1994- as per observations and recommendations of Committee
on Subordinate Legislation of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Apart from
this the Cabinet also approved the amendment in Rules, 1996 of
Old Age Pension and other Financial Assistance Schemes of Punjab
State.
TRANSFERS OF OFFICERS CONDUCTING REVISION
OF ELECTORAL ROLLS ONLY WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF ELECTION COMMISION
Chandigarh, July 16, 2008
The Punjab Government today directed that no key officer like
District Registration Officers, Booth Level Officers connected
with the exercise of revision of electoral rolls would be transferred
from their places of postings without prior concurrence of the
State Election Commission.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Department of Personnel
Punjab said that the existing provisions of the Representation
of People Act, 1950 stipulates, the any officer or staff employed
in connection with the preparation, revision and correction of
electoral rolls would be deemed to be on deputation to the Election
Commission for the period during which they were so employed and
such officer and staff during the period be subject to the control,
superintendence and discipline of the Election Commission. Therefore,
no key officer connected with the exercise of revision of electoral
rolls like District Registration Officers, Booth Level Officers
would be transferred from their places of postings without prior
concurrence of the Election Commission. He emphasized that in
case it becomes absolutely necessary to make any transfer of the
key election officers connected with the revision of rolls or
there was any need for shifting of officers due to their promotions
etc., the Election Commission would consider the same on merits
on a case to case basis. Any proposal for inevitable transfer
would be sent to the Commission giving detailed and full justification
for the same. Adding further, he said that all vacant posts related
to above exercise would be filled up immediately.
He added that readjustment of constituencies notified by the
Delimitation Commission would take effect from 19th February,
2008 and this had necessitated the reconstruction of the electoral
rolls for each newly delimitated constituency. Though an annual
revision with the same qualifying date had already been ordered
by the Election Commission for the purpose, the time schedule
for the preparation of photo electoral rolls in the State of Punjab
had been fixed from 2-7-2008 to 30-8-2008.
He said that in case it becomes absolutely necessary to make
any transfer of the key election officers connected with the revision
of rolls or there was any need for shifting of officers due to
their promotions etc., the Election Commission may be consulted
through the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
PUNJAB ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS TO CLEAR ALL
CASES OF COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT WITHIN TWO MONTHS
Chandigarh, July 16, 2008
The Punjab Government today issued instructions to all Heads
of Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners
and Sub Divisional Magistrates in the State to clear that all
pending cases of compassionate appointments within two months.
According to an official spokesman it has come to the notice
of government that appointments for group 'C' & 'D' posts
on compassionate grounds are pending in various departments due
to various reasons, resulting in financial difficulty to the families
of deceased employees. The spokesman said that all departments
have been instructed to clear all pending cases within two months.
All departments have been instructed to file a compliance report
in this regard to the government.
MEDICAL FEE HIKE : SMELL OF SCAM IN IT
RACHPAL SINGH JOREMAJRA, GENERAL SECREATRY, PCC
ALLEGES PCC general secretary – PROBE demanded
Chandigarh July 16, 2008
Rachpal Singh Joremajra, general secretary of Punjab Pradesh
Congress committee has demanded the inquiry from an independent
agency regarding the hike of fee structure of private medico colleges
last year.
In a statement issued here today he said Punjab chief minister
has been falsely showing his concern regarding the plight of medical
students.
Referring the statement issued in media of Punjab chief minister
Parkash Singh Badal that the medical education's BJP minister
Tikhsan sood was responsible for fee hike in private medical colleges,
Joremajra questioned that if Punjab chief minister will not control
its BJP brigade in the state he should have resigned the chief
minister ship handover the reigns of the state to the opposition
leader Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
He said that the statement of Badal indicated and proved that
something was fishy in fee structure hike scam, by this Badal
wanted to be sidelined from this scam.
He said that Punjab Congress will take this matter to the people's
court and will expose the corrupt practices if BJP minster and
his department.
He alleged that BJP minister Tikhshan Sood Medical education
secretary and director of medical education have entered a deal
with private medical colleges last year and created the road block
for meritorious students.
He said that Punjab government has been delivering crocodile
tears and giving benefit to private houses that have been running
medical colleges for business not as service for the public.
Joremajra further added the students from poor backgrounds have
been selling their house hold things and jewellry to pay fee of
year wards. t was difficult to the students who have applied for
MBBS course after looking fee for both Government and management
quota was 1. 00 lac but with entering deal with private colleges
medical education department has raised fee for three times.
