PUNJAB, CANADA VOW TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO FACE THE GLOBAL MELTDOWN

Chandigarh, January 6:

Mr. Sukh Dhaliwal, Member Canadian Federal Parliament from British Columbia today called on Punjab Co-operation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh here at Punjab Bhawan and deliberated on various issues of bilateral interests especially the need for more exchange in the fields of education, latest agri- techniques, agro processing, agro forestry, packaging and power sectors.

Welcoming the Canadian MP, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh appreciated the concerted efforts being made by the Punjabis in strengthening the Canadian economy and underscored the need to have closer co-operation between the two countries. He stressed the need to chalk out collective strategy to meet the challenges posed by global economic meltdown. He further said that keeping in view the fact that Punjab and British Columbia, both have agriculture as their mainstay, could compliment each other's efforts.

Taking part in the deliberation, Mr. Dhaliwal evinced keen interest in playing a significant role in enhancing the cooperation between two states and was quite impressed with the strides made by the Punjab in upgrading its infrastructure. Both the leaders also discussed at length the impact of economic recession throughout the world and expressed confidence that this trend would not continue for a longer period

VIGILANCE NABBED 2 GOs & 13 NGOs, TWO CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASES

Chandigarh January 6:

State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested two Gazzetted Officers (GOs) and thirteen Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) in fourteen different cases in last month and was able to secure the conviction of two accused in two vigilance cases.

Disclosing this here today Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SSP-cum-Joint Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.

Mr. Bhullar added that during the last month of December the Vigilance had nabbed fifteen corrupt public servants which includes three Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) officials, two revenue officials and three health department employees red handed accepting bribes in different cases. During this period VB had registered three criminal cases and two vigilance enquiries against the suspect officials to probe into the allegations during the month of December 2008.

Giving details he added that the special courts have sentenced two NGOs in two different vigilance cases after finding them guilty for one year to two years imprisonment.

Badal takes up issue of CCI's withdrawal from cotton procurement

PM directs CCI to start procurement from tomorrow

Chandigarh January 6:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's personal intervention to direct the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to immediately resume its purchase and procurement operations of cotton in wake of its sudden withdrawal from these operations.

Mr. Badal raised the issue of withdrawal of Cotton Corporation of India from the purchase and procurement operations of cotton in Punjab during the high level meeting of Chief Minister's and Home Minister's to discuss the issues relating to preparedness of nation to prevent terrorists attack under the Chairmanship of Dr. Manmohan Singh held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi saying that the arbitrary action of CCI has not only created hardships to the cotton grower of the state but has also resulted in the law and order situation in the state in general and particularly in the Malwa belt.

Responding to the concern expressed by Mr. Badal, the Prime Minister directed the authorities of CCI to resume its Purchase and Procurement operation of Cotton in the state tomorrow and assured Mr. Badal that the Centre was committed to complete the entire procurement operations of cotton to be undertaken by CCI without any inconvenience either to the farmers or the state administration.

Later during the lunch session Mr. Badal also briefed the Prime Minister about the law and order situation arising out of the apathetic attitude of CCI towards Punjab Farmer's. Dr. Manmohan Singh assured Mr. Badal that he would personally intervene the matter and monitor its progress so that the entire procurement operations were not only completed in time but also ensure that the cotton procure from farmers at the prescribed minimum support price.

It may be recalled here that the state Chief Minister and the President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal had a several rounds of meeting with the Prime Minister, Union Agriculture Minister and Union Textile Minister to resolve this issue at the earliest as it could foment the law and order situation in the state.

PRESS RELEASE

Chandigarh January 6:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today strongly advocated the need for putting the proposed National Investigating Agency a coordinating role for controlling the menace of terrorism in the country. While addressing the conference of all the Chief Ministers of the states today in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Mr. Badal also advocated that the State Police Forces be adequately equipped and modernized as only a state police force was in a position to understand the ground realities.

Referring to the Mumbai terrorist strikes, Mr. Badal said that these tragic incidents has enforced the case for equipping the local security infrastructure. He said that if care had been taken to prepare the local police for dealing with terrorism, "we would not have been forced to fly commandos from Delhi and Chandi Mandir to deal with the foreign terrorist. Precious time was lost in sending commandos to Mumbai. As every body knows, time is of the greatest essence in dealing with terror".

Mr. Badal assured the gathering that Punjab would continue to remain in the fore front of any battle forced on the country. He recalled the sacrifices made by Punjabis before and since Independence for the national cause.

Striking an emotional chord, Mr. Badal said, "We in Punjab are inspired by the patriotic example set before us by our great heroes like Sardar Bhagat Singh and by the vision of our great Gurus."

Mr. Badal said that the centre needed to make a significant investment in strengthening the state police forces. Up to now, he said, the role of the Centre in this regard has been short of expectation.

Referring to cross border terrorism, Mr.Badal said that there was an urgent need for fine tuning the intelligence net work. "One of the greatest weapons in the hands of the terrorists is the element of surprise. The only way to neutralize this is to have advance information about their activities and designs." The Chief Minister vehemently pleaded the case for the release of a special package of Rs.300 crore for the modernization of State Police Machinery to make it efficient, result oriented in order to effectively combat the terrorism within the state and onslaught of external insurgency across the border.

Raising the issue of cross border terrorism Mr. Badal also mentioned that geographically we are close to the terrorism exporting countries as the Drug Mafia and Smugglers dealing in illegal trafficking of arms & ammunitions had created an atmosphere of unrest and insurgency in our state. He advocated that this aspect which had lot many social & economic manifestations should be addressed on top priority and dealt with severely.

Distinguishing between domestic and external terrorism, Mr. Badal said that we need to understand reasons that lead our own people to take to arms. This, he said, has to be seen as a separate form of threat.

The Chief Minister said that the threat to internal security also comes from left wing extremism which was on the rise in the country. Major reasons for this are poverty; unemployment had economic disparity, lack of basic amenities like housing, health etc. proper education and affordable medical treatment to the poor has gone out of reach of the common man. The forces of left wing extremism are exploiting this situation, Mr. Badal added.

EDUCATION MINISTER UPINDERJIT KAUR CONDOLES- THE DEATH OF KANWAR IMTIAZ

Chandigarh, January 6, 2008

The Education and Languages Minister Punjab Dr. Upinderjit Kaur today expressed profound grief and sorrow at the sad demise of noted Punjabi writer Mr Kanwar Imtiaz. who passed away today at his house at Sidhwan Dona in distt Kapurthala after heart attack.

In a condolence message Dr. Upinderjit Kaur condoled that in the death of Mr Kanwar Imtiaz, Punjab as well as literary world has lost a writer and critic, whose writings gave it a new identity and a social purpose. Mr Kanwar Imtiaz, as pillar of Punjabi literature had contributed a lot to the Punjabi language and literature with his literary books, would be ever remembered by one and all, she added.

The Education Minister expressed heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to give strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to the departed soul.