CM ASKS DGP TO INITIATE STRICT ACTION AGAINST CHANNEL FOR SHOWING DISRESPECT TO BHAGWAN VALMIK JI

CHANDIGARH OCTOBER 12:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Director General of Police Mr. PS Gill to thoroughly investigate the incident of blasphemy in which the Star Plus channel in one of its episode of ‘Bidaai’ serial on October 6, had allegedly made certain objectionable and derogatory remarks with reference to Bhagwan Valmik ji and sought examplenary punishment for the guilty involved in the incident.

An assurance to this effect was given by the Chief Minister to a high level delegation of Valmik Samaj led by its President Mr. Raj Kumar Atikay in a meeting here this morning.

The Chief Minister described this unfortunate incident as a deliberate attempt to disturb the congenial atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in the state and said; “It has not only hurt the sentiments of Valmik Samaj but also stirred the emotions of the people in general”. He reiterated that peace, communal harmony and religious tolerance in Punjab would be maintained at all costs and no one will be allowed to play with the religious sentiments of the people.

Meanwhile, Mr. Badal also called the Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Mrs.Ambika Soni on telephone and apprised her about the matter and urged her to immediately initiate action against the channel for violation of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.

The state government had already amended the Section 295-A by invoking special provisions to make the law far stricter as non-bailable offence and enhancing the sentence from three to seven years, added Mr. Badal.
It may be recalled that acting on the complaint lodged by the Valmik Samaj, the Jalandhar SSP has sent a special team of police personnel to Mumbai for preliminary investigations and a case has already been registered against the producer, director, script writer besides the actors involved in the controversial episode under Section 295-A, 153-A of IPC.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Principal Secretary Home Mr.AR Talwar, DGP Mr. PS Gill, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema.

Both Mr. Paramjit Singh Sidhwan and Mr. Gurvinder Singh have assumed the charge of their new assignments, added the spokesman.

PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT TO HAVE THREE MORE JUDGES

Chandigarh October 12: Mr. Justice Tirath Singh Thakur, Chief Justice Punjab and Haryana High Court today administered oath to Justice Mohinder Singh Sullar, Sessions Judge Rohtak, Justice Ram Chand Gupta, Registrar General High Court and Justice Gurdev Singh, Sessions Judge Jallandhar who got their warrants of appointment as Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court. According to the High Court sources, with the elevation of judges the strength of the judges at the High Court has gone up to 48 as against the approved strength of 68.

VILLAGE SHAMBHU (MUGHAL SARAI) WOULD BE
DEVELOPED AS TOURIST DESTINATION-GABRIA

Chandigarh October 12
S. Hira Singh Gabria, Tourism & Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab disclosed here today that village Shambhu would be developed as tourist destination.

He said that an outlay of Rs. 55.69 lac was made in the annual plan 2009-10 for this project. This project would be executed by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. A consultant had been already appointed and work had been allocated.

Mr. Gabria further said that this project was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (GoI), at a total estimated cost of Rs. 435.88 lac with the funding pattern of Rs. 290.58 lac- GoI and Rs. 145.30 lac state share. An amount of Rs. 232.46 lac had already been received from GoI. The remaining amount of Rs. 58.12 would be reimbursed to the state government soon.

ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED

Chandigarh, October 11
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Khariff Season through Canal water from 15-10-2009 to 22-10-2009. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch respectively.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A' being in the First preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilised in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in Group 'B'.

The spokesman also said that the Sabraon Branch with its distributaries being in the channels of first Preference would run to their indent and balance water would be supplies water available in Kasur Branch Lower, Main Branch Lower, Lahore Branch, with their distributaries respectively.