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BADAL ASKS FOR SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR MODERNIZATION OF
STATE POLICE TO COMBAT NAXALISM
CHANDIGARH MAY 20:
In view of twin threats of enhanced terrorist activities and emerging threat of Naxalism, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought personal intervention of Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram for immediate release of Rs.120 crore as a special package to maintain law and order situation on one hand and to combat any exigency arising out of the threat perceptions posed by the naxal/various terrorist groups in the state on the other.
The Chief Minister called on Mr. Chidambaram in his office at New Delhi this evening and apprised him about the law and order situation in the state. Mr. Badal however said that although Punjab was not affected by naxal violence so far yet some frontal organizations of naxalites were now actively organizing themselves thereby posing a great threat to the congenial atmosphere in the state.
Mr. Badal impressed upon the Union Home Minister to change the category ‘B’ to category ‘A’ of Punjab for central funding of modernization plan. He mentioned that Punjab was presently in category 'B' for central funding of modernization plan in which Central and State Governments provide 75% & 25% share respectively. He also requested that Punjab should be shifted into 'A' category, which would make it eligible for 100% central grant for modernization.
Raising an issue to increase the annual action plan for modernization of police from Rs. 61 crore to Rs. 100 crore, Mr. Badal said that the plan size for the state for 2010·11 was Rs. 61 crore against plan size of Rs 64.20 crore during 2005-06. He however said that this plan was insufficient to meet the requirements for modernization and capacity building, as the militant outfits had an advantage of latest technology, weaponry and financial support from abroad. Henceforth, Mr. Badal requested that the plan size should be increased to Rs. 100 crore.
Referring to another issue for raising two India Reserve Battalions in the state, Mr. Badal mentioned that Punjab had been sanctioned to raise 7 India Reserve Battalions. Considering the ongoing increase in terrorist and Naxalite activities in the state, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Chidambaram to seek Home Ministry’s permission to raise two more IR Battalions along with requisite central assistance.
The Chief Minister also sought one-time financial assistance of Rs. 20 crore for capacity building of State Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police. He emphasized the need for strengthening the State Special Branch/Intelligence Whig of Punjab Police because a professionally trained intelligence cadre, armed with latest weaponry and technical gadgets and having adequate infrastructure support was not only necessary but also the need of the hour.
Mr. Chidambaram assured the Chief Minister of positive response and said that he would soon convene a meeting of the concerned officers of his Ministry to resolve all the pending issues on the priority. He also said that Centre would extend all necessary support and cooperation to the state government for maintaining law & order besides ensuring safety and security of the people including sanctioning of additional funds.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan New Delhi Mr. K Siva Parsad.
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SUKHBIR FOR UNITED CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE PUNJABI
LANGUAGE ITS DUE STATUS
PUNJAB TO APPROACH HIMACHAL FOR DUE STATUS TO PUNJABI
LANGUAGE 17 CONFERRED SHIROMANI LANGUAGE AWARDS
Chandigarh May 20: 17 famous Writers, Littérateurs, Journalists, theater personalities and singers were conferred Shiromani Awards for the year 2009 with the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal giving a call to all Punjabi language loving people to launch a united campaign to accord it due status in all Punjabi speaking areas of the Country.
In a massive ceremonial function held here at Law Auditorium of Punjab University famous Punjabi Writer Mr. Kartar Singh Duggal was conferred Punjabi Sahit Ratan Award. Mr. Piara Singh Bhogal (Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar), Mr. Ravinder Kalia (Shiromani Hindi Sahitkar), Mr. Rajinder Nath Rehbar (Shiromani Urdu Sahitkar), Mr. Jagdish Prasad Semwal (Shiromani Sanskrit Sahitkar), Mr. Jaswant Deed (Shiromani Punjabi Poet), Mr. Rajinder Singh Bhaseen (Shiromani Punjabi Gian Sahitkar), Mr. Darshan Gill (Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar, NRI), Mr. Mohan Kahlon , (Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar, outside Punjab), Mr. Mahinder Singh Mannupuri, (Shiromani Punjabi children literature writer), Mr. H.S. Bawa (Shiromani Punjabi Journalist), Mr. Sharif Eidu (Shiromani Dhadi), Mr. Om Puri (Shiromani Punjabi Theater Artist) Mr. Paramjit Singh Sidhu alias Pammi Bai (Shiromani Punjabi Singer) and Mr. Raghbir Singh Sirjana (Shiromani Punjabi Sahitak Patarkar) were also honoured by Deputy Chief Minister in this function.
Mr. Tej Parkash Singh Sandhu, Renowned Photographer and Dr. Rup Singh, Sikh scholar were also conferred with special prizes. On this occasion commendation certificates were also presented to Mr. Abhishekh Jain, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate, Hamirpur, Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma (IAS probationer) and Mr. Balwinder Singh for their significant contribution in promotion of Punjabi Language.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Badal that it was imperative for every Punjabi to promote his culture, language and a spirit of Punjabiat through out the world. He said that we can not promote the Punjabi language till we all adopt this language as day to day spoken language in our homes. “We must think in Punjabi, speak in Punjabi and dream in Punjabi to promote this language in real way”, he quipped.
Congratulating the Bibi Upinderjit Kaur and Language Department for adopting a missionary approach for promoting this language, Mr. Badal said that after making a small breakthrough in Union Territory Chandigarh, the Punjab would soon approach Himachal Pradesh to give due status to Punjabi in Punjabi speaking areas. He expressed happiness that Haryana and New Delhi have already accorded second language status to Punjabi. Mr. Badal said that these states should take up the task of encouraging and patronizing the Punjabi language with renewed zeal to fulfill the aspirations of Punjabi community residing to their states. This would go a long way in promoting the cause of this great language in unity with diversity of India, he added.
He further said that the State government had already promulgated two legislations to ensure proper and official use of Punjabi in all the offices and subordinate courts. Besides, it had also been made compulsory for learning and teaching of Punjabi language in all the schools from standard I to X whether run by any Society, Trust, Board, Management or any central school etc.
Giving a call to promote and preserve Punjabi Culture, Mr. Badal said that after organizing World Kabbadi to promote Punjabi game Kabbadi, the government was giving due attention to Hockey also.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Education and Language Minister Punjab said that it was honour for state government d to honour such learned writers, journalists and artists who have made significant contribution in promoting as well as preserving Punjabi language and culture. She informed that the state government was also making concerted efforts to promote Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit languages also. She revealed that keeping in view the contribution of Punjabi journalist settled abroad in promoting mother language Punjabi, the state government has decided to set up Shiromani Punjabi Patarkar Award for those journalists from the year 2010 onwards.
Bibi Mohinder Kaur Josh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Education and Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary Education and Languages also spoke on the occasion.
It may be mentioned here that Shiromani Punjabi Sahit Ratan Award includes Rs. 5,00,000/- while other Shiromani Awards includes 2,50,000/- along with a medal and a plaque. The Special prizes includes Rs.2,00,000/- for each recipient.
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FM ANNOUNCES 8% DA FOR PUNJAB GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Chandigarh, May 20:
S. Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister Punjab has announced to enhance the rate of dearness allowance (DA) payable to the State Government employees from 27 percent to 35 percent w.e.f. January 1, 2010 on the pattern of Central Government Employees.
S. Badal said that the grant of 8 percent DA would put additional liability of Rs.713.89 crore on the state exchequer for the current financial year. The Minister also said that the decision would also benefit the pensioners and they would be paid 8% ADA.
Adding further he said that the arrears of the DA till 31st May 2010 would be deposited in the GPF of the employees and would be paid in cash from June 1, 2010.
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MILKFED MULLS JOINT VENTURE IN DAIRY FARMING WITH FONTERRA-
NEW ZEALANAD DAIRY COOPERATIVE ORGANISATION
CHANIDGARH MAY 20:
A two-member team of the Fonterra - New Zealand’s largest Dairy Cooperative comprising Mr. David Broad, General Manager International Operation and Mr. Hamish Govans, Sales Manager today visited Punjab on invitation from Milkfed.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Punjab Cooperation Department said that the Fonterra Officers visited Dairy Farms and Milk Procurement Societies of Milk Union, Ludhiana and Mohali. The Fonterra Officers were also shown various Milk Processing facilities at Milk Plant, Ludhiana and were explained the working of Cooperative Dairy Sector by Mr. H.S. Grewal, General Manager, Milk Union, Ludhiana. The Officers of Fonterra also visited Cattle Feed Plant at Khanna and Modern Semen Station at Khanna. They were also shown the latest Bye Pass Protein Plant established at Khanna. The Officers evinced keen interest in the Dairy Cooperative System of Punjab and working of the Milkfed. They were highly impressed by seeing the Dairy Farming pattern in the State.
Subsequently, the interactive session of officers of Fonterra was held with senior officers of state cooperation department and Milkfed to explore possibilities for setting up joint ventures in the dairy farming with Fonterra. The officers of Fonterra were apprised about the progress made by Milkfed during last 3-4 years and the ever increasing trends in the turnover of Milkfed Punjab from 22-25% and the successful experiment of larger scale Dairy Farming in the Punjab.
Later, Mr. David Broad made a presentation highlighting the functioning of Fonterra and compared the working of Dairy Cooperatives in India and Newzealand. He shared New Zealand experiences of Development of Dairy Farms in the countries like China and Sri Lanka for benefit of officers of Punjab, so that any of the activity needed for boosting Dairy Development in Punjab could be replicated by Milkfed. Some possibilities of establishing big Dairy Farms in Punjab with the advice/participation of Fonterra were also discussed.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Coop) Mr. Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Chairman Milkfed Mr. G.S. Babehali, Financial Commissioner (Coop) Dr. B.C. Gupta, Registrar, Cooperative Societies Dr. G.Vajralingam, and Managing Director Milkfed Mr. V.K. Singh, besides the senior functionaries and Directors of the Milkfed also participated in the interactive session.
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SHIROMANI AKALI DAL, PUNJAB
SAD DEFIES TALL CLAIM OF CONGRESS BEING
INNOCENT IN '84 SIKH MASSACRE'
Chandigarh, 20 May:
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said that the recent verdict of CBI against the Congress leader Sajan Kumar of being guilty of 1984 Sikh genocide had proved the dictum, 'Truth ultimately prevails' thereby putting the entire congress leadership in a tight spot.
In a statement issued here today, the Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra and Balwinder Singh Bhunder said that the SAD had finally succeeded in its struggle for bringing all the culprits to book by framing the charges against Sajan Kumar. SAD would continue its relentless battle till every guilty involved in this heinous crime was convicted, they said.
The Akali leaders said that all those Congress leaders should be ashamed of themselves who had been making irresponsible statements to save the known culprits like Sajan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath besides throwing weight to prove their innocence.
These leaders further said that SAD along with other like-minded parties would mount pressure on the Centre to constitute a special investigation team under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court of India to expose the real culprits involved in the Sikh carnage with in a stipulated time frame. The leaders also asked to try these culprits in the fast track courts on the day-to-day basis.
These leaders further said that the Sikhs had been facing the agony of this unsavoury incident even after 26 years of its occurrence in Delhi and other cities of the country. They said that Sikhs were full of hatred against all those Congress leaders who were guilty of 1984 Sikh massacre as well as against those Congress men also who had been shamelessly advocating the innocence of the guilty. "This agony could only be vanished with meting out an exemplary punishment to these guilty", asserted these leaders.
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Summer vacations at School
Chandigarh May 20:
Punjab Government declared summer vacations in all the Government, Private aided and recognized schools from May 24th to June 30th. This was informed by a spokesman of Punjab Government.
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AKALI DAL STRONGLY OPPOSES SHIFTING OF DEFENCE UNIVERSITY AND
CANCELLATION OF ANANDPUR SAHIB-AMRITSAR RAIL LINK PROJECT
- WARNS SUPPORTERS OF CULPRITS OF 1984 SIKH CARNAGE
- CRITICIZES CENTRE FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING “ONE RANK-ONE PENSION” FOR EX-SERVICEMEN
- GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING PASSES DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS
Chandigarh, May 20 : Shiromani Akali Dal today strongly attacked Union government for discriminating against Punjab by shifting the Indian National Defence university from Punjab to Haryana and canceling of Sri Anandpur Sahib-Amritsar rail link project by the Union government.
In a a meeting of general council of the party presided over by SAD President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal held at party headquarters, the SAD described the shifting of Indian National Defence University from Punjab to Haryana and cancellation of Sri Anandpur Sahib-Amritsar Rail link project as another grave injustice with the Punjab.
In a resolution passed in the meeting the Party noted that whenever Congress Party had come to power at centre, it had always discriminated against Punjab. The resolution reminded the people that Defence University was announced for the state in by the Prime Minister in the year 1999 on the occasion of tercentenary celebration of creation of the Khalsa. The Congress by shifting the university to Haryana has shown its anti-Punjab bias.
Terming the decision of cancellation of Rail link project as a big conspiracy by keeping Punjab out of development loop, the resolution said that when centre had already announced in the railway budget to set up a new rail line between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Garhshankar for linking Sri Anandpur Sahib with Sri Amritsar, now it was demanding 450 crore rupees out of the total project cost of 900 crores. The resolution reminded the people that Punjab was the only state in the country from which railways was demanding more than 50 percent money to execute its project as there was not a single instance of such a demand by railway from any other state.
In another important resolution party expressed anguish at the the statement of former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder singh for giving clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in 1984 anti-sikh carnage. The resolution cautioned such people to stop scuttling the judicial case by misleading statements and apologize from the people of country in general and victims of the carnage in particular for their irreparable actions. Party also felt that Senior leaders of the Congress party were making all efforts to scuttle the trial of Tytler and Sajjan by diversionary tactics and Panth would not forgive them for betraying with the families of seven thousand innocent Sikhs killed in the carnage.
Severally criticizing the centre for not implementing “one rank-one pension” scheme for ex-servicemen, party said that centre has betrayed those brave warriors who were always ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. Congress had promised before the polls that it would implement “one rank-one pension” scheme if it comes to power but now it was running away from its promises.
In another resolution party congratulated the sikh masses for successfully organizing the tercentenary celebrations of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s Sirhind Fateh Divas and thanked SAD patron and chief minister S. Parkash Singh Badal, SAD Preident and Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC chief Jathedar Avtar Singh for their personal initiatives to make this event a success.
Party condoled the death of former Vice President Sh. Bhairon Singh Shekawat, former vice chancellor Amrik Singh, Harjit Singh Hanspur, Balwant Singh Birbehman, Bapu Mangta Singh Giljian, Kaka Sandeeppal Singh, Dr. Maan Singh Nirankari, Satwant Kainth, Dr. Jagtar, Ram Sarup Ankhi, Harinder Singh Mehboob, Jatheder Fauja Singh, Balwant Singh Dhillon Taprian, Gurcharan Singh President Ludhiana and Ajit Singh Arianwala.
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MUNAWAR MASIH ASSUMES THE CHARGE AS CHAIRMAN
STATE MINORITY COMMISSION
Chandigarh, May 20:
Senior Akali Leader Mr. Munawar Masih, today assumed the charge as Chairman of newly constituted Punjab State Minority Commission here at Punjab Civil Secretariat. Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan ( both Cabinet Ministers), Former Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha, MLA, Mr Ravikaran Singh Kahlon, Chiarman, Punjab State Tubewell Corporation, Mr Sukhbir Singh Bahla, Chairman, Sugarfed and Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu reached his office to felicitate him on the occasion. Bishop of Jalandhar Anil Cutto and Bishop of Chandigarh Ignatus were also present on occasion.
Thanking the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for giving him opportunity to serve the minorities of the State, Mr. Masih said that he would protect the interests of minorities as a mission of his life. He further said that he would act as a bridge between State government and minorities by raising the problems and issues concerning the welfare of minorities at all forums and by getting those redressed.
Earlier hundreds of his supporters thronged his newly set up office at Punjab Civil Secretariat.
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Press note regarding Census 2011
Chandigarh May 20 :
First phase of Census 2011 has started on Ist May, 2010 and in this phase Houslelisting of houses and Households for preparation of National Population Register for each household in the state is being undertaken. Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Parkash Singh Badal provided his household details to the Census enumerator at his native village Badal on 18.5.2010. On this occasion Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar Shri Varun Roojham, IAS who is also the Principal Census Officer, Census Charge Officer, Supervisor and enumerator of the block were present.
Speaking on the occasion, the C.M. congratulated the team of Census officials for taking up this challenging task. The Chief Minister mentioned that the work on first phase of Census 2011 will be carried out in Punjab from 1st May, 2010 to 15th June, 2010. During this period nearly 55,000 enumerators and supervisors will be visiting every house/household to canvass Houselisting and Housing Census Schedule and Household Schedule for ‘National Population Register’. The Preparation of National Population Register, which is a unique feature of 2011 Census, would help in building a comprehensive identity database of every individual in the country, a data much needed for strengthening the security of the country and helping in better targeting of the benefits and services under various Government schemes and programmes to improve planning.
Hon’ble Chief Minister appealed to all the people in Punjab to extend full cooperation and answer the questions, correctly and completely, to the best of their knowledge and belief for successful completion of this mammoth task of great national importance.
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