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Punjab
July, 2008

 

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.

 


 

 

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