The Tribune – Need to end vendetta politics, says Manpreet Singh

Minna Zutshi, Tribune News Service

Khanna, December 16 People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) president and Sanjha Morcha chairman Manpreet Singh Badal today underscored the need to end vendetta politics in Punjab.

Addressing an “Izzat Sambhal” rally organised by the Sanjha Morcha at Khanna today, the PPP chief said the people’s money “siphoned off” by SAD and the Congress would be put back in the state coffers if the Sanjha Morcha comes to power. He said that those who had “looted the people of Punjab should not be allowed to go scot-free”.

Castigating the SAD-BJP Government for their flurry of policy decisions in the past few weeks, he claimed that the government was not in a position to fulfill its promises. “It’s an open secret that the projects that have been initiated will never be completed,” he said, while addressing a gathering of more than 12,000 people in the rally.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the rally, he said the adjustment of seats among the constituent parties of the Sanjha Morcha for the ensuing Assembly elections would be worked out mutually.

Making a jibe at the December 18 Moga rally of SAD (B), he said, “What’s a rally? It’s equal to (the availability of) diesel.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111217/punjab.htm#9

The Tribune – Australian envoy assures security to students

Preneet raises issue of transport concession for Indians in Victoria, New South Wales

Umesh Dewan, Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 16 The Australian government has given its firm commitment to ensure proper security and safety to students studying in Australia. The assurance was given by Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and Secretary, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dennis Richardson during a meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur in New Delhi today.

Giving details of the meeting in Patiala, MP Singh, Additional Private Secretary to Preneet, said, “While discussing several bilateral issues, the Minister raised the long-pending issue of the transport concession to be extended to Indian students in the Federal States of Victoria and New South Wales.

The authorities in these two Federal States have been consistently refusing to grant concessional transport facilities to Indian students, which are normally enjoyed by the Australian students, despite the fact that Indian students pay much higher fees compared to domestic students.”

Responding to the matter, Richardson assured that the matter of granting transport concession to Indian students would be taken up suitably with the concerned authorities in the Federal States for their consideration, in view of the fact that the Indian students pay comparatively higher fees than the local students.

“Richardson informed Preneet that the Australian Government has undertaken extensive review of the international education sector, including re-registration of international education providers with a view to ensure that international students get quality education in Australia”, stated Singh.

After the meeting, Preneet expressed her satisfaction regarding the measures put in place by the Australian government to improve the safety and security of the Indian students in Australia. She, however, impressed upon the need that the proposed measures were followed through and resulted in a qualitatively improved experience on the ground for the Indian students in Australia.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111217/punjab.htm#2

The Hindu – Government mulling over steps to make Lokpal accountable

Also, it wants to ensure that complaints against PM are not motivated or frivolous

Smita Gupta

New Delhi, 17 December 2011. For the United Progressive Alliance government, a key issue of concern in the proposed Lokpal Bill is about who the proposed ombudsman will be accountable to: it is therefore, contemplating, informed sources said, putting in place a system by which if 100 MPs sign a petition against the chairman of the Lokpal Committee or one of its members, then the case will be referred to the Supreme Court.

Similarly, to ensure that complaints against the Prime Minister are not motivated or frivolous, the government is considering suggesting that at least three fourths of the members of the Lokpal Committee, at a full sitting, are party to it. The enquiry will be conducted in camera and the report sent to Parliament.

In the earlier government draft Bill, it was envisaged that the Prime Minister would be included within its ambit, but only after demitting office. However, under pressure from Team Anna, the government has decided to include the Prime Minister while in office, but felt that simply excluding decisions taken in the arena of national security or external affairs would not be enough. Hence, an additional safeguard.

To ensure the support of the parties espousing the cause of the Backward Classes, such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Lok Jan Shakti Party, the government will recommend that 50 per cent of the members of the Lokpal Committee be drawn from the SCs, the STs, the OBCs, minorities and women.

On Group C employees, the government has recommended that the enquiry and action be taken by the Central Vigilance Commission, and has proposed changes in the CVC Act to ensure that it exercises powers in respect of the lower bureaucracy similar to what the Lokpal will have for dealing with Group A and B employees.

The objections of the Central Bureau of Investigation have apparently been taken on board, and the government is likely to suggest that while the selection of future CBI directors will be done by a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Lokpal Chairman and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and that the agency will investigate cases sent to it by the Lokpal, it will retain much of the independence it enjoys now.

All these suggestions are likely to be part of a note that will come up for consideration by the Cabinet on Monday. It is also learnt that, with social activist Anna Hazare threatening to go on fast on December 27 if the Lokpal Bill is not passed by then, the government may suggest to the Opposition that after a four-day break for Christmas — December 23 to 26 — Parliament could meet for three days, December 27, 28, and 29.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2721480.ece

Belgium, Ieper (Ypres) commemoration of World War I soldiers 11/11/2011

 Menenpoort (Menen Gate)
Lakhvir Singh

  Hollebeke, Monument
Surat Singh

Hollebeke, Monument
Singh & Singh

 Hollebeke, Monument
Kulwinder Singh

To see more Ieper pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157621976532703/

More Ieper pictures to follow  
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

Special to the Tribune – Britain gets its second Punjabi MP

Shyam Bhatia in London

Britain has a second Punjabi-origin MP following Seema Malhotra’s victory on behalf of the Labour Party in the Feltham and Heston bypoll. Malhotra told The Tribune that she is a product of multi-cultural Britain, was born in the UK to an Indian-origin father and a mother who is a retired teacher.

After they came to the UK, her parents started a community shop in Hounslow. She is now one of the five NRI-origin MPs sitting in the UK House of Commons.

Her ancestors were from Multan, but her parents’ families settled in Jalandhar and Delhi and she still has relatives in Jalandhar. “Please let me know when you write about me so I can tell my relatives in Jalandhar,” she said.

Malhotra (39) secured a majority of 6,203 votes over the ruling Conservatives, a swing of 8.6%. She said she is one of the two Hindu MPs in the Commons, adding, “I would say that the Labour represents the whole of Britain, is much more diverse and has a greater commitment to equality and diversity.”

“My parents came to England in the 1960s with very little money. They are typical of many Asians who came here for a better life for their children,” she said.

Malhotra grew up in the Feltham area, close to London’s Heathrow airport. She was active in local politics from a young age and was an adviser to Labour’s Harriet Harman, when she was the leader of the Opposition in 2010.

Conservative critics point out that the turn-out for the Feltham and Heston bypoll was unusually low at 28.8%, the lowest in a bypoll in 11 years.

The chair of the Conservatives, Pakistani-origin Baroness Warsi, commented, “I am concerned about the level of political engagement. It can’t be right that on 12,000 votes, a constituency can be won.” She added, “Byelections generally have low turn-outs at this time of year, when it’s cold and just before Christmas and people are thinking of other things.”

The Liberal democrats came third in the bypoll with deputy leader Simon Hughes commenting, “What happened here was what normally happens in a byelection. People protest against the government, so government parties take a hit [and] the opposition normally moves forward.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111217/world.htm#4

BBC News – Kashmir strike-breaking shopkeeper beaten to death

15 December 2011

A shopkeeper in Indian-administered Kashmir, who was beaten by protesters for refusing to shut his store this month, has died, his family says.

Tariq Salam Bhat, 26, was surrounded by about 60 youths near Srinagar on 3 December and struck with a cricket bat, a day after he defied the protesters.

He was admitted to hospital where he died on Wednesday.

Anti-India sentiments are high in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley and protests are common in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack as he addressed a party convention in Doda.

“If you want to fight, you should fight politically and not by means of hooliganism, high-handedness and muscle power,” he told protesters.

“A peaceful and youthful person of Nowhatta is the latest victim of your outlook.”

Shopkeepers’ strike   Small businesses are expected to comply with the demands of separatist groups to shut down during any strike action.

On 2 December, police had fired tear-gas shells at demonstrators in the old city, leaving many of them injured, the BBC’s Riyaz Masroor reports from Srinagar.

Some of the protesters, who had tried to force the shutdown, returned the next day to Mr Bhat’s shop.

A scuffle broke out and the shopkeeper was hit around the head with a cricket bat, our correspondent says.

Shopkeepers in the old city have called their own strike to protest against Mr Bhat’s death.

The Kashmir Valley has been in the grip of a violent insurgency against Indian rule for two decades, although violence has declined in recent years.

Kashmir is divided into Pakistani- and Indian-administered areas, with both nations claiming the region in its entirety.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16192833