The Tribune – Rs 26 lakh unaccounted money seized

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 26. A day after recovering over Rs 9 lakh unaccounted money, the special squads of the Election Commission today seized over Rs 26 lakh from various people in the city.

The surveillance teams have been active ever since the election code of conduct came into force and the police has been deputed to check flow of black money in the state.

Vijay Kumar, a resident of Ratia in Haryana, was held with Rs 16.33 lakh near the Passiana Chowk naka. At another naka on Nabha Road, the police recovered Rs 5 lakh from a car driven by Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sangrur, who had no documents to ascertain the source of the money.

In other recoveries, the police seized Rs 1.24 lakh from Mandeep Singh and Rs 3.97 lakh from Sameer, a resident of Sirsa in Haryana. All the cases were handed over to the officials of the Income Tax Department for further investigations.

As per the Election Commission’s guidelines, anyone travelling with over Rs 1 lakh in cash needs to have documents pertaining to the money and its source.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111227/punjab.htm#17

The Tribune – Amritsar shivers at -1.2° C

Sanjay Bumbroo, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26. With minimum temperature plummeting to sub-zero level in Amritsar, the region reeled under intense cold conditions on Monday.

The icy winds in the region to continue for next two-three days and dense fog conditions could be witnessed tomorrow in Karnal area, reducing visibility to about 100 metres. Though there was some cloud formation in some parts of the region due to slight deviation in the western disturbances, but there was no possibility of the rain in near future, said the weather department.

Mercury slipped to minus 1.2 degrees Celsius in Amritsar and 0.2 degree in Hisar. Both these places were much colder than Himachal Pradesh’s hill station, Shimla that recorded a low at 4.4 degrees Celsius. Karnal was the second coldest place in Haryana at two degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees below the normal. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded the minimum at 1.5 and 3 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Chandigarh recorded a static minimum of 3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal. The higher reaches of Himachal continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures.

Bhuntar in Kullu district was the coldest place in the state recording a low at minus 2 degrees.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111227/punjab.htm#17

The Asian Age – PM heaps praise on Chidambaram

A R Meyyammai, Asian Age Correspondent

Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 27 December 2011. In a strong message to Opposition parties gunning for Union home minister P. Chidambaram’s resignation for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum affair, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his friend and Cabinet colleague has been performing the task given to him with “superb aplomb”.

“From 2004, I derive immense support from his enlightened leadership, first as finance minister and then as home minister. Whatever task is given to him, he performs with superb aplomb,” the Prime Minister said at a function at Alagappa University.

Thanking his “friend” for bringing him to this part of the country, Dr Singh, referring to Mr Chidambaram seated in the front row in the audience, said, “He and I have been colleagues since the 1990s. I was the finance minister and he the commerce minister then and we worked hand in hand.”

At the opening ceremony of two private hospitals, the Prime Minister went a step ahead for his friend. “We worked as colleagues in the Narasimha Rao government. It was his wisdom that economic reform was implemented.”

On Mr Chidambaram’s present portfolio, Dr Singh said that in handling an important ministry filled with challenges he has been working with great dedication, ensuring internal security.

http://www.asianage.com/india/pm-heaps-praise-chidambaram-948

November visit to UK 14/11 till 21/11; many pictures of trains !

17/11 – New DLR connection from Stratford International to Canning Town
From Star Lane to either Beckton or Woolwich Arsenal

17/11 – New DLR connection from Stratford International to Canning Town
From Star Lane to West Ham, Abbey Road, Stratford High Street, Stratford, Stratford International

17/11 – New DLR connection from Stratford International to Canning Town
Star Lane station, Jubilee line

17/11 – New DLR connection from Stratford International to Canning Town
Canning Town station (low level)

To see more UK public transport pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157611244941713/

More UK pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Jor Mela commences on religious note

Surinder Bhardwaj

Young devotees offer prayers outside a gurdwara in Fatehgarh Sahib in Monday.
Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26 The three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela has started here today with religious fervour. The Mela is organised to commemorate the martyrdom of younger Sahibjadas of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive here by the Mughals for refusing to embrace Islam.

To mark the beginning, “Akhand Path of Shri Guru Granth Sahib” has started at Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib. Deputy Commissioner Yashveer Mahajan with other officials and a large number of devotees attended the ceremony. Giani Balwant Singh, head priest of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib performed the “ardaas”.

On the first day, a sea of devotees thronged the town and long queues could be seen at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdwara Jyoti Swarup Sahib. More than 10 lakh devotees are expected to pay obeisance at these gurdwaras.

After the election code of conduct came into force, no ruling party leader was seen during the inauguration ceremonies, exhibitions, Kavi Darbar, light and sound and other government sponsored events. The Deputy Commissioner inaugurated all the events.

Mahajan said that the district administration had made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the mela, which would be totally religious in nature and all the wine shops, gambling stalls, dancing pandals, circuses, swings and other sources of entertainment had been banned.

“24-hour power supply, clean drinking water; toilet facilities and medical facilities have been provided and mini buses have been introduced to carry senior citizens, ladies free of cost to the gurdwaras,” he said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) RS Khatra said, “Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the pilgrims and the mela has been divided into four sectors. To control traffic, 200 cops have been deployed under SP rank officer. For security of the pilgrims, 10 SP rank officers, 20 DSPs, 71 Inspectors and 2,000 police personnel, including 100 women constables, have been deputed to keep a watch on anti-social elements.”

Meanwhile, a large number of community kitchens have started serving food to devotees. On second day of the mela, various political parties would organise their conferences.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders would address the SAD conference. Congress conference near Roza Sharif would be addressed by Captain Amarinder Singh, President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and other leaders.

SAD (Amritsar), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Sikh Students’ Federation and Dal Khalsa would also organise their respective conferences. On concluding day of the mela, Nagar Kirtan would be taken out from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to Jyoti Swarup Sahib.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111227/punjab.htm#15

Dawn – Benazir Bhutto’s assassins won’t go unpunished, says Zardari

27 December 2011

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that the government is determined to expose and punish the conspirators and perpetrators of Benazir Bhutto`s assassination in accordance with the law.

“They cannot and will not go unpunished,” he said on Monday in a message on the eve of the fourth death anniversary of his spouse.

He said the assassination was a conspiracy to deprive the world of its “best weapon to combat international violent extremism and rob Pakistan of its best hope to establish a fully functional democracy”.

The best way to pay tribute to her was to defend and protect democracy and the democratic institutions and to foil all conspiracies against pluralism, he said. “Let us on this day rededicate ourselves to the democratic mission of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto whose life was dedicated to fighting dictatorship and those seeking to defame and dismantle democratic institutions.

“I, therefore, urge all the democratic forces and the patriotic Pakistanis to foil all conspiracies against democracy and democratic institutions.”

He said Ms Bhutto was the first elected woman prime minister in the Muslim world, the daughter of the country`s first directly elected prime minister, an undaunted champion of democracy and a great fighter for the cause of women, the underprivileged and marginalised sections of the society. She believed in the power of the ballot and rejected violent and militant extremism as an instrument of change.

She also led the fight for democracy and against militancy from the front and in doing so laid down her life, he said.

In his message, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Ms Bhutto had joined politics for restoring and strengthening democracy.

History would remember her as a statesperson, political leader of the highest order and an intellectual who made the ultimate sacrifice for safeguarding the rights of the people, he said. He said Ms Bhutto had complete faith in the people of the country.

The prime minister said unwavering optimism for the future, belief in the strength of dialogue and a commitment to democracy set Ms Bhutto from other leaders.

“The country is faced with numerous daunting challenges at different levels at the moment but we are determined to overcome these, come what may,” Mr Gilani said.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/27/bbs-assassins-wont-go-unpunished-says-zardari.html