The Tribune – Civil society members to check supply of drugs

Gagan K Teja, Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 7. To check distribution of free drugs and liquor in the assembly elections, the Civil Society against Drugs (CAD), Punjab, under the leadership of senior advocate H S Phoolka, would appoint two representatives of the organisation in each district to ensure that none of the candidates indulge in distribution of liquor and other drugs to woo voters.

Advocate Phoolka alleged that distribution of drugs during elections had actually made youth fall prey to this evil and therefore the society would ensure that this practice should be shunned. He said, “Our members will personally visit all the constituencies to convince candidates that they should use their popularity to apprise people against this evil.”

Making a request to the people to help for the cause, he said that people could either carry out a sting operation with their mobile phone, click pictures of candidates and their close aides indulging in this practice, or record conversations pertaining to the distribution of free liquor and drugs and bring them to the society. “We will not only reward the helper but also complain to the Election Commission (EC) and pressurise for cancellation of his nomination and if need arises, we will also file a petition in the High Court,” added Phoolka.

He further said that they already had a word with the EC and they had assured full cooperation to the society. They said they would take very speedy and strict action against the defaulters so that this practice could be totally curtailed.

Meanwhile, the society also released the publicity material, including stickers and pamphlets, on the occasion. They also gave two helpline numbers- 09779747474 and 09872959595 which could be used to file complaints.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120108/punjab.htm#17

The Tribune – Jassi honour killing: Mother, uncle held in Canada after 11 years

Mohit Khanna, Tribune News Service

Kaunke Kalan (Jagraon), January 7. Eleven-and-a-half years after Jassi Sidhu, a Canadian girl of Indian origin, was killed and her husband Sukhwinder Mithu left for dead near Narike village in Malerkotla by a group of contract killers allegedly hired by Jassi’s Canada-based mother and maternal uncle, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) finally arrested the duo from their house this morning in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Jassi’s mother Malkiat Kaur and uncle Surjit Singh were allegedly evading arrest and extradition to India all these years. The RCMP has, in a press release, announced that Malkiat Kaur and Surjit Singh were being questioned and would soon be extradited to India.

Of about 10 alleged contract killers, only three, including former sub-inspector Joginder Singh, Anil Kumar and Ashwani Kumar, are behind bars at present.

“Justice has finally been done to some extent. I am waiting for the day when Jassi’s mother and uncle will be brought to India and punished. I don’t know whether I would meet them or not. But I may not like to see such faces. I have always wished for exemplary punishment for Jassi’s mother, who ordered her killing,” said Mithu’s mother.

“It was due to immense media pressure that the case remained alive and forced the Canadian police to act. Justice was delayed, but not denied,” said Mithu, who did not remarry.

The murder was a rude end to a love story that transcended continents but could not overcome the barriers of caste and society. It was the first international instance of the menace of honour killing prevalent in North India.

DSP Swaran Singh, the investigating officer in the case, said he was elated at the arrest of Malkiat Kaur and Surjit Singh. “It was my duty as well as my life’s purpose to see justice done to Mithu and Jassi. We are eagerly awaiting the extradition of the duo.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120108/main4.htm

The Asian Age – PM says diaspora has much more to contribute to modern India

Jaipur, 8 January 2012. Recognising the role of overseas Indians in the country’s development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday the diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India and Government is committed to promote this engagement.

Addressing over 1,900 NRIs, Singh also said that there is need to be alert to the unfolding developments in Gulf and West Asia but assured them it was ready to extend such help to them anywhere should the need arise.

Listing several steps taken for the welfare for overseas Indians, the Prime Minister said the government was also ‘acutely conscious’ of the safety and security of Indians living abroad, particularly in regions characterised by instability.

“The government and people of India recognise and greatly value the important role being played by Indian communities living abroad. We believe that the Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India.

“We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year we have taken a number of steps towards this end,” Singh said.

The Prime Minister told the overseas Indians that the government has decided to introduce and sponsor a new Pension and Life Insurance Fund for overseas Indian workers.

The Union Cabinet had cleared a proposal for setting up of a Pension and Life Insurance Fund (PLIF) for them in the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries on January four.

“The scheme will encourage, enable and assist overseas workers to voluntarily save for their return and resettlement and old age. It will also provide a low-cost life insurance cover against natural death. This scheme fulfils a long pending demand of our workers abroad,” Singh said. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/pm-says-diaspora-has-much-more-contribute-modern-india-258

Ram Kaur and husband

One picture before we go back to our usual pictorials 

On the right Ram Kaur of Southall, a very good and dedicated Singhani
On the left her new husband, whose name I do not know yet

The Tribune – Pakistan showdown imminent; ‘Memogate’ parallel probes: Zardari will accept only House panel verdict

Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today broke his silence on ‘Memogate’ swirling around his government saying he would only accept the verdict of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, heavily loaded with members of the ruling coalition, which is looking into the issue.

The assertion, in a late evening telecast on Geo TV, placed him in the eye of a fresh political storm as it implied that he had no confidence in the Judicial Commission set up by the Supreme Court to look into the scandal.

The 17-member parliamentary panel that has also initiated a parallel probe into the scandal has 12 members from the ruling coalition and only five from the opposition PML-N. There is no tradition in Pakistani politics of lawmakers taking an independent position in defiance of the party line.

Both the army and the judiciary had taken a serious view of the alleged memo, by which the civilian government had sought help from the United States to foil a military coup believed imminent after the government criticised the army for not being alert enough to the presence of Osama Bin Laden under its very nose. Zardari is accused of offering to purge the present military leadership and allowing the US to monitor Pakistan’s nuclear assets. He has denied the allegations.

Although Zardari said in the course of the interview “we have no war with the court, why should we have a war with the army”, his statement that he deemed Parliament to be supreme and not the judiciary, set the stage for a fresh confrontation with the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had indicated in open court that he believed the Supreme Court to be better placed to inquire into a case like Memogate. President Zardari has so far refused to file any statement to the Judicial Commission, which had called upon him to submit his views in writing.

Zardari has defied notices issued by the SC and the Judicial Commission claiming he enjoys immunity from any court proceedings. The government has also reaffirmed it would not implement court directives to write to Swiss authorities seeking reopening of money laundering cases against the President.

President Zardari said he had allowed safe exit to former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, spurning demands for his trial because it could have a demoralising effect on the army. He, however, did not rule out such possibility today, stating that if he were to do it now, the parliament would have the final word.

Referring to criticism that Prime Minister Gilani had insinuated ISI’s complicity while questioning who could have issued a visa to Osama bin Laden, the President said that Gilani had alluded to Musharraf. Zardari insisted that Gilani enjoyed full powers of chief executive and denied any interference in government’s functioning.

On the court’s directive for writing a letter to Swiss authorities, Zardari said it was the party’s decision not to send the letter because it believed that such a letter would be tantamount to the trial of Benazir Bhutto’s grave. He said he would not be President after some period and anyone who wanted to try him was free to do that then.

Interviewed by Hamid Mir, Zardari also confirmed that the general election could be held in October this year, adding that he was ready to hold talks with Nawaz Sharif on all issues, including his demand for early elections.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120108/main1.htm

Dawn – Shahbaz rules out talks with President

Lahore, 8 January 2012. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday he did not trust President Asif Ali Zardari and was not ready to discuss any national issue with the PPP co-chairman.

Answering a question during an interview with a private television channel about Mr Zardari’s statement that he was ready to meet PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, the chief minister said he didn’t trust the PPP co-chairman.

“It is largely because he uses national issues as a bargaining chip. One cannot deal with such a person,” Mr Sharif remarked.

Earlier, talking to media personnel at the airport after his return from Turkey, he said: “I don’t think talks can be held with President Zardari on any matter.”

In reply to a question regarding an offer of $1 billion loan by Turkey, he said the amount could be utilised for public welfare projects.

About gas loadshedding in Punjab, Mr Sharif said he would move the court over the issue. Shahbaz Sharif said he had had meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, the mayor of Istanbul and members of parliament to explore prospects for Turkish collaboration in welfare projects.

He said agreements had been signed for cooperation in technical education, transport and energy sectors. He said talks were also held with the Istanbul municipality regarding a proposed agreement on assistance for a solid waste management project.

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/08/shahbaz-rules-out-talks-with-president.html