The Tribune – After route change, Personal Rapid Transport System (PRTS) tenders open today

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20. Fresh tender bids for the state government’s ambitious personal rapid transport system (PRTS) project will be opened tomorrow.

The Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had invited fresh bids in view of the alterations in the PRTS route following apprehensions by heritage lovers that the then design may take a toll on the walled city’s architecture and its historic landmarks.

Sources said the PIDB had invited bids for the project through an advertisement dated February 22, 2013.

They said the last date for receiving the bids was April 26, which was later extended till May 21. This means it may take another few months for the work to begin on the ground.

Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said the tenders will be opened tomorrow and the work will be awarded after a comparative analysis of the bids, which may take a month or so. He said the due process had to be followed once the PRTS route was changed.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had laid the foundation stone of the project amid much fanfare in December 2011, but the project has made a little headway ever since.

In July last, The Tribune had highlighted the concerns of the heritage lovers that the project will eclipse the view of the holy city’s landmarks like the Jallianwalla Bagh and the Golden Temple. The government later changed the route plan from the railway station to the Golden Temple.

Altered route

Under the new plan, the guideway for the PRTS will not enter the walled city through Hall Gate. Instead, it will take a left turn towards Chitra Cinema and get into the city through Rambagh Chowk

From there, it will pass through Bijliwala Chowk to reach Katra Jaimal Singh before heading towards the Golden Temple

There is also a plan that the guideway will span across the approach road to the Jallianwalla Bagh and the Golden Temple to facilitate the clear view of these landmarks

The height of the guideway will be raised to 30 feet on both these stretches, as against the height of 20 feet in other sections of the route

Similarly, the other route from the Inter State Bus Terminal to the Golden Temple will pass through Maha Singh Gate to reach the Saragarhi Parking before heading towards the Golden Temple

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130521/punjab.htm#6

Sikh clergy fails to arrive at decision on memorial row; Takht Damdama Sahib chief, Golden Temple Head Granthi favour retaining Bhindranwale’s name on plaques

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 15. The meeting of the Sikh clergy ended on an inconclusive note here today. Terming the controversy over Operation Bluestar Memorial as an internal matter of the Sikhs, the high priests said nobody should be allowed to publicly air views on the matter.

Addressing mediapersons, Akal Takht chief, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said nobody had the right to issue “unnecessary statements” on the row.

He said the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal would be asked to sit across the table and resolve the issue. He said they had received suggestions from various quarters which too would be discussed before a decision was arrived at.

The chances of the matter being resolved before Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6 appear slim. On the demand by some political parties that plaques with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s name be removed, he said: “It is our internal matter and we will decide on it.”

Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Golden Temple’s Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh, expressing their personal views, said they were in favour of retaining plaques with Bhindranwale’s name.

Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh refused to comment on the matter. He, however, said the young generation of Sikhs was in favour of retaining Bhindranwale’s name.

Asked about the Operation Bluestar anniversary, the Akal Takht chief said it would be observed at Akal Takht and not the memorial. There would be ‘Gurbani path’ at the memorial, which is in the form of a gurdwara, but akhand path would not be held there. He ducked queries on the memorial row apparently, hinting that the clergy did not want another controversy before June 6.

The SGPC and the Taksal have been at loggerheads for the past fortnight over Bhindranwale’s name on plaques installed at the memorial. Earlier, the Dal Khalsa had submitted a memorandum, requesting the Akal Takht Jathedar to resolve the memorial row “keeping the collective will of the community and historical traditions in mind.” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh blamed SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for creating the controversy with his “unnecessary statements.”

The Sikh clergy also discussed the demand by non-Sikh communities that they be allowed to perform marriages as per the Sikh rituals (Anand Karaj). The Akal Takht chief said they would put forth the matter before Sikh intellectuals before taking any decision.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130516/punjab.htm#4

The Tribune – Row over plaque with Bhindranwale’s name at Bluestar Memorial; SGPC in a fix, SAD seeks answers

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 28. A day after Operation Bluestar Memorial was dedicated to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and those killed along with him, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee (SGPC) seems to be in a fix. The ruling SAD too has sought answers from it on the controversy sparked by the move.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had clarified yesterday that he was unaware about the Damdami Taksal’s move to name the memorial after Bhindranwale. He reiterated his stand today, claiming the curtain on the plaque that mentioned Bhindranwale’s name was removed after he had left the venue. He declined to comment further.

However, sources said the SGPC was upset with the Taksal and the controversy could widen the differences between the two. The sources said there may be a meeting between Makkar and Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa to sort out the issue tomorrow.

Further aggravating the cracks between the SGPC and the Taksal, some persons reportedly tried to uproot a signboard mentioning the history of Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple Complex last night. But Makkar strongly denied that anything of the sort had occurred.

Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, SAD secretary, said they were in touch with the SGPC to ascertain how this had happened.

The Taksal’s move has drawn a flak from various quarters. Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said if the Taksal had to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale, it should have been upfront about it. National Executive member of the CPI Joginder Dayal alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had kept everyone in the dark over the issue.

Inscription raises eyebrows

Though the memorial has been named Gurdwara Shaheedi Yadgaar, it has been inscribed at its entrance that it has been built in memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and “other martyrs” of Operation Bluestar.

There are also plaques on either side of the stairs leading to the memorial that mentions the names of Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Subeg Singh and Baba Thahra Singh. Also, there is a board mentioning Operation Bluestar’s history in front of Gurdwara Jhanda Bunga.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130429/punjab.htm#1

The Tribune – Operation Bluestar Memorial dedicated to community; Plaque mentions name of Bhindranwale, SGPC ‘unaware’ about it

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 27. Almost 29 years after the Army operation and a string of controversies over the last one year, the Operation Bluestar Memorial was today dedicated to the Sikh community.

Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa handed over its keys to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar at a ceremony here. The memorial has been named Gurdwara Shaheedi Yaadgaar and its plaque mentions that it has been built in the memory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other “martyrs” of the Operation Bluestar in 1984.

Interestingly, the curtain from the plaque was removed after the ceremony got over. All five Takhts, the SGPC and various religious bodies felicitated Khalsa for performing the ‘kar sewa’ of the memorial. The Jathedars of all the five Takhts and the head granthi of the Golden Temple were also present.J

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the memorial was a symbol of the Sikh community’s self-respect and would inspire the future generations to follow the Sikh tenets.

The name of the memorial has been inscribed atop its entrance while on the either sides of the stairs leading to it, the names of Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, Shubegh Singh and Thahra Singh have been engraved. The memorial is a double-storey building. On the ground floor is the octagonal shaped memorial in the form of the gurdwara, the work on the basement is still on and, therefore, it is lying unused.

Makkar clarified the memorial will continue to exist in the form of a gurdwara and there was no plan to exhibit anything related to the 1984 Army operation on the Golden Temple.

On Bhindranwale’s name on the plaque, he said he was neither aware about it nor his advice was sought on the matter. He said he will discuss the issue with the Akal Takht Jathedar. It was decided earlier that the memorial would not be named after any particular person and instead it will be in the name of “all the martyrs”.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130428/punjab.htm#10

The Tribune – Amritsar has highest number of HIV cases

Archit Watts, Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 13. Amritsar district has the highest number of HIV positive cases with 4.15 per cent of the population affected by the disease and Fazilka has the least number of HIV positive cases with the figure standing at 0.39 per cent, as per the latest record of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society.

Jalandhar is placed second with 3.95 per cent of the population HIV positive as of February 2013. Last year, the district had the maximum number of cases with 4.94 per cent of the population HIV positive.

Of the 9,401 persons tested at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTC) in Fazilka, 37 were found HIV positive and four of them succumbed to the disease at the Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres. Similarly, in Amritsar district, of the 2,47,350 persons tested, 10,262 were found positive and 312 of them died. In Jalandhar, of the 94,409 persons tested, 3,733 were found positive and 227 died.

Of the 16,12,934 persons tested in the state, 35,084 were found positive and 2,685 died due to the deadly disease.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130414/punjab.htm#6

The Tribune – Badal government bans ‘Sadda Haq’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4. The Punjab Government today imposed a ban on the screening of Punjabi film ‘Sadda Haq’ till further orders. The movie was scheduled for an all-India release tomorrow. An official spokesman said this step had been taken to maintain communal harmony in the state.

In Amritsar, heavy security was deployed outside Adarsh cinema hall following a protest by Shiv Sena activists who allegedly tore posters of the film and raised slogans.

Members of the Sikh Students Federation also reached there in strength. They warned that none would be allowed to disrupt the screening of the movie. Assistant Commissioner of Police Gurnam Singh said that the police had been deployed outside the cinema hall to prevent any untoward incident.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130405/punjab.htm#18

The Tribune – Pingalwara makes strides in natural farming, gets record yield

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 3. The All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society, which is primarily known for its yeoman’s service to the poor and needy, is making rapid strides in the field of natural farming. It has become a guiding light for the state farmers who have been resorting to indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Spread over 32 acres, the society’s farm at Dhirakot village, near here, has witnessed some encouraging results in farming. The farm is being managed by society member Rajbir Singh.

The farm has produced a record yield of sugarcane. In the very first year, its production was an impressive 400 quintals per acre. The farm boasts of a research centre where farmers from other states come to learn farming practices sans chemical fertilisers and less water.

Talking to The Tribune, Rajbir said they had recently adopted a technique to grow poplar trees along with crops, which not only improved the environment but also boosted the farm production.

Under the technique, they planted 80 trees per acre with a gap of 28 ft between each of them in the east-west direction and 20 ft gap in the north-south direction. Along with it, they grew sugarcane over 1.25 kanals while utilising the remaining 192-ft land for other crops.

He said no special effort, feed or water was needed for growing poplar trees. On growing up, these trees also lend support to sugarcane which attains the height of 13 ft to 14 ft. “These trees also produce a cooling effect. Besides, the birds that make these trees their home kill pests and worms that are harmful to the crop. Their leaves act as biomass which adds to the fertility of the soil”. He said poplar trees attained maturity in four to five years, following which the farmers could repeat the process. The farmers could get more than double the yield using this technique,
he claimed.

Rajbir revealed they had resorted to multi-cropping in their farm under which they had cultivated various crops. “We cultivate basmati, corn and black-eyed beans simultaneously in our farm. We sow basmati over 12-ft area followed by 3.5-ft space for corn and beans which are sown over 9-inch bed that acts as a breeding ground for vermicompost”.

He said they were using natural material like cattle urine/dung, pulses, jaggery, garlic and green chilli in different combinations to prepare fertilisers which they mix with water. He said only 15 per cent insects were harmful to the crops. “When the farmers use chemical fertilisers, they end up killing even those insects that are beneficial to the crop. However, this does not happen in case of natural fertilisers.” He said an indiscriminate use of pesticides on crops had dangerous repercussions on human life.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130404/punjab.htm#9

The Tribune – Anna embarks on ‘Jantantra Yatra’ in Amritsar; says it’s 2nd freedom struggle

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 31. Anti-corruption crusader and social activist Anna Hazare today embarked on “Jantantra Yatra” after paying homage to the martyrs at the Jallianwalla Bagh while dubbing it as the “second freedom struggle” and vowing that they will not let the sacrifices of martyrs go waste.

Anna set out on his one-and-a-half year campaign after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir along with his group of supporters here this morning.

Addressing a gathering from atop a specially designed vehicle in front of the Jallianwalla Bagh, Anna said though the British have left, India continued to suffer from ills like corruption, hooliganism and lootings even today.

“The country may have got freedom, but it seems the Whites have been replaced by the Blacks”, he said adding they would follow the path of non-violence during the campaign while reiterating that they will neither contest nor support any party in the forthcoming General Elections.

Anna said they will sensitise people and seek their views on the issues confronting the country during their campaign from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. “I know a large number of people are in deep slumber, but we hope to wake them up and mobilise support for our campaign. I don’t know how many of the people will come forward, but we are optimistic that we will be able to garner the support of around six crore people over the next one-and-a-half years. If we succeed in our aim, the government will have to bow before the ‘Jan Shakti’ (people’s power) and frame laws and policies in the interest of the common man.”

He made a fervent appeal to the people to join the “Jantantra Yatra” which will support the candidates with clean image and proven track record in the next Lok Sabha elections. Dwelling on the current political scenario, Anna asked, “What future can the country have when 163 members in the Parliament have criminal past and 15 ministers of the Union government are tainted?”

He warned that those at the helm of affairs would have to bring in Jan Lokpal Bill and initiate electoral reforms like the ‘Right to Reject’ to stay in power or else the people will vote them out. Accompanied by former Army Chief General V K Singh, he proceeded towards Jalandhar in a cavalcade of six vehicles.

Earlier, reacting to Operation Bluestar after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Anna said only “ignorant people” could attack such a pious place which spreads the message of peace and communal harmony. He also stated that the culprits of 1984 anti-Sikh riots will be punished one day.

The SGPC presented him a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) and a set of books. Anna was virtually in tears while paying tributes to the martyrs at the Jallianwalla Bagh.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma met Anna Hazare in the morning. State BJP vice-president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said Sharma reached Amritsar when he came to know about Anna’s visit.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130401/main3.htm

The Tribune – Seniors skip Bajwa’s Golden Temple visit; Despite ‘diktat’, only 20 of 45 Cong MLAs turn up

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 16. Though new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa was accorded a grand welcome on his maiden visit to the holy city today, not all appeared as per his liking.

After being appointed to the key post, Bajwa had urged the Congress legislators to perform a collective ‘ardaas’ at the Golden Temple. In view of the “growing proximity” of a few Congress legislators with the ruling alliance, he wanted all the party MLAs to take a pledge to boycott the state government.

To his surprise, only 20 of the total 45 Congress MLAs obeyed his “diktat”. It was also Bajwa’s first visit to Amritsar after taking over the key party post.

Apart from the 20 MLAs, a number of MPs, leaders and thousands of workers had gathered to receive their new boss.

Among the MLAs present were Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, OP Soni, Sukh Sarkaria, Rajkumar Verka, Ashwani Sekhri, Randeep Singh Nabha, Karan Brar, Aruna Chowdhary, Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, Guriqbal Kaur, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Raja Warring, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Navtej Singh, Rakesh Pandey, Dr Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Jagmohan Kang, Balbir Sidhu and Mohd Sadique.

However, several senior party leaders, including outgoing PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Jagmeet Brar and Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar were conspicuous by their absence.

As far as loyalty is concerned, a sizable number of MLAs loyal to Amarinder Singh were also present, prominent among them being Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, OP Soni and Jagmohan Kang.

The new PCC chief’s brother, Fatehjang Bajwa, who had distanced himself from him after the former got ticket for his wife Charanjit Kaur from Qadian Assembly seat, was firmly by his brother’s side and was coordinating his visit throughout the day. Among the Congress MPs, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Vijay Inder Singla, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Sukhdev Singh Libra were present.

Earlier, in an impressive show of strength, scores of party workers converged at the railway station to greet Bajwa whose move to travel by train to Amritsar and subsequently walk on foot to the holy shrine is being seen by many as his way to connect with the grassroot-level workers. He even took the normal queue along with common devotees to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple instead of the queue meant for the VIPs.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130317/punjab.htm#4

The Tribune – Golden Temple plaza by year-end; Bajwa not a new challenge: Sukhbir

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 10. The construction work on the prestigious Golden Temple entrance plaza would be completed by the end of this year, said Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, here today. accompanied by his wife, Bathinda Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur, he was here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

“Within a few months, the finishing touches will be given to the project. This unique project will put the holy city on the international tourist circuit and prove to be a boon for thousands of tourists from across the world. The plaza would have an audio-video information system depicting the Sikh history and heritage besides a number of world-class auditoriums,” he said.

To a query, Sukhbir said he had directed the authorities concerned to further accelerate work on the plaza to ensure that there were no delays. He said the government was working on two master plans to make Amritsar one of the beautiful cities in the country.

Sukhbir said the Congress’ change of guard would have no impact on the SAD whatsoever as the party did not consider Partap Singh Bajwa as a “new challenge”. The SAD would continue to follow the development agenda besides formulating “pro-poor, pro-people and pro-Punjab policies.”

Congratulating Bajwa on his elevation as Pradesh Congress chief, Sukhbir invited him to contribute to the state’s development by playing a “constructive role”. To a query, he said the coming Budget would be ‘pro-people” and in the interest of the people as the ruling alliance was committed to overall development.

On the Tarn Taran assault case, the Deputy CM said strict action would be taken against policemen if found guilty. He also said that the government would show “zero tolerance” to criminals targeting women.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130311/punjab.htm#9