Briefly State

Don’t blame us for SAD lapses: Cong

Chandigarh: Taking strong exception to remark of BJP in-charge for Punjab,Shanta Kumar that state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh was ‘blocking central loans to the state’,the party on Monday said the BJP should first sort out issues with its ally. “For last over four-and-a-half years,you were treated as step-brothers by the Akalis. Now instead of holding them to account you are falsely blaming the Congress”,PCC general secretary Arvind Khanna said in a press statement. Khanna said state cannot afford to go on borrowing when it does not have the repaying capacity.

Follow labour law for contract employees: CS

Chandigarh: Punjab chief secretary S C Agrawal on Monday issued instructions to all government departments asking them to ensure all incentives and facilities,as per the labour laws,were given to all the contract employees. In a communique to principal secretary to chief minister D S Guru,Agrawal said the government departments generally invite quotations from contractors for hiring the services of employees on contract basis.

Mob pulls down police station wall

Lohian (Jalandhar): Alleging inaction in the case of a missing youth whose body was recovered from a well on Monday morning,an irate mob pulled down a wall of a police station when the officials shut the gates to keep the crowd out. It was learnt that Kulwant (22) had gone missing five days ago. His body was spotted by two passersby who reported the matter to the locals and the police. After the body was taken out,the locals started protesting outside the police station alleging police inaction. When policemen closed gates of the police station to keep protestors out,the irate mob pulled down a wall.

Judge recuses,Agnivesh bail plea deferred

Chandigarh: The anticipatory bail application filed by Swami Agnivesh will now come up for hearing on September 30 as Justice Rajesh Bindal of Punjab and Haryana High Court recused himself from hearing the bail petition. Agnivesh had moved the high court a day after a lower court had initiated proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender. The lower court had given Agnivesh time till September 30 to appear before it. The process to declare him a proclaimed offender comes after the investigating officer submitted before the court that Agnivesh was inaccessible during six raids conducted by the police at his known addresses. A social activist Parveen Tayal had filed the complaint in the case.

Man fined Rs 2 lakh for frivolous petition

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday slapped an exemplary penalty of Rs 2 lakh on a petitioner for wasting court’s time and misusing its vast powers. Dismissing his petition and slapping the penalty on Mahinder Singh,a resident of Punjab,Justice Alok Singh held that “forum of this court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India should not be allowed to be misused to settle political scores”. Mahinder,in his petition,had challenged an order dated July 11 whereby a complaint of the petitioners for removing a Panch on the ground that he is in unauthorized possession of the Panchayat land was dismissed.

Parties asked to declare green plan

Patiala: Demanding that each political party of Punjab must constitute environment cell in their set up and come up with environment policies so that voters can evaluate them on ecological merit also,Jaitu-based Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM) on Monday submitted “People’s Green Agenda for Environmental Health,Agricultural and Ecological Crisis in Punjab” to the state government and all the political parties of Punjab. “KVM demands from all political parties to declare their agenda and action plan for organic farming ,ecological crisis and environmental health before the Assembly elections,” said KVM executive director Umendra Dutt.

Economic data to be linked online

Chandigarh: To implement the recommendations of the 13th Finance Commission for improvement of statistical systems at state and district levels,Punjab will soon link all its economic data online up to the district level. The Commission had recommended a grant of Rs 616 crore over its award period 2010-15 to states to strengthen their statistical systems. The grant at the rate of Rs1 crore per district will primarily be used to improve statistical systems at district headquarters. The statistical systems at the state headquarters are to be strengthened under the India Statistical Strengthening Project (ISSP).