Sikh high priests divide on calendar issue Sri Akal Takhat Jathedar invites suggestion in writing

Amritsar : A day after former Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti released the “original” Nanakshahi Calendar, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, today appealed to the Sikh high priests as well as former Jathedars not to create any controversy on the issue, while stating that anybody having any suggestion could submit the same in writing to Akal Takht or the SGPC. Though Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh and the Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar, Giani Iqbal Singh, hold contrasting views on the calendar and have been airing these in the media as well, the Akal Takht Jathedar stepped in to douse the flames of controversy only after Jathedar Vedanti, in an apparent act of defiance, released the “original” Nanakshahi Calendar for the New Year near the Golden Temple yesterday. Giani Gurbachan Singh today claimed that the basic character of the calendar had not been tampered with at all and no amendments had been made to it. “However, in view of some issues emerging from it, a few corrections have been made for the unity of the community. These corrections, too, have been made with the consensus of various committees formed on the issue as well as the Sant Samaj,” he said. According to him, Jathedar Vedanti’s utterances “don’t have any importance”, but added that such statements did create a dilemma in the community. However, like Jathedar Vedanti, Jathedar Nandgarh is also supporting the “original” Nanakshahi Calendar of 2003. Talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Nandgarh said,”I had warned them not to make amendments to the original calendar in haste. I had asked them to call Pal Singh Purewal, architect of the Nanakshahi Calendar, and other experts and discuss with them the changes they wanted to make, but nobody paid heed to me. I would have no problem with the amendments had they called Purewal and convinced him with their arguments.” The Nanakshahi Calendar was a symbol of the separate Sikh identity which came into being after a thorough discussion in the community and consent from all quarters, he added. On the contrary, the Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar, Giani Iqbal Singh, said the “amended” Nanakshahi Calendar had been adopted with the consent of the Jathedars of all five Takhts and those opposing it were “playing into the hands of anti-Panthic forces”. Meanwhile, politics over the issue is also hotting up. DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and former Akali minister Manjeet Singh Calcutta have, in a joint statement, advocated the need for maintaining the “original” form of the calendar and implementing it with the consensus of the entire community. Similarly, the Dal Khalsa, a radical organisation, has praised Jathedar Vedanti and Jathedar Nandgarh for taking a stand in support of the “original” calendar

Development will be main poll plank : BJP Leaders

Chandigarh : The BJP has worked out a detailed strategy to strengthen its mass base and take on the Congress while remaining in coalition with the SAD. A meeting chaired by state BJP president Ashwani Sharma was held here today at which various party MLAs and ministers virtually negated the importance of Manpreet Badal in the changed political scenario and felt that development would be the main election plank in the 2012 elections. Held in a cordial atmosphere, the state BJP leadership felt that urban areas in the state would decide the formation of the next government. It was felt that the cities in Punjab had seen a lot of development during the last four years, which gave the BJP the edge over others. Though some MLAs reportedly told the party leadership not to take the Manpreet factor lightly, those in ministerial berths dismissed Manpreet’s “third front” as “insignificant”. Discussing various issues, Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia is reported to have told the party MLAs that the SAD-BJP coalition had already spent over Rs 500 crore in nagar council towns and municipal corporation cities on civic amenities and another Rs 1,100 core would be distributed by his department soon. This, he felt, would pay the party rich dividends in the next elections. “People are very happy with development work in the cities and they will keep this in mind while casting their vote”, he was quoted as having said. Ashwani Sharma and his party colleagues also discussed the issue of the SAD-BJP coalition. It was largely felt that the BJP had not got its due in power sharing, but they said that the coalition was strong. The BJP had fulfilled its coalition “dharma” despite being ignored at many places, it was said. But at the same time the leadership made it clear that the next elections, too, would be fought in coalition with the SAD. After the sitting MLAs of the party, including the ministers, made some pre-poll analysis, the BJP leaders said there was need to hold more training camps for party cadres to create awareness among the people about the works undertaken by the BJP in Punjab. The BJP has already held six such camps. “Just focus on the positive aspects and ignore factors like the presence of Manpreet Badal. It took the BJP 40 years to put Atal Behari Vajpayee in the Prime Minister’s chair. Don’t expect much from Manpreet”, a senior party leader told his colleagues. While some of the MLAs referred to the crowds Manpreet Badal was attracting, Ashwani Sharma supported Kalia in saying that “crowds don’t turn into votes”. All Punjab MLAs and MPs of the BJP will meet again at the BJP three-day national convention on February 8, 9 and 10 at Nagpur, where they will also take up Punjab-specific issues keeping in mind the next elections.

Pak Hindu families give representation to Deputy Commissioner Amritsar

Amritsar : Seeking Indian citizenship, 50 families hailing from Pakistan submitted a representation in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, KS Pannu, today.The families say they want to escape the discrimination against minorities in Pakistan. President, All-India Hindu Shiv Sena, Surinder Kumar Billa, led the delegation. As many as 200 Pakistani Sikh and Hindu families live in the Chheharta area in Amritsar and do petty jobs to make both ends meet. Facing alleged social discrimination and economic hardships, they migrated to the border over a decade back. Now, they want to live here permanently and adopt Indian citizenship. As per norms, they would have to go back after every five years to get their visas for stay renewed. Class XII students Jaswinder Kaur and her friend Niranjeet Kaur, hailing from Peshawar in Pakistan, say their studies get affected everytime they have to go back to their country or visit their Embassy in New Delhi to get the permit for stay extended. “Life in Pakistan was hell, especially for girls. As Pakistani nationals we have go back once every five years and to our Embassy in New Delhi every two years to get our stay permit renewed. We are scared to go back because of the harassment meted out to the members of the minority communities,” they said. Naam Singh, hailing from Peshawar, says he was forced to leave their country or origin due to the prejudice against the minorities. Deputy Commissioner said several cases of Sikh and Hindu families from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been forwarded to the state Home Department after verification of records. “The cases too would be recommended to the state government after the formalities get completed,” he said

A leader in the world of cooperatives

Bathinda : Surinder Jakhar, who met with a tragic end on Monday, was well known in the world of cooperatives who made a significant contribution to accelerate agricultural and rural development. A graduate from DAV College in Abohar and alumnus of Panjab University, Jakhar was actively involved with cooperatives for about three decades. Born on April 5, 1953, in Panjkosi village, he was also a keen cricketer and was the captain of the first college cricket team when he graduated in 1974. He was elected the sarpanch of his village in 1980 and was first elected the Managing Director of the Fazilka Central Cooperative Bank in 1987. He held this position till his death. His zeal in improving the financial position of people in the rural areas, particularly farmers, and augmenting their incomes through cooperatives was lauded even by his detractors. Surinder Jakhar was the youngest Chairman of the world’s fertiliser giant, Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO). He was elected its Chairman for four terms and held the prestigious position till his death. Under his leadership, IFFCO created a new record of sales of 112 lakh MT of fertiliser in 2008-09 and also achieved a record turnover in 2008-09. IFFCO earned a net profit of Rs 360 crore in 2008-09. During his tenure, IFFCO successfully forayed into the rural telecom sector by forming IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd. IFFCO Chhattisgarh Power Limited was formed to foray into the power sector and it also became the first company in India to make an SEZ for farmers, IFFCO Kisan SEZ. IFFCO also ventured abroad as a partner in Legend International, Australia, re-structured ICS Senegal, bought Baylis Generators — -a UK-based company — to help Indian farmers by introducing alternative energy lanterns and torches. He was twice elected the Director, International Cooperative Alliance, and was the founder-Chairman of IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Company that introduced free insurance cover for the farming community. Recently, due to his efforts, IFFCO had signed global ventures for the manufacture of fertilisers, phosphates and generation of power. He also served as Director, Markfed, and KRIBHCO. A recipient of the Best Cooperator Award in 2001, Surinder Jakhar won fame as one of the best progressive farmers who used to spend quality time looking after his farms in his native village Panjkosi and Maujgarh. His elder brother, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, was twice a member of the Punjab Cabinet. His younger brother, Sunil Jakhar, now represents Abohar in the Punjab Assembly. His son, Sandeep Jakhar, heads the district unit of the Youth Congress. Together, they contributed to making the area a family bastion, so assiduously nurtured by his father, Balram Jakhar, himself a Congress stalwart

Badal gives function for Kuka Martyrs a miss

Malerkotla : The state-level function to commemorate the death anniversary of 66 Kuka martyrs here evoked a lukewarm response due to the non-participation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Interestingly, the head of the martyr Kuka sect, Satguru Jagjeet Singh Ji, also failed to attend the function. Even the SAD’s probable candidate from Malerkotla, Izhar Aalam, did not come. Two ministers, state Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabria and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, who attended the function, recalled the supreme sacrifices made by the Kuka martyrs in 1872, which had laid the foundation for the freedom struggle of India. While Kairon announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development of the memorial in Malerkotla, Gabria said he had granted Rs 5 crore for the development of a memorial at Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana district. Out of this, Rs 3 crore had already been received by the authorities there, he added. Addressing a gathering, MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder thanked CM Parkash Singh Badal for getting the picture of the Kuka martyrs displayed at Parliament complex in Delhi. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former minister Jasbir Singh, while recalling the supreme sacrifice of the Kuka martyrs, praised the former CM and senior Congress leader, Beant Singh, for allocating grants judiciously for the development of the memorial at Malerkotla

400 vet inspectors to be recruited in Punjab soon

Patiala : Cabinet Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, Punjab, Gulzar Singh Ranike, has said in order to ensure the availability of requisite veterinary staff in the rural areas of Punjab, the state government would soon be recruiting as many as 400 veterinary inspectors. He further said with a view to end the scarcity of the veterinary doctors in the veterinary hospitals, dispensaries and polyclinics operating from various rural areas across the state, the government has decided to recruit 100 veterinary doctors and 25 veterinary specialists. “While 100 veterinary doctors will be posed in the veterinary hospitals, the 25 veterinary specialists will take care of the veterinary polyclinics. The case for their recruitment has already been sent to the Punjab Public Service Commission,” he said, while speaking to mediapersons at the Circuit House, here yesterday. Ranike further said it was for the first time that the government had announced that people in general category, who would purchase 2-10 animals would get a subsidy of 25 per cent, whereas those in reserve category would get 33 per cent subsidy. “The Punjab Government is also in process of opening four animal mandis at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore in different parts of the state. Besides, the SAD-BJP Government will open 19 veterinary hospitals at the block level. Likewise, with an aim to provide treatment to animals with latest techniques in the state, the government has decided to open Polyclinics at the block level. Around Rs 11.25 crore will be spent on nine veterinary polyclinics, likely to come up in Punjab in near future,” he claimed.

Ramoowalia seeks national debate on corruption

Bathinda : Lok Bhalai Party president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today accused the Congress-led UPA government of laying unhealthy traditions by targeting the constitutional institution of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which has estimated a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore due to the 2G Spectrum scam. Ramoowalia, who was here, also accused the UPA government of functioning like a protector of corrupt elements instead of safeguarding public money. “It was unfortunate that the Central Government is plundering public money for its own survival,” he alleged. He said the Central Government was one by one eroding the sanctity of constitutional institutions. It was also trying to protect Central Vigilance Commissioner PJ Thomas, who was accused of misuse of power in the 2G scam, he added Ramoowalia said despite allegations of corruption and misuse of power against Suresh Kalmadi during the Commonwealth Games, the Centre remained mum on the issue. He also demanded retrieving black money that was hidden in banks abroad.