US court dismisses case against Punjab CM

 By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MAY 18

The United States district court of Eastern district of Wisconsin has dismissed the case filed by a New York based rights body ‘Sikhs for Justice’, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjeet Singh Mann and others against the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal. It may be recalled the case was filed on August 8, 2012 when the Chief Minister was on visit to Wisconsin to mourn the death of seven innocent Sikhs in a shootout tragedy.

 Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that the hon’ble District Judge Lynn Adelman while pronouncing the judgment on Friday at Milwaukee, Wisconsin ordered to dismiss the petition filed by these organizations for failure to effectuate service. The plaintiff had alleged that they had served summons on Mr Badal on August 9, 2012 at Oak Creek High School during a function organized by Department of Justice, US Government. On the contrary the Chief Minister never visited that school on August 9, 2012 and was visiting the State Fair George Watts Store and Bolter Store. The Hon,ble Judge while accepting the Defendant’s (Mr Badal’s) motion to dismiss the suit observed that, “There is mountain of evidence” produced by the defendant that he was not anywhere near the school and summons were served on a wrong corner. 

Time for Congress to pack up: Sukhbir Badal

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MAY 19

 Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, President, Shiromani  Akali Dal and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab today said that Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls would mark its total decimation of from the electoral scene of Punjab asked newly appointed PPCC Chief Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa to get ready for first strong electoral drubbing after his coronation.

            In a statement issued here today, the SAD President said that Congress never wanted to fight any election in Punjab as it would had exposed their real base in the state and was looking for alibis to create disturbance in the state. He said that right from day one when Bajwa witnessed vanishing base of his party during campaigning for Zila Parishad polls, he came to old game of the Congress party of demanding central forces, central rule, direct intervention of Union government etc etc. He questioned that what happened to Congress party in recently concluded Vidhan Sabha polls which were conducted by Election Commission of India under the direct supervision of central and paramilitary forces ?. Why could not Congress save its deposit in most of the seats in these polls, he questioned.

            He said that the fact is that people of Punjab and country are totally fed up of ‘East India Company’ rule of Congress led UPA government that was creating a new multi thousand crore scam every second day. He said that citizens of India were being forced to pay through nose the full price of LPG cylinders, unsubsidised diesel, kerosene and inflated price of Petrol that has ruined their total monthly budget. On other hand, the Prime Minister of India under the guidance of 10, Janpath was keeping his eyes closed to rampant corruption in which every minister was minting thousands of crores. He said that the present elections would be a trailer for ensuing Lok Sabha poll where Punjab Congress despite having alliance all known and unknown, registered and unregistered political parties is going to score zero seats.

Reiterating his commitment to provide conduce atmosphere for free and fair poll, he appealed to the people to vote without fear and according to their conscience and not fall in the trap of mischievous propaganda.

Mr. Badal said that Congress had perfected the art of rigging the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls by getting the nomination papers of opposition candidates rejected on flimsy grounds. He said that Mr. Bajwa had expected that we would also adopt the same strategy giving them a point of propaganda besides saving them from any electoral fights.  He said that when we challenged them to remain in fight and ensured that not a single nomination was rejected, Mr. Bajwa started making lame excuses to face the people.

            Calling upon people to put a stamp of approval on the development agenda of SAD-BJP government Mr. Badal said that let the people of Punjab become the agent of change in the ‘Mahasangram’ that would decimate Congress party in coming Lok Sabha polls. He said that the country was eagerly looking towards Punjab to free the country from clutches East India Company rule of  Congress led UPA as Punjabis  had a distinction of playing  a decisive role in the freedom struggle of the country.

Financial assistance to reach in right hands through Micro ATM

 By Punjabnewswire4u.blogspot.com 

CHANDIGARH, MAY 18

  The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Mr. Shivraj V. Patil, today inaugurated disbursal of pension scheme through Aadhaar Enabled Bank account and disbursed pension to beneficiaries by using Micro ATM today at Punjab Raj Bhavan.

       Mr. Patil said that centre’s ambitious direct cash transfer scheme will help in better targeting of subsidies and reducing delay in delivery of benefits besides curbing wastages and leakages. He said this scheme will also gave a sense of empowerment to the people, increases their faith in the processes of governance and therefore has a far larger positive effect that can be measured by the direct advantages they give. The pension will be credited to their bank account and bank will be reaching out at Sampark /Gram-Sampark centers across the UT through their business correspondents so that beneficiaries can withdraw their pension in a total comfortable and hassle free manner.

       Appreciating the scheme, Mr. Patil said with this Direct Benefit Transfer System, the financial assistance would reach in right hands. He said all types of pension covered under this scheme and 10456 old age pensions, 5706 widows and destitute women, 3047 disabled persons and financial assistance to 1474 dependent children’s of widows will get direct benefit.

Mr. Patil said that the Chandigarh Administration has decided in May 2012 to deliver Social Security Pensions in Chandigarh through Aadhaar Enabled Bank Accounts. A good example of such use is the Aadhar programme for providing all the residents of our country a unique identity, and also the Director Benefits Transfer Scheme based on Aadhaar numbers.

Later on Mr. M.P. Singh, Principal Secretary to Governor, also disbursed pensions to remaining beneficiaries.

Appreciating the support of Chandigarh Administration in facilitating the enrolments, enrolment status checking and eAadhaar downloading through various Sampark Centres in the City, Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, Chandigarh thanked the Administrator for his guidance and support, due to which the entire process of pension payments could be changed from cash payments to Aadhaar Based Benefit transfer. She said Chandigarh presently has almost 94% per cent Aadhaar enrolment coverage with 8.18 Lakh Aadhaars issued to the residents.

Director Social welfare UT disclosed that ICICI BANK is banking Partner in this novel initiative of Chandigarh Administration of facilitating Aadhaar Enabled Payment System through Sampark centers. There will be no need to fill up any slip or form or to sign anywhere. The beneficiaries can now withdraw partial amount also as per their need and balance amount will accumulate in their Bank Account, thus leading to savings, which they can use for future need. This system will also enable the Department to disburse pensions on monthly basis instead of quarterly disbursements earlier.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Mr. V.K. Singh, Finance Secretary, Mrs. Prerna Puri, Secretary IT-cum Joint Secretary Home and Ms Tanvi Garg, IAS.

International Nursing Week celebrated at KCN

 by Punjabnewswire4u

AMRITSAR, MAY 14

 Various competitions including debates, panel discussion, skits, races marked the celebration of International Nursing Week at Khalsa College of Nursing (KCN) today. The experts at the occasion termed the profession of nursing as most noble and pious and how the `service to humanity’ and better health facilities for mankind could be ensured by the trained nurses.

 Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina who presided over prize distribution function spoke in details about ills that have set in medical profession, which is marked by commercialism today. He however said that the profession of nursing was still the noblest one. A power-point presentation by Dr. Jasbir Kaur, Principal, DMC College of Nursing on `Closing the Gaps-Millennium Development Goals, was well appreciated.

 KCN Principal Dr.Neelam Hans honoured Chhina and Dr.Jasbir and stated that the week long programs marking the occasion also included visit by the nursing students to the leprosy home, stressed on how the nursing courses teaches the service to the humanity and it must be a matter of pride for students to be the nurses and how the jobs opportunities were opening up in the sector.

Sharif's win augurs positive for trade ties between India and Pakistan: PHD Chamber

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH, MAY 13

While welcoming Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif's astounding victory in general elections, Rajiv Bali, Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber said that this win augurs well for the economic ties between both the countries and will bring the ongoing peace process on a constructive track.

“We anticipate that the new Pakistan government will focus on opening up trade and economy with India and will give a boost to economic ties and people to people connect”, said

Since last 8-10 years PHD chamber had been continuously working towards bringing harmony between both the countries through exchanging trade delegations and regularly organizing Indo-Pak Trade shows. We sincerely hope that the future discussions with the new government shall cover the entire spectrum of issues aimed at building a relationship of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation”.

“In November, last year a high level delegation led by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab S. Sukhbir Singh Badal consisting of Government and Industry visited Lahore to promote bilateral trade ties and Punjab to Punjab connect. Since then there has been an air of positivity around and has brought both the nations closer. An MoU was signed by PHD Chamber with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry to improve trade relations between the provinces on both sides of the border particularly Punjab (India) and Punjab (Pakistan), mentioned Bali.

R S Sachdeva, Co- Chairman, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber stated that the delegation returned with a very positive frame of mind especially after meeting Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan and  younger brother of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

India and Pakistan are moving towards a liberalised visa regime which is good for the trade and also for cementing people to people ties and with the victory of Nawaz Sharif who is a  peacemaker and also considering his previous stints in government , we are quite hopeful and confident that he will pick up the threads of dialogue with India and will make our 10 year long efforts at bringing both the countries together to successful culmination, said Sachdeva.

Dalip Sharma, Regional Director of PHD Chamber revealed that “PHD Chamber has been closely working with different Industry Chambers of Pakistan and holding talks for developing harmonious relations and inviting them to interact with the Indian Industry Associations and organising exclusive Indo-Pak trade shows at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Shimla etc. We vow to continue with our efforts for harmonious relations in the future as well by taking more of general and specific trade delegations to Pakistan this year”.

It is worthwhile to mention that the diverse and vibrant consumer markets in both the countries offer immense opportunities for business, which has the immense capacity to generate employment opportunities and give a push to the growth index.

CM okays setting up of power trading company

By Punjabnewswire4u

CHANDIGARH MAY 10:

         The  Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, today gave nod to the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. to set up a separate power trading company to sell the surplus power likely to be generated from the upcoming thermal plants in the state to other states. 

A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister in a meeting with the whole time director L&T Mr. SN Roy, who called on Mr. Badal to update him regarding the status of Rajpura Thermal Plant here at his official residence. 

Mr. Badal directed the Chairman of the PSPCL Mr. KD Chaudhri in the meeting to work out the modalities for establishing the power trading company so that it could be in place positively by September end this.  Mr. Chaudhri apprised the Chief Minister that he had already done the desired homework in consultation with Principal Secretary Power Mr. Anirudh Tiwari and assured the Chief Minister to meet the deadline for setting up of power trading company as it was a highly professionalized and technical task to be undertaken with due care and deliberation by hiring the services of financial experts and technocrats.   

Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Roy apprised the Chief Minister that he had personally monitored the progress of thermal plant at Rajpura yesterday, adding Mr. Roy said he was fully satisfied with the pace of civil works being executed there and the plant would be made operational by December 2013. He envisaged personal intervention of the Chief Minister asking the GoI to ensure coal supply from Pachwara block or permit them to import coal in order to supply cost effective power to the consumers.  Mr.Roy also requested the Chief Minister to direct the PSPCL for the expeditious extension of MoU for 3rd unit till July, 2014. 

Responding to the issue raised by Mr. Roy regarding the assured coal supply for the power generation, the Chief Minister reiterated that he would soon take up the matter with Ministry of Coal, GoI to ensure uninterrupted power generation at Rajpura thermal plant. Meanwhile, Mr. Badal asked him to approach the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) for seeking approval for differential coal supply of 25-30% as it had already permitted L&T to utilized 15% imported coal being supplied from Coal India Ltd.  Mr. Badal also asked him to further explore other options for importing coal to ensure timely power generation.   The Chief Minister assured Mr. Roy that the issues brought to this notice would be addressed on the top priority so that the thermal plant at Rajpura could be made operational on its schedule. 

On the issue of outstanding payment for the memorials of War Memorial at Chhappar Chiri (Mohali), Chhota Ghallughara Martyrs Memorial at Kanuwan Chamb (Gurdaspur) and Wadda Ghallughara Martyrs Memorial at Kup Rohira (Sangrur), the Chief Minister asked the Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. SS Channy to amicably sort out the issue with the concerned officials of L&T for releasing the payment forthwith.   

The Chief Minister also asked Mr. Roy to undertake the construction of three ultra-modern high security jails at Amritsar, Bathinda and Muktsar involving a cost of Rs. 400 crore besides the upcoming prestigious Freedom Martyrs' Memorial (Jang-e-Azadi) at Kartarpur near Jalandhar at a cost of Rs.200 crore as the L&T group was internationally acclaimed for construction and engineering marvels.  Mr. Roy informed the Chief Minister that his team would thoroughly examine the design and pattern of the jails as well as Jang-e-Azadi memorial besides mutually deliberating upon the terms and conditions of these projects. 

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included: Principal Secretary Power Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Chief Minister’s Special Principal Secretaries Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar,  Chairman PSPCL Mr. KD Chaudhri, Member General PSPCL Mr.  GS Chhabbra, Chief Executive Nabha Power Ltd. Mr. Upinder Singh and General Manager Nabha Power Ltd. Mr. JS Gill.