News, Views and Information about NRIs.

A NRI Sabha of Canada's trusted source of News & Views for NRIs around the World.



August 30, 2011

International students settle in to new Concordia campus


EDMONTON - There’s one thing that stands out about Edmonton from the perspective of international student Daan Groot.
“It’s big,” he said. Fountain pops are supersized, cars are unnecessarily roomy, and a supermarket is 20 times the size of one in Holland, his homeland.
The only thing that isn’t huge for the 18-year-old Dutch newcomer is his high school.
Groot and just over 70 other students marked their first day of school Tuesday at Concordia high school’s new campus.
The faith-based, south-side location was formerly Taylor College and Seminary, near 115th Street and 23rd Avenue. Ninety years after its inception, the new campus has a chapel, a cafeteria, gymnasium, several classrooms and space for 40 dormitories — nearly double the space the high school had at its old location near 112th Avenue and Wayne Gretzky Dr., which it shared with Concordia University College.
The new location near Century Park LRT is more accessible for day students who commute, and closer to more recreational facilities like the YMCA and skating arenas.
At lunchtime, a few dozen students leaned over plates of penne with tomato sauce. Fifteen-year-old Grade 11 student Tobby Yang from Taiwan doesn’t mind the dish, but instead, dove into her own food: a vacuum-packed, microwaveable box of Taiwanese rice with chicken, which travelled all the way from home to Edmonton.
She misses a lot of things from Taiwan — the food, fashion, friends, family — but likes how friendly people are in Canada.
“It’s not that people in Asia are not friendly, but ... they won’t talk to you if you’re a stranger. People here talk to you even if they don’t know you,” Yang said.
In a small classroom across from the cafeteria, about a dozen Grade 12 students introduced themselves on the first day of their yearlong World Religion 30 class.
“Hi, I’m Matt ... I’m from Sherwood Park,” said one boy, sending the class into fits of laughter because half the students at Concordia come from Hong Kong, China, Europe or elsewhere.
While it costs slightly more than $6,000 annually for day students to study at Concordia, the cost is more than three times that for international students, who pay for room and board.
Tamara Larson, dean of advancement and a music teacher, said while the price is high, the students get a special learning experience.
“There is a strong sense of community here at this school. I think they develop that because class teachers are very invested in the entire student, not just their academics, but them as a whole person ... and they get really close-knit friendships that often last for life,” Larson said.
Classes at Concordia follow Alberta Education’s curriculum criteria, and offer other classes like food studies, enhanced English as a second language, and drama workshops. They organize weekend ski excursions, community volunteering opportunities and overseas trips. This year, they plan to send the boys basketball team to China during spring break for a tournament.
Groot, a lanky six-foot-four, hopes he’ll make the team.
At the cafeteria table at lunch, Groot and his new friends laugh and joke, and one girl remembers something: “It’s Daan’s birthday today.”
Tuesday marked Groot’s first birthday away from home, but he didn’t mind. “There will be cake,” he said.

Bomb hoax at Chandigarh Airport, flights delayed


Chandigarh, August 30
Scores of passengers at the Chandigarh airport were stranded following the recovery of a tissue paper inside a Kingfisher airplane this afternoon, which read that the plane would explode in 90 minutes.

All passengers were asked to de-board by the authorities. The UT police and the security agencies, including the CRPF, reached the spot along with a bomb disposal squad and carried out a two-hour-long search. However, nothing was found. The police has registered a case against unidentified persons.
The Kingfisher flight number IT 3185 in which the note was found was thus delayed by more than two hours. It departed at 5:45 pm for Mumbai, while the scheduled time of the departure was 3.40 pm. The flight left with 100 passengers and six crew members.
Another flight of the same airlines meant for New Delhi was also delayed by over two hours. As the airbus parked in the apron area was being searched, another plane arrived from New Delhi. It was kept on the runway till the security personnel completed their search till 5.30 pm, said sources.
The Chandigarh police has registered a case under section 506 (criminal intimidation) against unidentified persons. The SHO of police station Sector 31, Inspector Jaspal Singh, said the case had been registered against unidentified persons and it seemed to be a prank played by a passenger.
“The tissue paper was found stuck on a seat. It seems to be a prank, we will obtain the record of the passengers from the Kingfisher authorities for investigations,” he said. 

NRI kidnaps brother to usurp property


Role of senior police officer under scanner
Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib, August 30
Role of a senior police officer posted at a plum post in Patiala is allegedly under scanner for helping an NRI relative in kidnapping his (NRI’s) real brother along with his wife and later misleading the investigating officers. Another policeman involved in the case has already been arrested. While the Khanna Police has registered an FIR pertaining to kidnapping against the NRI, they have summoned the police officer to join investigations after one of the victims was recovered from Sirhind.
According to police, inspector Ashok Kumar Sharma posted as in charge of the Patiala Range Control Room was found prima facie involved in a kidnapping case involving his relatives. “He was constantly in touch with the accused NRI on his mobile when the kidnapping was taking place,” they said. On Monday, the Khanna Police claimed to have solved a case involving the kidnapping of Varinder Kumar and his wife, Parminder Kaur, allegedly by his younger brother. The younger brother, who reportedly lives in the USA, allegedly got his elder brother kidnapped along with his wife, with the motive of getting him tagged as a drug addict and later usurping his property share.
Khanna DSP Devinder Singh Dhuri said Inspector Ashok Sharma had been summoned to join investigations as the car used in the crime was currently being used by Sharma. “Record of his call details has also established his role in the crime, though we are open to his questioning,” Dhuri told TNS.
The police said the accused NRI, Dharminder Sharma, had hatched a conspiracy to get his brother Varinder kidnapped along with his wife. “The accused inspector is related to the victim and another policeman Daljeet Singh, who is presently posted with the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Jalandhar and runs a gymnasium in Khanna helped execute the plot. We are conducting raids to nab the accused NRI and have intimated the airports authority to avoid his escape from the country,” Dhuri said.
According to the FIR, six persons had come in two cars on the night of August 26 and kidnapped Varinder along with his wife Parminder. Police recovered Varinder Kumar from a de-addiction centre in Kurali, and his wife Parminder from near Sirhind, where the kidnappers had dumped her on a deserted road after forcing her to sign some blank papers. The victim couple told the police that the conspiracy had been hatched by their brother who lived in the US and was currently staying with the accused inspector.
Khanna SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed that the car used by the accused inspector was used in the crime and his involvement in the case looks confirmed. “However, we have summoned him to join investigations and he is still to report,” Sidhu confirmed.

Union Govt ignored House panel advice

New Delhi, August 30
In dropping the proposal for an amendment to the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 to provide for compulsory registration of Sikh marriages, the Centre has disregarded a unanimous recommendation the Parliamentary Standing Committee had made in 2007. 
A day after the Law Minister justified abandoning the amendment on the grounds that it would breed similar demands from other communities and was against the principles of the uniform civil code, The Tribune has learnt that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice (which is now considering the Lokpal Bill) had, on December 4, 2007, considered the issue and unanimously asked the Congress-led UPA government to come forward with a simple amendment to the Anand Karaj Act to allow Sikh marriages to be registered therein. Besides, two former law ministers - HR Bhardwaj and M Veerappa Moily - gave assurances in the RS to bring about the said amendment. 
The Parliamentary Committee chaired by Congressman EM Sudershan Natchiappan, in its meeting held in December 2007, even impressed upon the then Law Secretary KN Chaturvedi of the necessity of the move in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2006 judgment, directing all states and UTs to make registration of marriages mandatory. 
The meeting was held to take a view on the matter after 12 Sikh MPs cutting across party lines — including the then Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Atwal of the Akali Dal. He gave a letter to the house panel chief, seeking the amendment to prevent NRI grooms from leaving their wives in the lurch.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, who was member of the said committee, today confirmed to TNS that the panel’s report was extremely positive and favoured the long-standing demand of Sikhs. Singh today even shot off a letter to Law Minister Salman Khursheed, who is also the Minority Affairs Minister. The letter states, “The Sikh minority has been shocked by this unrealistic approach of your ministry. You are also Minister for Minority Affairs where you are supposed to protect the rights of minorities. For long, there is a feeling that the government is showing different treatment to various minority communities,” Singh wrote.

Stunning blow to Sikh Aspirations


The Sikhs had long been fighting for amendments to the Anand Karaj (Marriage) Act to convert it into a legislation governing their marriages. But the Centre’s decision to drop the proposal has dealt a blow to their aspirations. Perneet Singh takes an in-depth look into the issue 
Sikh leaders and scholars have reacted strongly to the Centre’s decision to drop the proposal for a Sikh Marriage Act, a major demand of the Sikhs since decades. Law Minister Salman Khursheed had yesterday informed Parliament that after receiving several representations for amendment to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, the government had decided to drop the proposal. He was answering a query by Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD).
The Sikhs have been fighting for amendments in the Anand Karaj (Marriage) Act, 1909, passed by Viceroy and Governor-General on October 22, 1909. The Act reads: “This Act would be extended to the whole of British India.” While introducing the Anand Marriage Act, the British Government had made it clear that it was being introduced to remove doubts as to the validity of the marriage ceremony of the Sikhs called “Anand”. Post-Independence, the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, was extended to the new provinces and states merged under the the Merged States (Laws) Act, 1949, and to the Union Territories in 1950 and Manipur and Tripura in 1956. The Act was brought into force in Meghalaya on January 21, 1972. However, Sikh marriages are not registered under it till date. The Sikh marriages performed under Sikh rites are registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act.
Anand Marriage Act, 1909
The Act’s salient features are:

All marriages which may be or may have been duly solemnised according to the Sikh marriage ceremony called “Anand” shall be deemed to have been with effect from the date of the solemnisation of each respectively, good and valid in law; nothing in this Act shall apply to: (a) any marriage between persons not professing the Sikh religion, or (b) any marriage which has been judicially declared null and void
Nothing in this Act shall affect the validity of any marriage duly solemnised according to any other marriage ceremony customary among the Sikhs.
Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to validate any marriage between persons related to each other in any degree of consanguinity or affinity which would, according to the customary law of the Sikhs, render a marriage between them illegal.
HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, extends to the whole of India, except Jammu and Kashmir, and applies also to Hindus domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are outside the said territories. This Act applies to:
Any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj
Any person who is a Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion; Any other person domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion, unless it is proved that any such person would not have been governed by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part of that law in respect of any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed. The Act also states that the expression “Hindu” in any portion of this Act shall be construed to include a person who, though not a Hindu by religion, is, nevertheless, a person to whom this Act applies by virtue of the provisions contained in this section. As a result, the Anand Marriage Act 1909, which was the only piece of legislation applicable exclusively to Sikhs, has become redundant.
DIFFERENT CUSTOMS
So far, there is no provision for the registration of a marriage under the Anand Marriage Act, despite the fact that it has been on the statute books since 1909. As such, the Sikhs have to get their marriages registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act. This is the reason why Sikhs have had reservations on getting their marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act. The Sikhs contend that they are a separate religion with a different set of customs and there are several differences in the way marriage ceremonies are solemnised by followers of the two religions.
Guru Granth Sahib strictly prohibits idol or element worship, but in the Hindu marriage ceremony, the worship of nine constellations of stars is necessary and the Agni (fire) is a witness to the holy union. In case of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the witness.
A Sikh couple walks around the Holy Granth to the recitation of four hymns, known as "lawaan". A Hindu couple takes seven “pheras” around the Agni.
POST-INDEPENDENCE SCENARIO
Sikh scholars feel that the process of distinct laws for the Sikhs was undone by the policy adopted under Explanation II to Article 25 (2) of the Indian Constitution.This provision ensured that the Sikhs were included in the definition of Hindu. As a result, Sikhs come under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
AN EVENTFUL YEAR
The year 2008 turned out to be a momentous year for the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, with the Punjab Assembly passing the Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Bill:2008 on March 12, 2008, paving the way for registration of marriages under the Anand Marriage Act: 1909. The Pakistan Govt, too, passed the draft of the Anand Marriage Act on January 23, 2008, to allow Sikhs to register marriages under a separate marriage Act.
WHAT IS ANAND KARAJ
Anand Karaj was introduced by third Sikh guru, Guru Amar Das. The four “lawaan” (hymns recited during the marriage ceremony) were composed by his successor Guru Ram Das
The Anand Karaj is governed by the Sikh “rehat maryada” (Sikh code of conduct) determined by the SGPC, according to which only those who follow the Sikh religion may marry under the ceremony
It also states that child marriage is invalid and that no account should be taken of the prospective spouse’s caste
The Anand Karaj usually takes place in a gurdwara, though it may also be conducted at the residence of bride or groom or any other place where Guru Granth Sahib has been installed
However, it must be ensured that the Holy Granth is installed following the proper procedure
According to an edict by Akal Takht, Anand Karaj is to take place only in a gurdwara and Guru Granth Sahib cannot be taken to a marriage hall for the purpose
Long PENDING DEMAND
There is no provision for registration of marriage under the Anand Marriage Act, despite the fact that it has been on the statute books since 1909. This legislation applicable exclusively to the Sikhs has, thus, become redundant
As such, the Sikhs have to get their marriages registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act
The Sikhs contend that theirs is a separate religion with a different set of customs
Source: TNS

HC facilitates return of 8 Indians from Baghdad


Chandigarh, August 30
Intervention by the Punjab and Haryana High Court has resulted in the homecoming of eight Indians from Baghdad. Another 11 are on their way back. The Punjab Police also told the High Court that eight criminal cases have been registered so far against travel agents “in relation to nine youths”. Further investigations were on. A letter by Joint Secretary (Consular) PM Meena addressed to Union of India’s counsel OS Batalvi was also placed before the Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice Gurdev Singh.

The letter said 26 workers were brought to Baghdad and the embassy has taken charge of them by arranging for their food and accommodation.
Taking up the matter, the Bench made Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs an additional respondent, while expressing satisfaction on the progress made for “bringing back the Indian workers whose services were sought to be exploited for clearing the remnants of the 2003 gulf war- bombs and missiles from the agricultural fields”. 
The Bench also expressed the hope that the good work being done by the respondents would “hopefully” continue and “all these workers would be brought back to the motherland with the assistance of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and if need be by spending some amount from the Indian Community Welfare Fund meant for emergency services. The Bench also asked amicus curiae Anil Malhotra and Haryana Additional Advocate-General Piyush Kant Jain to prepare a report after interacting with the workers brought back. 

Supreme Court issues show-cause notices to Haryana, J&K

HIGH-SECURITY REGISTRATION PLATES

New Delhi, August 30
The Supreme Court today issued notices to Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh for defying its order for implementing the high-security registration plates (HSRP) scheme meant for checking theft of vehicles and preventing their misuse for committing crimes.
“The conduct of these states clearly reflects their callousness and lack of will to obey the orders of this court. Their attitude is one of disobedience rather than compliance. Thus, in our considered view, these are the defaulting states which have, with impunity, flouted the orders of this court, despite warnings being issued,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia said in an order.
The Bench, which included Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, directed the three states to show cause why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, be not initiated against them. If found guilty, they would be punished and slapped with “exemplary costs, personally recoverable from erring officers/officials,” the order said.
The apex court sent the notices to the transport secretaries and the commissioners of the State Transport Authority of the three states.
The SC noted that Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Gujarat and a few other states had taken “certain effective steps” by inviting tenders but the process was still on. The Bench directed these states to implement the scheme “in its entirety” and ensure that all vehicles have the HSRPs within eight weeks from today “without exception and default”.
The Bench ordered Chandigarh, Bihar and Jharkhand to finalise the tender process within six weeks. Nagaland, West Bengal, Manipur and Puducherry have been asked to file compliance reports in four weeks.
The apex court passed the order on a PIL filed by MS Bitta, Chairman of All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, seeking introduction of tamper-proof number plates in order to ensure people’s safety.

Sikhs denied exemption from wearing helmet in Queensland

ਕੁਈਨਜ਼ਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੈਲਮਟ ਤੋਂ ਛੋਟ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਨਾਂਹ
ਬ੍ਰਿਸਬੇਨ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ (ਮਹਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਹਲੋਂ)-ਕੁਈਨਜ਼ਲੈਂਡ ਦੇ ਟਰਾਂਸਪੋਰਟ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੋ ਪਹੀਆ ਵਾਹਨ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਸਮੇਂ ਹੈਲਮਟ ਤੋਂ ਛੋਟ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਕ ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਮਲਟੀਕਲਚਰਲ ਅਤੇ ਟਰਾਂਸਪੋਰਟ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਐਨਾਨਸਟੀਕਾ ਪਾਲਸਜੁੜਕ ਨੂੰ ਮੋਟਰਸਾਈਕਲ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਸਮੇਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਹੈਲਮਟ ਤੋਂ ਛੋਟ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਲਈ ਚਿੱਠੀ ਲਿਖੀ (ਈ. ਮੇਲ) ਸੀ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਪਗੜੀ ਧਾਰੀ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੀਪਲ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਲਿੰਡਾ ਵਾਟਮੈਨ ਨੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਮੰਨਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਵ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਚਿੱਠੀ 'ਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਖੋਜ ਤੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਅੰਕੜਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੀ ਦਲੀਲ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਖਾਰਜ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ।ਇਥੇ ਵਰਨਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮਲਟੀਕਲਚਰਲ ਤੇ ਟਰਾਂਸਪੋਰਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਇੰਡੋਜ ਸਿੱਖ ਕਮਿਊਨਿਟੀ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਇਨਾਲਾ ਦੇ ਉਦਘਾਟਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਕਈ ਵਾਰ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ। ਲੰਮਾ ਅਰਸਾ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਇਥੋਂ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਨਕ ਅਖਬਾਰ 'ਚ ਨੌਰਥ ਕੁਈਨਜ਼ਲੈਂਡ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਸਾਈਕਲ ਉੱਪਰ ਹੈਲਮਟ ਤੋਂ ਬਗੈਰ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਬਿਆਨ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਅਗਰ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਛੋਟ ਮੰਗੇਗਾ ਤਾਂ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰਨੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ।

Four Indians among those raised fund for Barack Obama

ਓਬਾਮਾ ਲਈ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਚਾਰ ਭਾਰਤੀ
ਵਾਸ਼ਿੰਗਟਨ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ (ਏਜੰਸੀ)-ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਬਰਾਕ ਓਬਾਮਾ ਦੇ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਕਾਰਜਕਾਲ ਦੇ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਲਈ ਫੰਡ ਇਕੱਠਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਲੋਕਾਂ 'ਚ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਨਾਗਰਿਕ ਉਭਰ ਕੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਏ ਹਨ। ਓਪੇਨ ਸੀਕ੍ਰੇਟਸ ਡਾਟ ਆਰਗ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਲਈ ਦੂਸਰੀ ਪਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਓਬਾਮਾ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਲਈ ਕੁੱਲ 8.6 ਕਰੋੜ ਡਾਲਰ 'ਚੋਂ 3.5 ਕਰੋੜ ਡਾਲਰ ਅਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਈ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮੂਲ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ 'ਬੰਡਲਰਾਂ' 'ਚ ਅਜੀਤਾ ਰਾਜੀ, ਸ਼ੇਫਾਲੀ ਰਾਜਦਾਨ ਦੁੱਗਲ, ਦੇਵੇਨ ਪਾਰੇਖ ਤੇ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਤੰਖਾ ਨੇ ਕਰੀਬ 10 ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਾ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਸ਼ਬਦਕੋਸ਼ 'ਚ 'ਬੰਡਲਰ' ਅਜਿਹੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਦੋਸਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਾਲ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਅੰਕੜਿਆਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਆਧਾਰਿਤ ਨਿਵੇਸ਼ਕ ਅਜੀਤਾ ਰਾਜ਼ੀ ਨੇ ਓਬਾਮਾ ਦੇ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਲਈ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਾ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਉਣ 'ਚ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਅਜੀਤਾ ਡੈਮੋਕ੍ਰੇਟਿਕ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਤੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਬੋਰਡ ਦੀ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦੇ ਬਾਅਦ ਫੇਹਰਿਸਤ 'ਚ ਨਿਊਯਾਰਕ ਦੇ ਦੇਵੇਨ ਪਾਰੇਖ ਨੇ ਦੋ ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਉਣ 'ਚ ਮਦਦ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉਹ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਆਯਾਤ-ਨਿਰਯਾਤ ਬੈਂਕ ਦੇ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਬੋਰਡ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਹਨ। ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੀ ਸ਼ੇਫਾਲੀ ਰਾਜਦਾਨ ਦੁੱਗਲ ਤੇ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਤੰਖਾ ਨੇ 50 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਾ ਫੰਡ ਜੁਟਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਸ਼ੇਫਾਲੀ ਓਬਾਮਾ ਦੇ 2012 ਦੇ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਵਿੱਤ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਦੀ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਹੈ। ਜਦਕਿ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਲਾਸ ਏਂਜਲਸ ਐਲਟੋਸ ਹਿਲਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਕ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ ਬੁਲਾਰਾ ਹੈ।

Second Shaheed Bhagat Singh Kabbadi Cup concludees in Edmonton

ਦੂਸਰਾ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕੱਪ ਸ਼ਾਨੋ-ਸ਼ੌਕਤ ਨਾਲ ਸਮਾਪਤ
ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ (ਵਤਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ)-ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕਲੱਬ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦੂਸਰਾ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਰਿੱਕ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਨੇ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਆ। ਖੇਡ ਮੇਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਪੁੱਜੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਦੇ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਅਜ਼ਮਾਈ ਤੇ ਸਾਫ-ਸੁਥਰੀ ਖੇਡ ਨਾਲ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਮੋਹ ਲਿਆ। ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦਾ ਫਾਈਨਲ ਮੁਕਾਬਲਾ ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕਲੱਬ ਅਤੇ ਕੈਲਗਿਰੀ ਦੀ ਅੰਬੀ ਐਂਡ ਬਿੰਦਾ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕਲੱਬ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਦਿਲਚਸਪ ਸੀ, ਪਰ ਹਨੇਰਾ ਤੇ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੱਦੇਨਜ਼ਰ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਮੈਚ ਨੂੰ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਰੋਕ ਕੇ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਜੇਤੂ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਕਬੱਡੀ ਮੈਚਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸਨਦੀਪ ਸੁਰਖਪੁਰ ਨੂੰ ਵਧੀਆ ਰੇਡਰ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਕਾਲਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਧੀਆ ਜਾਫੀ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਹੈਰੀਟੇਜ਼ ਫਾਊਂਡੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਗਰਾਊਂਡ ਵਿਚ ਭੰਗੜਾ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ, ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਦੌੜਾਂ, ਵਾਲੀਬਾਲ, ਸੌਕਰ ਤੇ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਵੀ ਦੇਖਣਯੋਗ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 40 ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਉਮਰ ਦੇ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੋਅ ਮੈਚ ਵੀ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਕੀਤਾ। ਖੇਡ ਮੇਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਏ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸ: ਟਿੰਮ ਉੱਪਲ, ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਨਰੇਸ਼ ਭਾਰਦਵਾਜ ਤੇ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸੋਹੀ ਨੇ ਮੈਚਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਨੰਦ ਮਾਣਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਤਿੰਨੋਂ ਮਾਣਯੋਗ ਸ਼ਖ਼ਸੀਅਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਵੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਤੇ ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਸੀ: ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਗੁਰਚਰਨ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ ਰਣਸੀਂਹ ਕਲਾਂ ਨੇ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਨੂੰ ਸਫਲਤਾਪੂਰਬਕ ਨੇਪਰੇ ਚਾੜ੍ਹਨ ਲਈ ਸਮੂਹ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ, ਖੇਡ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ-ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਪੁੱਜੇ ਖਿਡਾਰੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਭਾਰੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਖੇਡ ਮੇਲੇ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਗੁਰਪਿੰਦਰ ਗਿੱਲ, ਸੋਨੀ ਸਵੱਦੀ, ਸ਼ੇਰਾ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਤੇ ਸੋਨੀ ਦੌਧਰ ਵੀ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸਨ।

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ 'ਤੇ ਬੰਬ ਦੀ ਅਫ਼ਵਾਹ ਨੇ ਪਾਈਆਂ ਭਾਜੜਾਂ

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ (ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿੱਝਰ)-ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ ਉੱਪਰ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਪੁੱਜੇ ਕਿੰਗ ਫਿਸ਼ਰ ਏਅਰ ਲਾਈਨ ਦੇ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਬੰਬ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਨੇ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਏਜੰਸੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਜੜਾਂ ਪਾ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ। ਪੁਲਿਸ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੀ ਸਫ਼ਾਈ ਮੌਕੇ ਸਫ਼ਾਈ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮ ਨੂੰ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੀ ਸੀਟ ਉਪਰ ਪਿਆ ਇੱਕ ਨੈਪਕਿਨ ਮਿਲੀਆ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਉੱਪਰ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਿਚ ਬੰਬ ਹੈ ਜੋ 90 ਮਿੰਟ ਬਾਅਦ ਫਟੇਗਾ। ਸਫ਼ਾਈ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਉੱਕਤ ਨੈਪਕਿਨ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ। ਇਸ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਦਸਤਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਬੰਬ ਨਿਰੋਧੀ ਟੀਮ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦਾ ਪੱਤਾ-ਪੱਤਾ ਛਾਣ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਪਰ ਕੋਈ ਬੰਬ ਵਰਗੀ ਚੀਜ਼ ਨਾ ਮਿਲੀ।

ਪੰਜਾਬ 'ਚ ਅਫ਼ਸਰਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੌਜਾਂ


ਸੇਵਾ-ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਹੱਦ ਹੀ ਕੋਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹੀ
ਜਲੰਧਰ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ-ਮੇਜਰ ਸਿੰਘ-ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅੰਦਰ ਖਾੜਕੂਵਾਦ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਮਾਨੇ ਵਿਚ ਅਫਸਰਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਦੀ ਰਹੀ ਖੁਲ੍ਹ ਖੇਡ ਦਾ ਅਸਰ ਏਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹੁਣ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਫਸਰ ਰਿਟਾਇਰ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ। 70-70 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਤੱਕ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਸੇਵਾ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਰਹਿਣ ਅਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਕਾਰਾਂ, ਕੋਠੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਤਨਖਾਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਲੁਤਫ ਲੈਣ ਦਾ ਜੁਗਾੜ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਵਿਚ ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਤੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਬਣਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ, ਬੋਰਡ ਜਾਂ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਹੋਰ ਅਦਾਰੇ ਹੁਣ 60 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ 'ਚ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ, ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਠਹਿਰ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਹੁਣ ਜਦ ਵੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਨੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਣਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਪਹਿਲੋਂ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਅੱਖ ਕਿਸੇ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਜਾਂ ਬੋਰਡ ਦਾ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਜਾਂ ਮੁਖੀ ਬਣਨ 'ਤੇ ਲੱਗੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਦੀ ਵਿਦਾਇਗੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਉਹ ਨਵੇਂ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਜਭਾਰ ਵੀ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਪਿਛਲੇ 15-18 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਵੀ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜੋ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਨਵੇਂ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਉਪਰ ਨਾ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ। ਮਜ਼ੇ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਰਾਜਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਅਤੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਚੋਣ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਪੱਤਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਰਾਜ ਦੇ ਮੁਲਾਜ਼ਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਾਲ 60 ਸਾਲ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਅਫਸਰਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਰਦੀ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਚੋਰ ਦਰਵਾਜਿਓਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਉਹ 65 ਤੋਂ 70 ਸਾਲ ਤੱਕ ਵਧਾ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਪਹਿਲੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਅਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੱਠਾ ਸਨ ਜੋ 1995 ਵਿਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਬੋਰਡ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਬਣੇ। ਇਸੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਆਈ. ਏ. ਐਸ. ਸੀ. ਡੀ. ਚੀਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਲਗਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਆਈ. ਏ. ਐਸ. ਨਿੰਰਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ 2001 'ਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਏ ਤੇ ਉਸੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਅਨੁਸੂਚਿਤ ਜਾਤੀ ਤੇ ਪਛੜੇ ਵਰਗਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਲਾਈ ਦੇ ਬੋਰਡ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਬਣ ਗਏ ਜੋ ਹਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਕਾਇਮ ਹਨ। ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਰਹੇ ਐਨ. ਕੇ. ਅਰੋੜਾ ਸਤੰਬਰ 2002 'ਚ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਬੋਰਡ ਦਾ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਲਗਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਏ ਸ: ਕੇ. ਐਸ. ਜੰਜੂਆ ਅਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸੀ. ਐਲ. ਬੈਂਸ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਥਾਪਿਆ ਗਿਆ, ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਤੋਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਏ ਆਰ. ਐਸ. ਮਾਨ ਨੂੰ 2002 ਵਿਚ ਨਵੇਂ ਬਣੇ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਰੈਗੂਲੇਟਰੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ, ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਜਨ ਕਸ਼ਯਪ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਬਣੇ ਤੇ ਅੱਜ ਕਲ੍ਹ ਮਹਾਤਮਾ ਗਾਂਧੀ ਇੰਸਟੀਚਿਊਟ ਆਫ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ। ਇਸੇ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਦੇ ਖੇਤਰੀ ਦਫਤਰਾਂ 'ਚ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਐਨ. ਕੇ. ਅਰੋੜਾ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਐਸ. ਕੇ. ਆਹਲੂਵਾਲੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਖੀ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਜੈ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਵੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਤੋਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਰੈਗੂਲੇਟਰੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਮੁਖੀ ਲੱਗ ਗਏ ਸਨ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਈ. ਏ. ਐਸ. ਜੋੜਾ ਵੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਅਹਿਮ ਅਹੁਦਿਆਂ ਉਪਰ ਬਿਰਾਜਮਾਨ ਹੋ ਗਏ। ਸ੍ਰੀਮਤੀ ਰੋਮੀਲਾ ਦੂਬੇ ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਰੈਗੂਲੇਟਰੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਏ. ਆਰ. ਦੂਬੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਹਨ। ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕੇ. ਕੇ. ਭਟਨਾਗਰ 2007 'ਚ ਰਿਟਾਇਰ ਹੋਏ ਤਾਂ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਬਣ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ਅਜੇ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਉੱਪਰ ਕਾਇਮ ਹਨ। ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਰਹੇ। ਸ: ਰਮੇਸ਼ਇੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਦੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਦਿਨ ਸੂਚਨਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਬਣ ਗਏ ਸਨ। ਹੁਣ ਵੀ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸੁਬੋਧ ਚੰਦਰ ਅਗਰਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਅਜੇ 31 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2012 ਨੂੰ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਣਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਅਗਲੇ ਪੰਜ ਸਾਲ ਲਈ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਪੱਕੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਚੱਕਰ ਵਿਚ ਉਹ ਇਕ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲੋਂ ਹੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਬਣ ਰਹੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਦੇ ਚੀਫ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਬਣਨ ਲਈ ਕਾਹਲੇ ਪਏ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਆਈ. ਏ. ਐਸ. ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਬੋਰਡਾਂ, ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਬਣੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ। ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਕੀ ਸੁਧਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਚਾਹਵਾਨ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਅਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਨਿਯੁਕਤੀਆਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਦੀ ਦੁਰਵਰਤੋਂ ਹੈ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉੱਚ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਉਪਰ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਰੁਤਬੇ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਹਿੱਤਾਂ ਲਈ ਕਰ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਪੀਪਲਜ਼ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਆਫ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਮੁਖੀ ਸ: ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੇ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੂੰ ਪੱਤਰ ਲਿਖ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਫਸਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੰਵਿਧਾਨਕ ਅਹੁਦੇ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰਨ ਜਾਂ ਚੋਣ ਲੜਨ ਉਪਰ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਦੋ ਸਾਲ ਲਈ ਪਾਬੰਦੀ ਲਗਾਈ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਉਹ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਅਹੁਦਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਹਿੱਤਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਨਾ ਕਰ ਸਕਣ।

ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਚ ਤਰਲੋਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਲਮਾਨ ਖੁਰਸ਼ੀਦ ਨੂੰ ਪੱਤਰ

ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ, 30 ਅਗਸਤ (ਜਗਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ)-ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਤਰਲੋਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕੇਂਦਰੀ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸਲਮਾਨ ਖੁਰਸ਼ੀਦ ਨੂੰ ਇਕ ਪੱਤਰ ਲਿਖ ਕੇ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਠੀਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਅਪਣਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਪੱਤਰ ਵਿਚ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਤਰਲੋਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਖ਼ਬਾਰ ਦੀ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਪੱਤਾ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਮੰਤਰਾਲਾ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਐਕਟ 1909 ਵਿਚ ਸੋਧ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਤਜਵੀਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਬਣਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦੇ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਘੱਟ-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਕੌਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹੋਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸਲਮਾਨ ਖੁਰਸ਼ੀਦ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਦਾ ਪੱਖ ਲੈਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੈਰਿਜ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਬਣਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮੰਗ ਤਾਂ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਇਸ ਐਕਟ ਅਧੀਨ ਵਿਆਹ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਜੋੜੇ ਲਈ ਵੱਖਰੇ ਰਜਿਸਟ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਖੁਰਸ਼ੀਦ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਐਚ.ਆਰ. ਭਾਰਦਵਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਡਾ: ਵੀਰੱਪਾ ਮੋਇਲੀ ਇਸ ਸੋਧੇ ਹੋਏ ਬਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਸਦ ਵਿਚ ਲਿਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਦੇ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਤੇ ਨਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੰਸਦ ਦੀ ਸਥਾਈ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੇ 4 ਦਸੰਬਰ 2007 ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਨ-ਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਇਸ ਤਜਵੀਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ।

Pregnant UNVA student fears deportation following raids

Aug 25, 2011, 03.51PM IST


VIRGINIA: A University of Northern Virginiastudent, who is seven months pregnant with twins, fears deportation after immigration officials raided her college last month.

Vandana Bhargav, 32, who is working on a doctorate in education, said that she is worried about her ability to remain in the U.S. and by the side of her husband Sudhindra, who works as a software developer for the national lender Fannie Mae.

"I've been looking at other universities, but admissions are closed for the fall, so I don't know what I will do," said Bhargav, who will have to begin her program afresh, since credits from the unaccredited UNVA cannot be transferred to other schools.

"We don't want to think about going back. We want the university to run," Bhargav said, adding that she hopes to eventually return to India to work for the betterment of primary school education.

"I have seen my wife struggle through UNVA for the past one and a half years. It is a shame to see all her time and effort go to waste," Sudhindra Bhargav sasid, adding that Vandana always gets top grades at the university.

UNVA, which bills itself as the most popular American college for Indian students, was raided by U.S. immigration officials July 29 for allegedly failing to comply with federal regulations for administering foreign student visas. Almost 90 percent of UNVA's students are from Andhra Pradesh.

Officials from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program served UNVA officials in Annandale, Virginia with a notice of intent to withdraw the college's ability to accept foreign students. The college has until the end of August to respond to the ICE notice.

The university is still allowed to function and is still certified, ICE spokeswoman Cori Bassett said in an earlier interview, but cautioned however that as an investigation gets underway, UNVA students' records may be terminated on a case-by-case basis.

If a student's record is terminated, his visa status - and ability to remain in the U.S. - would be in jeopardy. Bassett said students would have the option to transfer to another university or leave the country.

In January, ICE officials raided Tri-Valley University in Pleasanton, Calif. Several TVU students - who were mostly from Andhra Pradesh - were taken into custody following the January raids and held in detention or fitted with ankle monitors, which restricted movement to within 50 miles of the school. TVU has since shuttered its doors.

But UNVA was nothing like TVU, said Vandana Bhargav, in a telephone interview from her Herndon, Virginia home. "UNVA has followed all the regulations regarding classes and assignments. They are very strict," she said, adding that she was required to attend classes in person, rather than online, as was the case with TVU.

"It is a fallacy that UNVA is a degree mill," stated Bhargav. "It is just like any other university."

TVU and several other universities have come under the ICE radar for allegedly charging students about $4,000 per semester and immediately allowing them to work in the U.S., under a provision called curriculum practical training. Normally, foreign students are not allowed to work in the U.S. until they have completed three quarters.

UNVA maintains that it is officially accredited and therefore able to enroll foreign students. But the university was not recognized by any accrediting organization certified by the Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education.

UNVA claims accreditation from the American University Accreditation Council, which is not recognized by the Department of Education.

Bhargav said she knew UNVA was not properly accredited but she enrolled nevertheless, jumping at the chance for good research opportunities and to be close to Sudhindra. Tuition fee was also much less than similar institutions, she said.

The North American South Asian Bar Association, a group representing South Asian and Indian American lawyers, has pledged to provide legal support for students who have been impacted by the closure of TVU and the raid of UNVA.

"Recent raids have created a lot of fear and confusion for these students and their families in India," said Jolsna John, NASABA president, in a press statement. "Many students still lack representation and a clear understanding of their rights and obligations under their student visa status."

Meanwhile, according to PTI, a group of UNVA students, under the leadership of TANA, earlier this month met with senior officials of the Indian embassy in Washington, D.C., and urged them to take steps to ensure continuation of their studies in the U.S. 

British government blames immigration for job cuts

Aug 23, 2011, 07.15PM IST

Being a London underground traveller, I have always been fascinated to read the 'Metro' and 'London Evening Standard'. How India or any other country is talked about by a British citizen. I read articles in bold letters about how over 4 million people all over UK would be losing jobs and how the country and its people would suffer.

The new government decides to get to the root cause of all these problems and they highlight "Immigration"! Here is an excerpt from The Guardian: "Net migration into the UK rose by 25% to 237,000 people last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)."

These figures betray a government that has completely lost control over the past 10 years. This chaos is likely to increase as the home secretary and new immigration minister continue to be at loggerheads over government policy."

Nicholas Soames and Frank Field, co-chairmen of the Commons cross-party group on balanced migration, said the figures were a shock. "Net migration is much higher than expected - up by nearly 25% to almost a quarter of a million in one year - and very close to the record in 2004," they said in a joint statement. "Unless firm action is taken very soon, our population will hit 70 million even earlier than the government's present forecast of 2028."

"There is no way in which our public services can cope with such a rapid increase. Nor can we possibly build the necessary houses on remotely this timescale. We need to balance migration, and balance it soon."

Here are my two cents on it. I live here as a Tier-1 general visa holder. I have a job. Does the government look into the root cause of why Britons don't have a job? If you try to find out what percentage of the jobless people are Asians, Africans, Americans, Polish, you would be surprised to find that they are British! And by British I mean anyone who is here by birth, brought up as a British.

The education system is good no doubt, but how many children actually study or even go to colleges. Studies have revealed that not more than 25% of students get into universities. As early as 16, kids get into parties, drugs and sex and have no time to build a career. Most of them cannot read and write grammatically correct English because they never thought that was required.

Fair Enough, so now where do you look for jobs? Public sector needs a minimum qualification and credit checks before they can employ you. Private sector looks for much higher skill levels that you might not be fit for. Starting your own business requires funding that you don't have. What next? Allowances, yes government gives you allowances and you are happy because it fulfils your everyday needs.

People from other countries have been found to be hard working, skilled and ready to work at lower costs compared to the natives. Obviously there is a preference when it comes to getting the job done.

I am probably too new to comment on other communities here but let's talk about Indians. We are here in millions. Almost all of us have jobs or other means of earning a living. We maintain very good standards of living and still manage to save a good chunk to send back home. Organizations here find us to be highly skilled and sincere with our work. The bottom line is we still have jobs and newer opportunities.

Considering the racism that prevails in this country, do you think if the Government starts pushing every child to the university and gets them skilled to a level that there is one Brit against every 'outside' skill, we would still have jobs? Who would be crying then?

Madras HC stays execution of Rajiv Gandhi's killers

Aug 30, 2011, 12.14PM IST


CHENNAI: The Madras high court has granted an eight-week stay on the execution of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case.

A specially-constituted bench of Justices C Nagappan and M Sathyanarayanan passed orders on petitions filed by V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan and A G Perarivalan alias Arivu on Tuesday.

As the hearing was due to begin at 10.30am, the court hall and the passage outside was packed with advocates who were supporters of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and by young lawyers waiting to catch a glimpse of eminent jurist Ram Jethmalani.

Starting his arguments on the dot, Jethmalani, who represented Murugan, began by summarising the facts of the case. After the bomb blast in 1991, the judicial process of the case was over by May, 1999 with the Supreme Court confirming the death sentence pronounced by the lower court. A mercy plea presented to the Governor of Tamil Nadu was disposed of within 10 days in October, 1999. Submitted for a second time, the mercy pleas were rejected by the Governor on April 25, 2000. A day later, they sent a mercy petition to the President on April 26, 2000. The petitions were rejected by the President after a gap of 11 years and four months.

Quoting various Supreme Court and high court judgments that the delay was a ground for commutation of sentence, he said, "Unless the delay is properly explained or justified, it makes the death penalty immoral, illegal and, according to me, unconstitutional."

Addressing the judges, he said, "You must start with the assumption that more than two years' delay is, prima facie, wrong." An undue delay violated Article 21 of the Constitution (protection of life and personal liberty), he added.

Senior counsel Vaigai and reputed human rights lawyer Colin Gonsalves appeared for Santhan and Perarivalan respectively. "We argued that the delay is unconscionable. By no yardstick can a government sit on a mercy petition for so many years. Every minute is a minute of suffering for a convict on death row. We can't fault the petitioner for it. The delay is on part of the President's office," she said.

Even as the arguments continued inside, news trickled into the crowd waiting outside the court hall that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution that the death sentence should be commuted. This indicated a turn-around from chief minister J Jayalalithaa's earlier stand on Monday, quoting a directive from the Ministry of Home
Affairs, that the state government did not have the power to intervene once the President had rejected the clemency plea.

A representation was sent by People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) through its national secretary V Suresh to the CM. It stated that the power to grant commutation was provided under Section 257(1) of the Constitution. This could not be curtailed, controlled or abridged by a circular, the representation said.

Even as lawyers were discussing this development on Tuesday, a loud cheer erupted from those standing at the doors of the court hall when the order of stay was passed. A few advocates began whistling inside despite the judges still on their seats. Slogans of 'Mudhal Ammaichar Vaazhga' (long live the chief minister) and 'Ram Jethmalani Vaazhga' (long live Ram Jethmalani) soon rent the air. Lawyers were seen hugging each other in congratulation.

Soon, a group pushed its way through the crowd paving a path for Ram Jethmalani to exit through the crowd. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko, who emerged next, appeared to be swept along by the crowd. Naam Tamizhar leader and film director Seeman followed. The atmosphere on the premises was one of celebration with a string of crackers burst outside the campus.

Film director Manivannan, artist Trotsky Marudu and parents and sister of Perarivalan, one of the convicts, were among those who attended the hearing.

VHP warns of protest if parliament passes communal violence bill

VHP warns of protest if parliament passes communal violence bill

‘Jehar Khurani’ gang strikes again, robs 6 at religious function of Nanaksar Sect at Gurudwara Nanaksar Sahib

Jagraon, August 29,
As many as six persons including five persons became the victims of ‘Jehar Khurani gang’ during the 68th birth anniversary celebrations of Nanaksar sect founder Baba Nand Singh Ji at Gurudwara Nanaksar Sahib, some 5 kilometers away from here.
The incident came to light when six persons including five women were admitted to the local Civil Hospital when they fell unconscious after consuming some poisonous substance suspected to be served by the members of the gang last night.
The persons who became victims of the gang have been identified as Nasib Kaur and Davinder Kaur, both from New Delhi, Joginder Kaur of Mullanpur Dakha, Gurmail Kaur of Talwandi Bhaike, Jaswant Singh and an unidentified woman.
It is pertinent to mention here that lakhs of devotees from various parts of the country and abroad visitNanaksar every year to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Nand Singh Ji.
As such kind of incidents have taken place in the past too therefore a large number of police personals, including many in civil cloths, were deployed at Nanaksar this time to keep a tab on such kind of anti -social elements.
But in spite of this all, the gang members succeeded in looting six persons.
When the victims gained consciousness following treatment, it was found that all of them had been looted of gold ornaments and cash.
According to Nasib Kaur, a victim, who had come from New Delhi to take part in the celebrations, she only remembered that she had eaten some fruit ‘chaat’ from outside the gurdwara premises before going to sleep last night.
“I came to know about the incident next morning when I woke up and found myself in the hospital instead of the gurdwara. I was told that I was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state. When I checked, I found my gold bangles and ear-rings missing”, said Nasib Kaur.
In 2008, the ‘Jehar Khurani’ gang had targeted 13 persons and robbed them of gold and cash.
Moreover, two of the victims of the gang had also lost their lives.
In 2009, as many as eight persons were looted by the gang members while in 2010, seven devotees fell victim to the gang.
Meanwhile, the police has registered a case against unidentified persons and started investigation.
When contacted, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joginder Singh, who was heading the security arrangements, said, “We had made vast security arrangements this time to prevent any unpleasant incident like this here, but it is unfortunate that it happened.”
He said the police would investigate the matter and try to trace the persons responsible for this incident.

Lawyers’ support for Anna



The Punjab Tax Bar Association (PTBA) chairman Ashok Juneja, general secretary BR Kaushal and secretary general Lalit Takyar today said the taxation lawyers would support social activist Anna Hazare. They said the peaceful and non-political movement launched by Anna against corruption had awakened the entire nation, which stood by him and the made the government relent.

Brother ‘kidnaps’ couple to grab property



Ludhiana, August 29
With the arrest of one Daljit Singh, an IRB Constable at Jalandhar, the Khanna police claims to have solved the "kidnapping" case of a couple- Varinder Singh and Parminder Kaur, who were abducted from AR.Mills, Khanna (their residence), on August 26. The police has registered a case under section 364 against the brother of Varinder Kumar and six others. To grab the property of Varinder Kumar, his brother Dharminder Kumar settled in USA arranged persons in India to accomplish the task.
SP (Detective) Balwinder Singh said that the case had been registered following a complaint filed by Vijay Rani, mother of Varinder and Dharminder Kumar.
"We got the complaint that 5to6 unidentified persons had kidnapped the couple from their residence at around 8 pm. Since Vijay Rani lived on the ground-floor, she saidthat the persons took both of them away in separate cars. We started investigating the matter. On probing, we found that the brother of Varinder Kumar was in India itself and he was using the American phone numbers to hoodwink the police. Actually, Dharminder Kumar wanted to grab the property of Varinder as it was worth crores", informed the SP.
He further added that police parties were sent to different places to nab Dharminder Kumar and others involved in kidnapping. Balwinder said that Varinder was admitted to a drug-addiction Centre, at Kurali by the accused while his wife Parminder Kaur was beaten-up and was forced to sign some blank papers regarding property matters.
"She was later thrown near Sirhind. From there she contacted her relatives. We are interrogating Daljit Singh and hope to nab the culprits soon", said SP (D).

Online LLM in International Business Law

High Court fines youth for maligning girl on social site


New Delhi, August 29
The Delhi High Court today slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 on a youth who gave out his former girlfriend's mobile number on a social networking site (Orkut), projecting her as a callgirl, in 2008.
Saurabh, 25, approached the bench of Justice Ajit Bharihoke seeking quashing of an FIR filed against him by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) cell of the Delhi police under Section 67 (publishing of information which is obscene in electronic form) of the IT Act.
"The court imposes on you a fine of Rs.20,000," said the judge.
Meanwhile, the court also ordered quashing of the FIR against the youth after the girl's submission that she wants to withdraw the case.
The duo was studying together in a school in Pushp Vihar area of south Delhi when they became friendly with each other but later separated. The youth took the break-up badly and, deciding to take revenge, he shared the girl’s number on Orkut, saying that anyone can contact her anytime.
After some time, some mutual friends came to know about the matter and tried to sort it out. After some time, the girl, who is now married and lives in Mumbai, agreed to compromise and drop the charges. Therefore, the youth approached the high court, seeking relief.