Govt says no to insurance scheme for wheat crop

Chandigarh, January 13
The Punjab government has finally decided that it would not implement the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) during this rabi season for the wheat crop. Claiming that insurance cover is not required for wheat crop in Punjab as it is safe, mainly because of good irrigation network. The Agriculture Department has decided against launching the scheme of the Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC) of India.

However, the state government now says that it has no objection to the AIC offering its insurance product for wheat crop on its own in Punjab. Maintaining that the scheme would not be of much benefit to farmers, officials in the Agriculture Department said that they did not want to force farmers to pay premium for an insurance cover that was not required in the state.

They said that had the same scheme been offered for vegetable crops or fruits, they would have supported it.

It may be noted that the scheme was propounded by the Union Government last year and the Punjab government had agreed to implement it. A budgetary provision of Rs 5 crore was also made for the implementation of the scheme before the last kharif marketing season. But a pilot conducted for implementation of this scheme in last last kharif season at a few places, including Kalanaur in Gurdaspur, did not get the desired results.

This forced the state government to have a re-think on the viability of this scheme for farmers in Punjab. Meanwhile, AIC officials here said that the scheme should be implemented in at least five districts- Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sangrur, Muktsar and Mansa.

They maintain that the modified NAIS has been formulated, incorporating the necessary changes and modifications in the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS) in consultation with states, to make it more comprehensive and farmer friendly. These changes include reducing the notified area for insurance scheme to the panchayat-level for major crops like wheat.

Also, the yield of insured crop would be furnished by the state government by conducting the required number of crop cutting experiments at the village-level. Incidence of hail damage on insured crop would be treated as localised calamity and accordingly individual assessment at the farm-level would be done for claim settlement.

NRI vote scheme fails to inspire Punjab

Over 15 lakh Non-Resident Indians (NRI) don't really seem interested in the forthcoming assembly elections in Punjab despite the fact that several senior leaders, including Punjab Peoples' Party president Manpreet Singh Badal, have been making concerted efforts to seek their assistance and get them to participate.

According to the state election office, a mere 71 NRIs made a request to exercise their franchise, of which 47 of the applicants were rejected, while 24 have been allowed to cast their votes.

Officials said one the main deterrents has been the fact that the election office makes it mandatory for the NRIs tosubmit a copy of the visa, which many of them might have misplaced.

Manpreet Badal undertook an hurricane tour to mobilise support among the NRIs in November last, following which he fell out of favour with his core supporters who charged him with amassing lakhs of rupees from the NRIs, surreptitiously.

At different intervals, former chief minister Amarinder Singh and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal also undertook similar trips abroad to woo the NRIs.

The NRIs wield considerable influence whenever they have been involved in social activities like building schools and hospitals, particularly in the Doaba belt of Punjab. Besides their influence among people here, it is the monetary support that they lend which has been attracting the state's political leaders to them.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab polls have failed to enthuse non-resident Indiansdespite the attempts of all major political parties of the state to reach out to them ever since Manpreet Singh Badal addressed a sizeable gathering during his visit to Canada. Just 54 NRIs have registered with the Election Commission so far. Political parties are, however, keen to woo the NRIs because they send considerable sums of money back home where they have extended families and continue to wield influence. Badal, the estranged nephew of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and president of the People's Party of Punjab, created a stir when he addressed about 20,000 NRIs in Stetson Bowl in Surrey last year. Soon thereafter, the Akali Dal dispatched its NRI affairs minister Balbir Singh Bath to Canada. Amarinder Singh, former chief minister and president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, too went live on a few Canadian and American radio stations. The Congress party also deputed Jassi Khangura, a former NRI and its MLA from Qila Raipur, to reach out to various NRI groups in Canada, the US and Europe. "NRIs can sway votes from overseas as well because they fund campaigns and still have their relatives in India," says Sucha Singh Gill, director of Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development. "NRIs can make their presence felt, but their own participation in the electoral process is negligible," he said. Especially in the Doaba region,there is scarcely any village with a family that doesn't have a relative settled abroad. The NRIs won the right to vote in Indian elections following a notification by the Centre in November 2010. In Kerala, while 8,500 NRIs enrolled as voters, 4,500 exercised their right to vote during the last assembly elections. Many NRIs, however, allege that they are being threatened and told to stay away from the polls in Punjab. "I have been getting threatening calls for the past few months not to come to Punjab during election time. Some of my fellow NRI friends have even taken up this issue with the Punjab government, but we don't expect much from that quarter," said Sukhi Chahal, a member of the North American Punjabi Association. More than 18,000 NRIs are entangled in litigation in Punjab, where 6,000 of them have been declared proclaimed offenders. The NRIs say they are a soft target for the land mafia which they claim operates hand in glove with the state authorities. This makes them hesitant investors in their native state, they say. "The Akali government should explain how they have helped the NRIs? What will be the fate of the 6,000 NRIs who have been declared proclaimed offenders by the police?" says Khangura.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab polls have failed to enthuse non-resident Indiansdespite the attempts of all major political parties of the state to reach out to them ever since Manpreet Singh Badal addressed a sizeable gathering during his visit to Canada.

Just 54 NRIs have registered with the Election Commission so far. Political parties are, however, keen to woo the NRIs because they send considerable sums of money back home where they have extended families and continue to wield influence.

Badal, the estranged nephew of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and president of the People's Party of Punjab, created a stir when he addressed about 20,000 NRIs in Stetson Bowl in Surrey last year. Soon thereafter, the Akali Dal dispatched its NRI affairs minister Balbir Singh Bath to Canada.

Amarinder Singh, former chief minister and president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, too went live on a few Canadian and American radio stations. The Congress party also deputed Jassi Khangura, a former NRI and its MLA from Qila Raipur, to reach out to various NRI groups in Canada, the US and Europe.

"NRIs can sway votes from overseas as well because they fund campaigns and still have their relatives in India," says Sucha Singh Gill, director of Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development.

"NRIs can make their presence felt, but their own participation in the electoral process is negligible," he said. Especially in the Doaba region,there is scarcely any village with a family that doesn't have a relative settled abroad.

The NRIs won the right to vote in Indian elections following a notification by the Centre in November 2010. In Kerala, while 8,500 NRIs enrolled as voters, 4,500 exercised their right to vote during the last assembly elections.

Many NRIs, however, allege that they are being threatened and told to stay away from the polls in Punjab. "I have been getting threatening calls for the past few months not to come to Punjab during election time. Some of my fellow NRI friends have even taken up this issue with the Punjab government, but we don't expect much from that quarter," said Sukhi Chahal, a member of the North American Punjabi Association.

More than 18,000 NRIs are entangled in litigation in Punjab, where 6,000 of them have been declared proclaimed offenders. The NRIs say they are a soft target for the land mafia which they claim operates hand in glove with the state authorities.

This makes them hesitant investors in their native state, they say. "The Akali government should explain how they have helped the NRIs? What will be the fate of the 6,000 NRIs who have been declared proclaimed offenders by the police?" says Khangura.

Badal vs Badal, Singh vs Singh

It all started with the ruling Badal family. Manpreet Badal parted ways with uncle and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to launch his own political outfit, the People’s Party of Punjab. While the stated reason was the “over-dominance” of cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, Manpreet’s father Gurdas Badal said the falling-out happened after an astrologer advised Sukhbir to throw Manpreet out if he wanted his dreams to become the chief minister to come true.

Last month, it was Manpreet who was at the receiving end of the same charges of nepotism when two key aides, Kushaldeep Dhillon and Jagbir Brar, crossed over to the Congress, accusing Manpreet’s brother-in-law Jaijit Singh Jojo and wife Veenu Badal of running the party like their fiefdom.

With elections round the corner, the rebellions have spilled over, cutting across party lines. Analysts say that one reason could be the presence of Manpreet’s

PPP, providing those looking for a ticket an option.

The threat held out by those denied tickets is believed to be responsible for the Congress not announcing its list of candidates yet. As other carrots are held out to placate the disgruntled, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh even claims a merit in this clamour for tickets.

Calling the rebellion in over 30 of the 117 seats as “party workers and leaders smelling blood”, Singh says: “It is not happening for the first time. I have seen this in every election. Such clamour for tickets only happens when a party is sure to return to power. Our surveys have given us 70-plus seats and each wants to be a part of the coming government.”

The rebels:

The Badals are calling it a “decisive coup”. Last week, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh’s younger brother Malvinder embraced the Akalis at a press conference after his candidature from Samana seat in Patiala was sacrificed for his nephew, Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh. Malvinder accused his sister-in-law, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, of playing the spoilsport.

Amarinder was quick to label his brother’s defection as unprincipled and said it was party president Sonia Gandhi who had picked Raninder for the seat for having given a tough fight to Sukhbir’s wife Harsimrat Badal in Bathinda during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

However, though the Badals have gone to town with Malvinder’s cross-over, the Patiala royal has not yet got the ticket he wanted from Samana.

The Akalis had already nominated a former NRI, Surjit Rakhra, from the post.

Sukhbir’s other important catch this defection season has been Congress dissident Sant Brar, who is now the Akali candidate from Gidderbaha. Manpreet has won the seat four times in a row previously, each time with a higher margin. Brar, who contested last polls as an Independent, had got 28,000 votes compared to the 34,000 for the Congress’s official candidate, Raghubir Singh. Brar’s candidature, however, may cut both ways in a triangular contest. The Congress candidate is Youth Congress’s Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Other than Warring, Youth Congress faces in Fatehgarh Sahib and Majitha are facing opposition from old “loyalists”.

A big chunk of the rebels are family members of senior leaders denied tickets. While former chief minister Beant Singh’s son Tej Prakash opted out to make way for son Gurkirat Singh (from Khanna), Beant’s daughter Gurkanwal Kaur has described the Congress decision to field Manpreet’s cousin Jagbir Brar from Jalandhar Cantt as “rewarding turncoats”.

In the Akali Dal, the disgruntlement among members can largely be attributed to the rising clout of son Sukhbir and resistance to him by the old guard. At Dera Bassi, the daughter of former minister Captain Kawaljit Singh has raised a banner of revolt over “disrespect” to her father’s legacy in denial of seat to brother Jasjit Singh Bunny. She has announced that she would contest as an Independent against the Akali nominee, property baron N K Sharma. In Nawanshahr, Sukhbir’s decision to field Satinder Kariha, wife of MLA Jatinder Singh Kariha who passed away last year, is being opposed.

Sirhind MLA Didar Bhatti joined the PPP after being denied a SAD ticket and is now its candidate from neighbouring Fatehgarh Sahib seat.

In Ropar, a former education minister of the Akalis has joined the PPP too. The party had to also expel one of its candidates, Balwinder Singh Bains, finalised from Ludhiana south, after his brother Simarjit Singh Bains declared himself an Independent candidate against the party nominee, minister Hira Singh Gabria, from Ludhiana’s Atam Nagar constituency.

In Dera Bassi, the Congress is facing rebellion. Deepinder Dhillon, a close aide of Preneet Kaur, has decided to contest as an Independent against the party nominee from the seat, ex-minister Jasjit Randhawa, who incidentally is an Amarinder loyalist. 

Badal old-fashioned, I’m decisive: Capt

Chandigarh, January 10
Punjab Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh is hopeful of bouncing back to power in Punjab and said his government would deliver from Day one. He debunked all talk about his wife Preneet Kaur, who is the Patiala MP, being a chief ministerial candidate.

In an interview with Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune, Raj Chengappa, Amarinder maintained the Congress could not designate him as the chief ministerial candidate as the party would take this decision only after polls in all states.

He indicated that his track record as well as performance as the Chief Minister would be taken into consideration by the party high command. Playing down the revolt by his brother Malvinder Singh, who has joined the SAD, Amarinder said the Congress was comfortably poised in the state.

On the Manpreet factor, he said the PPP would only make a dent in the Akali vote share.

When asked how he compares himself to Parkash Singh Badal, Amarinder said in lighter vein: “I am going on 70 but feel like 35.” He added: “Badal’s system of working is old-fashioned. He is indecisive. I take quick decisions and I will deliver from Day one.” 

Politics of populism plagues Punjab polls

CHANDIGARH: Punjab polls have failed to enthuse non-resident Indiansdespite the attempts of all major political parties of the state to reach out to them ever since Manpreet Singh Badal addressed a sizeable gathering during his visit to Canada.

Just 54 NRIs have registered with the Election Commission so far. Political parties are, however, keen to woo the NRIs because they send considerable sums of money back home where they have extended families and continue to wield influence.

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal unleashed the subsidy offensive when he announced free power to 15 lakh farmers, instead of the 10 lakh covered earlier, in the run-up to the polls. Now, the Congress party is hard pressed to match this economic recklessness with yet more of the same.

It is a measure of the political compulsions in the agrarian state that even former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal - who challenged his party's subsidy regime and subsequently formed his separate party when he was expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal - has begun to justify subsidies with certain conditions.

Along with free power to farmers, the state provides subsidised grain to 16 lakh families below poverty line under the Atta Dal scheme.

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has been promising that his party will enhance the subsidies. He has already announced restoration of free power to the Dalits and the poor to 200 units per family, an entitlement halved by the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government. "We cannot let the small farmer die," Singh has said, "The input costs have gone so high over the time. The Congress will continue with subsidies for small farmers."

The state's subsidy bill on account of free power alone is set to swell to 4,200 crore by the end of this fiscal. The power supply system is in a shambles and the industry is forced to rely on captive generation.

Though Punjab needs to shell out 8,000 crore just to service its debt, the government points takes pride in the debt's declining share of the state GDP.

The total outstanding debt by the end of March is expected to be 30.43%, a smaller share of the state GDP than in 1990-91, when the debt was 6,870 crore but 36.38% of the state GDP. In 2010-11, the debt was just a shade lower as percentage of state GDP, at 69,549 crore, or 30.40% of the state GDP.

Amarinder Singh writes to EC accusing Punjab govt of misusing vigilance department

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh

The Punjab Congress has accused the state government of using state machinery in transporting black money to pay to the party rebels.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh has written to the election commission alleging that the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine was using the state vigilance department machinery in ferrying money to pay the Congress rebels and in the election campaign.

Singh named the SSP of the state vigilance bureau in Ludhiana for being involved in the activity. He accused the SSP of acting as the SAD-BJP election agent.

The former chief minister also requested that the plying of vigilance vehicles be stopped immediately to ensure free and fair election in the state.

Following the Congress's complaint, sources told Headlines Today that paramilitary forces were reaching Punjab later on Thursday and the election commission would ask them to check police vehicles for unaccounted money.

Trouble for Badal government,Congress-PPP ask EC for action on govt ad

CHANDIGARH:There seems to be more trouble for Parkash Singh Badal led government, as the opposition Congress and People's Party of Punjab have asked the Election Commission to take action against an advertisement reportedly released by the SAD-BJP combine government  in newspapers highlighting state government's  one of initiatives in health sector. The ad asking "vote for performance", avers that the government did what others (Congress) did not even think of.

Besides newspapers, the advertisement was also released on news channels. The Congress and PPP peeved with the ad said that it was a clear violation of the model code of conduct.

Earlier, following the directive of the election, the pictures of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on ambulances, bicycles gifted to school girls, ration cards and bags of foodgrain given to the beneficiaries of subsidized atta and dal (wheat flour and pulses) which helped the SAD to get  great deal  of publicity across the state were removed after the announcement of polls in the state in December. 

Besides this, the issue pertaining to functioning of Election Commission officials in Punjab has also generated  Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had shot off a letter to the Chief Election commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi asking him to ask his officials in Punjab not to overstep their mandate and should act within the defined parameters. 

The Chief Election commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi had retorted to Chief Minister by responding in his detailed strong worded letter stating that that the Commission operates within diligent awareness of its constitutional mandate and recognizes with the greatest respect the operational boundaries between various Constitutional bodies. If there have been any deviations in our work, we would be grateful if you bring specific cases to our notice.

The additional chief electoral officer (CEO) of Punjab, Raj Kamal Chaudhary, said the matter had been sent to the media monitoring panel for examining the said advertisement. 

Anti-incumbency to be major factor in Punjab Assembly elections

CHANDIGARH: With just less than three weeks to go for the assembly elections in Punjab, the ruling SAD-BJP alliance and major opposition party Congress are engaged in hectic election campaign to woo the voters of the state. Going by the fluctuating mood of the voters, both SAD and Congress seem to be apprehensive about their chances in the ensuing elections.

Irrespective of the electoral outcome, anti-incumbency is a major factor in the Punjab assembly elections. Anti-incumbency is such a big factor in Punjab politics, that in the history of state no party has been able to repeat victory and retain power in two consecutive elections       

In view of this, especially for SAD-BJP combine, it is arduous task to repeat its performance of 2007 in 2012 assembly elections. The Akalis had been beating the drum of massive development made under its regime as its major poll plank to make the voters woo in its favour.  However, it would be matter of surmising that to what extent, it would cut ice with the people of the state. Besides this, the Akalis need to do lot of convincing that why the people should vote for them again.  

Though Congress, the opposition party is sailing in different boat but it has also to contend with anti-incumbency against UPA government at centre. Though the anti-incumbency at national level has not much impact in the state politics, Anna campaign against corruption has made national anti-incumbency more pronounced due to which Congress needs to work harder.

Congress which held clear advantage at the initial stage seems to have messed up certain things in terms of great deal of delay and drama in distribution of tickets which led to disturbing the momentum of election campaign of the party.   

This election would also test Sukhbir Badal’s political acumen as in the previous assembly elections (2007) SAD-BJP had advantage due to anti-incumbency managed to oust the then Congress government. In addition to this, Sukhbir was given a lot of credit for having revitalized the demoralized SAD cadre.However, in the upcoming assembly elections, the SAD facing anti-incumbency, Sukhbir needs to make great deal of effort to neutralize this factor and pave the way for Akalis to retain power.     

Besides SAD and Congress,Manpreet Badal's People Party of Punjab (PPP)-led Sanjha Morcha in which the PPP and the Akali Dal (Longowal) joined hands with the CPM and CPI, would find the going tough to show  its effectiveness and make its presence felt  at the forthcoming Assembly polls. 

The political observers feel that PPP could be a spoil sport both for Congress and Akalis. They feel that in case anti-Akali votes go to PPP instead of Congress, it would benefit Akalis. Similarly, the undercutting of pro-Akali votes by PPP could benefit Congress. 

14 JAN, 2012, 02.10AM IST, VINEY SHARMA,ET BUREAU Infighting in Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress to help small parties in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The infighting within the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress party in Punjab may leave some space for the smaller parties in the polls ahead. Analysts say the Manpreet Singh Badal-led People's Party of Punjab especially has a fighting chance. 

"For anyone touched by the Anna Hazare campaign, the PPP seems one party in the fray that does not carry the baggage of corruption charges," says Chandigarh-based political analyst SP Singh. 

Badal, a former finance minister and nephew of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, formed his own party after he was expelled from the ruling alliance over his opposition to state subsidies in the face of mounting debts. 

Though the PPP will remain a minor player in most constituencies, it will nonetheless bag a significant number of votes, analysts say. 

The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party is also expected to have an influence in the four reserved seats of Jalandhar - Phillaur, Kartarpur, Adampur and Jalandhar West. 

However, the party, whose late founder Kanshi Ram hailed from Punjab, should do much better in the state which has about 29% Dalits, analysts say. Jalandhar, with about 37.69% Dalits, is among the cities with the highest concentrations of the community. 

"Doaba should have been the karmabhoomi of BSP leaders, since it is also the region where Kanshi Ram's birthplace lies, but that does not seem to be happening in the near future. It is high time Mayawati pays better attention to Punjab," says Singh. 

Though the party has lost some of its better-known candidates to the other parties, it hopes to do well in Adampur, where its candidate Sukhvinder Singh Kotli Than Singh carries some weight. "In some of the constituencies, the wave is pro-BSP," claims Punjab BSP president Avtar Singh Karimpuri. 

Analysts say the PPP can bank on a good show in Jalandhar Cantonment since it has roped in a Congress rebel, Rajinder Singh Baba Johl, as its candidate. It is a strategy that the PPP has adopted in several other constituencies as well.

People’s Party of Punjab (PPP), is eyeing a key role in government formation

The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP), less than a year old, is eyeing a key role in government formation in case the January 30 elections throw up a hung assembly. The party led by Manpreet Singh Badal, a rebel from the ruling Badal clan, has made it a triangular contest on at least 10 seats.

The 1997, 2002 and 2007 assembly elections witnessed a straight contest between the Akali-BJP combine and the Congress, but things are a bit different this time.

The PPP’s tie-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) and the Left parties to form the Sanjha Morcha has made it a force to reckon with.

The party’s electoral hopes rest on the agrarian Malwa region, particularly Lambi, the constituency represented by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, and Gidderbaha, from where Manpreet has been elected MLA four times.

From Lambi, the CM is facing his brother, PPP candidate Gurdas Singh Badal, as well as his cousin, veteran Congressman Mahesh Inder Singh Badal. Mahesh Inder had lost by just 8,000 votes to the chief minister in the 2007 polls.

In Gidderbaha, Manpreet is taking on former Congress leader Sant Singh Brar, who defected to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after being promised the ticket by Parkash Singh Badal. The Congress has fielded Amarinder Singh Warring, a first-timer as far as the assembly polls are concerned.

The other constituencies where the PPP could be a handful for the Congress as well as the SAD are Maur, Khanna, Budhlada, Bathinda (Urban), Kotkapura, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amloh, Dakha, Kharar, Mohali and Jaito (SC).

Manpreet is also contesting from the Maur seat in Bathinda district. His rivals are Akali minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon and sitting Congress MLA from Budhlada Mangat Rai Bansal.

The PPP suffered a major jolt when two of its top leaders — Kushaldeep Dhillon and Jagbir Brar — joined the Congress last month (Brar even managed to get the Congress ticket from the Jalandhar cantonment seat). However, the party has been bolstered by the entry of SAD rebels such as former minister Raghbir Singh from Kapurthala and Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, who will contest from the Fatehgarh Sahib seat.

Former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh has returned to the PPP, making things hard for Balwant Singh Ramoowalia (SAD) and Balbir Singh Sidhu (Congress) from the Mohali seat. Amarjit Kaur, sarpanch of Pangrain village, poses a challenge to Akali veteran Gurdev Singh Badal from the Jaito (SC) constituency.

Among the Congress rebels, the PPP is banking on former minister Harnek Singh Gharuan from Kharar and Gobindgarh councillor Jagmeet Singh Sahota (Amloh). Gharuan’s rivals are former Congress minister Jagmohan Singh Kang and the SAD’s Ujagar Singh Badali. Sahota’s main opponent is Jagdeep Singh Cheema of the SAD.

In Khanna, PPP candidate Gurpreet Singh Bhatti is pitted against the SAD’s Ranjit Singh Talwandi and the Congress’ Gurkirat Singh, son of late chief minister Beant Singh.

Other PPP hopefuls include Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder (Bathinda), Pardeep Singh Dhaliwal (Kotkapura), who resigned as a block samiti chairman to join the party, Ranjit Kaur (Budhlada-SC) and Daljit Singh Sadarpura (Dakha).

However, many PPP candidates are likely to suffer forfeiture of their security deposits.

ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਬਣੇ

ਲੰਡਨ, 12 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਐਨ ਆਰ ਆਈ ਸੈੱਲ ਦੇ ਕੋ-ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਸ: ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਦੇ ਮੁੜ 2012-13 ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਥਾਪਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸ: ਸਹੋਤਾ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਨਿਭਾਈਆਂ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੱਖ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਡਾ: ਕਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਹੋਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਦਾ ਮੌਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਸ: ਸਹੋਤਾ ਦੀ ਨਿਯੁਕਤੀ 'ਤੇ ਸ: ਗੁਰਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਟਕੜ, ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਗ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਔਲਖ, ਰਾਣਾ ਹਰਕੀਰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ, ਇਕਬਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਡਾ: ਕਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਹਾਈ ਕਮਾਨ ਦਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।

ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਦੀ ਨਿਯੁਕਤੀ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਗਤ

ਲੂਵਨ (ਬੈਲਜੀਅਮ), 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਅਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੋਗਲ)-ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸਿਮਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ, ਗੁਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲੀ ਬਾਬਾ ਗੁਰਦਿਆਲ ਰਾਮ, ਮਨਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੋਗਲ, ਕੁਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੈਂਟ ਅਤੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਐਨ. ਆਰ. ਆਈ. ਸੈੱਲ ਦੇ ਕੋ-ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਸ: ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਦੇ ਮੁੜ 2012-13 ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਬਣਾਏ ਜਾਣ 'ਤੇ ਵਧਾਈ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਰਖੂ ਅੱਖ ਵਾਲਾ ਨੇਤਾ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਹਰ ਨਿਯੁਕਤੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾਯੋਗ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤਰੱਕੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੀਹਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਤੁਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਚਾਰ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲਾ

ਕਤਲ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ 'ਚ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਭਰਾ ਤੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨੇ ਹਾਦਸੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਗੀ ਸਵੀਕਾਰੀ

ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਪ੍ਰੋ: ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ)-ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਮਾਂਟਰੀਅਲ ਵਿਚ ਚੱਲ ਰਹੇ ਇਕੋ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਚੌਹਰੇ ਕਤਲ ਕੇਸ ਵਿਚ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦਰਜਾ ਦੋਸ਼ਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ 20 ਸਾਲਾ ਹਾਮਿਦ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਵੱਲੋੀ ਇਕ ਟੇਪ ਵਿਚ ਸਨਸਨੀਖੇਜ਼ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸਦੀ ਮਤਰੇਈ ਮਾਂ ਤੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਭੈਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਡੁੱਬਣ ਵੇਲੇ ਉਹ ਰੀਡੋ ਕਨਾਲ, ਕਿੰਗਸਤਾਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਥਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਮੌਜੂਦ ਸੀ। ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਸਾਫੀਆ ਤੇ ਮਾਂ ਤੂਬਾ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਯਾਹੀਆ ਸਣੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਢਾਈ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਸਮੂਹਿਕ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਕਾਂਡ ਦੇ ਮੁਕੱਦਮੇ ਵਿਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹਾਮਿਦ ਨੇ ਮੂਸਾ ਹਾਦੀ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਿਕਾਰਿਆਂ ਕਿ 30 ਜੂਨ 2009 ਨੂੰ ਨਿਆਗਰਾ ਫਾਲਜ਼ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਪਸ ਪਰਤਣ ਸਤੇਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਨੇੜਲੇ ਹੋਟਲ ਵਿਚ ਠਹਿਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਸੀ, ਜਦੋਂ ਉਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਭੈਣਾਂ 19 ਸਾਲ ਯੈਨਬ, 17 ਸਾਲਾ ਸਾਹਰ ਤੇ 13 ਸਾਲਾ ਗੀਤੀ ਤੇ ਮਤਰੇਈ ਮਾਂ ਰੋਨਾ ਅਮੀਰ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਨਿਸਾਨ ਸੈਂਟਰਾ ਕਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਾਰ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਹੋਟਲ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਚੱਲ ਪਈਆਂ। ਹਾਮਿਦ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਅੱਬਾ ਤੇ ਅੰਮੀ ਨੂੰ ਸੁੱਤਿਆਂ ਨਾਰ ਜਗਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਲੈਅਕਸਮ ਗੱਡੀ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹੋ ਤੁਰਿਆ। ਕਥਿਤ ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਰੀਡੋ ਕਨਾਲ ਨੇੜੇ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਅਚਾਨਕ ਸੈਂਟਰਾ ਕਾਰ ਬੰਦ ਹੋਗ ਈ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਗੱਡੀ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਉਸ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਜੀ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਟੁੱਟੇ ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਰ ਕੇ ਵੇਖਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਏਨੇ ਨੂੰ ਸੈਂਟਰਾ ਕਾਰ ਰੁੜ ਪਈ ਤੇ ਵੇਖਦੇ ਹੀ ਵੇਖਦੇ ਨੇੜਲੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿਚ ਖਿਸਕ ਗਈ। ਰਿਕਾਰਡਿੰਗ ਵਿਚ 20 ਸਾਲਾ ਹਾਮਿਦ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਮਦਦ ਲਈ ਹਾਰਨ ਵਜਾਏ, ਫਿਰ ਰੱਸੀ ਵੀ ਸੁੱਟੀ ਪਰ 6-7 ਮਿੰਟ ਤੱਕ ਕੁਝ ਵੀ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਹਿਲਜੁਲ ਨਾ ਹੋਈ। ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਘਬਰਾ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਾਪਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਡਰਦਾ ਮਾਰਾ ਹੋਟਲ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਮਾਂਟਰੀਅਲ ਚਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਹਾਮਿਦ ਨੇ ਦਲੀਲ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਜਾਂ ਮਾਂ-ਬਾਪ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਡਰਦਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਾਸ ਡਰਾਈਵਿੰਗ ਲਾਇਸੰਸ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਸਾਫੀਆ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਲਈ। ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹਾਮਿਦ ਹਾਦਸੇ ਵਾਲੇ ਥਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਤਿੰਨੇ ਕਥਿਤ ਦੋਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਚੌਹਰੇ ਕਤਲ ਕੇਸ ਦੀ ਸੁਣਵਾਈ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ।

ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਨੇ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਕੋਰਟ 'ਚ 6 ਸਕਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ ਠੋਕਿਆ

ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ)-37 ਸਾਲਾ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਤੇ ਦੋ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਬਾਪ ਬਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਸਕਿਆਂ ਦੇ 6 ਪਰਿਵਾਰਕ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਨੋਂ ਮਾਰਨ ਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ 'ਚ ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ ਦਾਇਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਕੋਲੰਬੀਆ ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਕੋਰਟ 'ਚ ਦਰਜ ਹਰਜ਼ਾਨੇ ਦੇ ਦਾਅਵੇ 'ਚ ਰਾਏ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਾਦੇ ਤੇ ਪੰਜ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਅਣਖ ਖਾਤਿਰ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਰਚਣ ਦੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਇਲਜ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਏ ਹਨ। ਪੀੜਤ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਰਜ ਬਿਆਨ 'ਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਛੋਟਾ ਸੀ, ਤਦ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਮਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਪ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਾਦਾ-ਪੜਦਾਦਾ ਆਦਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅੰਦਰਲੀ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਤੋਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਖਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ 'ਚ ਸਨ। ਬਰਿੰਦਰ ਰਾਏ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ 1996 ਵਿਚ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਫੇਰੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪਿੰਡ 'ਚ ਖੇਤਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਾਦਾ ਜ਼ੋਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ, ਜੋ ਰਿਚਮੰਡ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦਾ ਵਸਨੀਕ ਹੈ, ਵੱਲੋਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਗੋਲੀ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਜ਼ਖ਼ਮੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਇਕ ਸਾਥੀ ਹਰਭਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਂਅ ਦੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਉਥੇ ਹੀ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਂਅ ਲਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ। ਮਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਮਸਾਂ ਬਚਣ ਤੇ ਇਲਾਜ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਜੇਲ੍ਹ ਅੰਦਰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਕੇ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਪਾਸਪੋਰਟ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਕਾਗਜ਼ਾਤ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਲੈ ਲਏ ਗਏ ਤੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਲੰਬੀ ਖੁਆਰੀ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਉਹ ਵਾਪਸ ਆਉਣ 'ਚ ਸਫਲ ਹੋਇਆ। ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਆ ਕੇ ਰਾਏ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਥਿਤ ਦੋਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਉਧਰ ਜ਼ੋਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਗੁਰਲਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਦੇ 90 ਸਾਲਾ ਬਾਪ ਨੂੰ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਗਲਤ ਹਨ, ਬਲਕਿ ਬਰਿੰਦਰ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਪੈਸੇ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਘੜ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਅਸਲ 'ਚ ਅਣਖ ਖਾਤਿਰ ਕਤਲ ਵਾਲੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਉਲਟਾ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਾਇਆ ਕਿ 10 ਦਿਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਨੋਂ ਮਾਰਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਧਮਕੀਆਂ ਮਿਲੀਆਂ ਹਨ, ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਕੋਲ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰਲਾਲ ਰਾਏ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ ਠੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।

ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੈਂਸ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਸੇਵਾ

ਬਰਮਿੰਘਮ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਪਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ)-ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜੋੜੇ ਵਲੋਂ ਚਾਰ ਦਹਾਕਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਵੱਧ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੰਸ ਬਰੋਕਰਜ਼ ਲਿਮਟਿਡ ਵਲੋਂ ਇਕ ਨਵੀਂ ਪਾਲਿਸੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਤਹਿਤ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰੇ, ਮੰਦਿਰ, ਮਸਜਿਦਾਂ, ਕਮਿਊਨਿਟੀ ਸੈਂਟਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸਕੂਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੀਮੇ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਡਾ: ਧਰਮ ਦੁੱਗਲ ਅਤੇ ਡਾ. (ਸ੍ਰੀਮਤੀ) ਸਰੋਜ ਦੁੱਗਲ ਨੇ 1971 ਵਿਚ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ। ਡਾ: ਸਰੋਜ ਦੁੱਗਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਸਦਕਾ ਇਹ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਦਿਨ ਦੁੱਗਣੀ ਰਾਤ ਚੌਗੁਣੀ ਤਰੱਕੀ ਕਰਦੀ ਗਈ ਅਤੇ ਡਾ. ਦੁੱਗਲ ਨੂੰ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਲੇਡੀ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੈਂਸ ਅੰਡਰਰਾਈਟਰ ਬਣਨ ਦਾ ਮਾਣ ਵੀ ਹਾਸਲ ਹੈ । ਉਸ ਨੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਸਥਾਨਕ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚ ਰੱਖਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਤਬਦੀਲੀਆਂ ਲਿਆਂਦੀਆਂ। ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੈਂਸ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਯੂ.ਕੇ. ਵਿਚ 42 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਕਈ ਮਾਣਮੱਤੇ ਐਵਾਰਡ ਹਾਸਲ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਵਲੋਂ ਘਰਾਂ, ਦੁਕਾਨਾਂ, ਕਮਰਸ਼ੀਅਲ, ਕੇਟਰਿੰਗ ਵਪਾਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੰਸ ਸਕੀਮਾਂ ਚਲਾਈਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਇਹ ਨਵੀਂ ਸਕੀਮ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਤਹਿਤ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰਾਂ, ਮੰਦਿਰਾਂ, ਮਸਜਿਦਾਂ, ਕਮਿਊਨਿਟੀ ਸੈਂਟਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਸਕੂਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇੰਸ਼ੋਰੈਂਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਸੇਵਾਵਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਪਾਲਿਸੀ ਯੂ.ਕੇ. ਦੀਆਂ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮਿਲੇ ਸੁਝਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਧਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ । ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਗਾਹਕਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਕਰਾਊਨਜ਼ਵੇਅ ਤੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਹੋਰ ਪਾਲਿਸੀ ਲੈਣ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਰਿਆਇਤ ਦਾ ਵੀ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ।

ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਭਾ ਬ੍ਰਿਸਬੇਨ ਦੀ ਉਸਾਰੀ 'ਤੇ 50 ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ

ਬ੍ਰਿਸਬੇਨ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਮਹਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਹਲੋਂ)-ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਕੁਈਨਜ਼ਲੈਂਡ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਬ੍ਰਿਸਬੇਨ ਦੇ ਉੱਤਰੀ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ 2009 'ਚ ਨਵੇਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਕੰਮ ਬਹੁਤ ਤੇਜ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਲਈ ਥਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਘਰ ਨੂੰ ਆਰਜ਼ੀ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਵਰਤਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਨਵੀਂ ਉਸਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਨਕਸ਼ੇ ਆਦਿ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਵਿਚ ਦਾਖ਼ਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਲਈ ਨਵੀਂ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦਾ ਗਠਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਬੀਬੀ ਹਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ, ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ, ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਮੋਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ, ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੁਣੇ ਗਏ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਬਿਲਡਿੰਗ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਲਈ ਗੁਰਮੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਗ, ਜੋਧ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ, ਕੁਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੁਣੇ ਗਏ। ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਲਾਇਬ੍ਰੇਰੀ, ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਕੂਲ ਤੇ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਿਖਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ ਉੱਪਰ 50 ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦਾ ਖਰਚ ਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਮਾਨ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਲਈ 13 ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਖਰੀਦੀ ਜਾ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ। ਸਮੂਹ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਕਾਰਜ 'ਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।

ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਯੂ ਐਸ. ਏ. ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲਈ 5 ਮੈਂਬਰੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਬਣਾਈ

ਕੈਲੀਫੋਰਨੀਆ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ (ਹੁਸਨ ਲੜੋਆ ਬੰਗਾ)-ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਮਿਸ਼ੀਗਨ ਸਟੇਟ ਦੇ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਓਵਰਸੀਜ਼ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸੰਨ੍ਹੀ ਧੂੜ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਮਨਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰੈਜ਼ੀਡੈਂਟ, ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਨਰਲ ਸੈਕਟਰੀ, ਕਰਮਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਰਾਜ ਜਾਮਾ ਰਾਏ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਸਕੱਤਰ, ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਰਾਣੀ ਮਾਹਲ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਐਡਵਾਈਜ਼ਰ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਵਿਜੇ ਦਿਸਾਈ, ਡਾਕਟਰ ਦਲੀਪ ਸਕਸੈਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਅਸ਼ੋਕ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਰੇਸ਼ਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੈਣੀ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਬਾ ਖਹਿਰਾ ਦੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਅਹਿਮ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਕਰਕੇ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਇਕ ਪੰਜ ਮੈਂਬਰੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦਾ ਗਠਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਾਰੇ ਨਾਮਜ਼ਦ ਕੀਤੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ 15 ਤੋਂ 20 ਜਨਵਰੀ ਤੱਕ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਜਾਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਡਾ: ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਤਾਕਤ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਣ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਨੂੰ ਤਨੋਂ, ਮਨੋਂ ਅਤੇ ਧਨੋਂ ਸਾਥ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਕਰਨਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਅਸੈਂਬਲੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਹੂੰਝਾ ਫੇਰ ਜਿੱਤ ਹਾਸਿਲ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਵਧੀਕੀਆਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਕੁਰਲਾ ਉੱਠੀ ਲੁਕਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਹਤ ਦਿਵਾਉਣਗੇ।

ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਸਖ਼ਤੀ ਨੇ ਚੋਣ 'ਚ ਖੁਸ਼ਕੀ ਭਰੀ

ਨਾ ਕਿਧਰੇ ਝੰਡੀਆਂ, ਨਾ ਹੋਰਡਿੰਗ ਤੇ ਨਾ ਵੱਜਦੇ ਨੇ ਸਪੀਕਰ

ਜਲੰਧਰ, 13 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਰੌਲੇ-ਰੱਪੇ ਦਾ ਨਾਂਅ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਸਨ। ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੰਧਾਂ ਪੋਸਟਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਲਿੱਪ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਸੀ। ਘਰਾਂ, ਜਨਤਕ ਥਾਵਾਂ ਤੇ ਸੜਕਾਂ ਦੁਆਲੇ ਰਾਜਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਝੰਡੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸਨ। ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ 'ਚ ਰਿਕਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਰੱਖੇ ਸਪੀਕਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੰਨ ਪਾੜਦੇ ਸਨ। ਦਿਨ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ, ਰਾਤ 10 ਵਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਚਲਦਾ ਰੈਲੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਿਲਸਿਲਾ ਚਾਰੇ ਪਾਸੀਂ ਰੌਣਕਾਂ ਲਗਾ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਸੀ। ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਦਫਤਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਚੱਤੇ ਪਹਿਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਝੂੰਮਟ ਜੁੜੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸਨ। ਦਿਨ ਨੂੰ ਚਾਹ-ਲੰਗਰ ਤੇ ਰਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੇ ਲੰਗਰ ਚਲਦੇ ਸਨ। ਗੱਲ ਕੀ ਚੋਣ ਅਮਲ ਦੇ 45 ਦਿਨ ਪੂਰਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਵਾਂ-ਰੌਲੀ ਦੇ ਵਸ ਪਿਆ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ। ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਚੜ੍ਹੀ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਪ੍ਰਦੂਸ਼ਣ ਤੇ ਲਿਪੀਆਂ ਕੰਧਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਫਿਰ ਕਈ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਲੱਗ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਸਨ। ਪਰ ਆਖਰ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਚੋਣ ਘੜਮਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ 'ਚ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸਖਤ ਰੁਖ਼ ਅਪਣਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਆਮ ਜਨਜੀਵਨ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਿਤ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਤਹੱਈਆ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦਾ ਨਤੀਜਾ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ 30 ਜਨਵਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲਈ ਚੋਣ ਅਮਲ ਤਾਂ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਜੋਬਨ ਉੱਪਰ ਪੁੱਜਣ ਲੱਗਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਸਖਤੀ ਨੇ ਚੋਣ ਮਾਹੌਲ ਵਿਚ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ 'ਖੁਸ਼ਕੀ' ਭਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ 45 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਚੋਣ ਅਮਲ ਨੂੰ ਘਟਾ ਕੇ 21 ਦਿਨ ਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਚੋਣ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਕਾਫੀ ਹਲਕੀ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਰਾਜਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹਨ। ਅੱਜ ਦੇ ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਮਾਨੇ ਵਿਚ 45 ਦਿਨ ਚੋਣ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਚਲਾਉਣੀ ਵੱਡੇ-ਵੱਡੇ ਖੱਬੀ-ਖਾਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਵੀ ਖਾਲਾ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਵਾੜਾ ਨਹੀਂ। ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਲਸਾ-ਜਲੂਸ ਕੱਢਣ ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਸਰਗਰਮੀ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਚੋਣ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨਗੀ ਲੈਣਾ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਨਾਲ ਹੀ 16 ਲੱਖ ਰੁਪਏ ਤੱਕ ਖਰਚੇ ਦੀ ਸੀਮਾ ਬਾਰੇ ਵੀ ਬੜੇ ਕਦਮ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਖਰਚਾ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਨਾਲੋ-ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਸਰਗਰਮੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਖਰਚੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ-ਕਿਤਾਬ ਵਿਚ ਜੋੜੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਜਲਸਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਲਾਏ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਚਾਹ ਦੇ ਕੱਪ ਵੀ ਮੌਕੇ ਉੱਪਰ ਹੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਗਿਣ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਸਮੱਗਰੀ ਤੇ ਖਾਣ-ਪੀਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਸਤਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਦਰਾਂ ਆਪ ਤਹਿ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ। ਛਪੀ ਹੋਈ ਸਮੱਗਰੀ ਉੱਪਰ ਵੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਸਖਤ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਰੱਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਚੌਕਸੀ ਦਾ ਨਤੀਜਾ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਵਾਰ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਰਾਜਸੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਖਰਚਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਸੰਜਮ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਸਾਰੇ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲਾ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਚੇਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਸਖਤੀ ਕਾਰਨ ਆਮ ਲੋਕ ਇਹ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਆਮ ਸੁਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਅਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਾਹੌਲ ਬਣਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ। ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅਗਲੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕਾਵਾਂ-ਰੌਲੀ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਸਰਗਰਮੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਰਹੇ। ਰੌਲਾ-ਰੱਪਾ ਰਹਿਤ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਚ ਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਸਾ ਵੀ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

Canada changing election laws to reflect Twitter reality

The Harper government has repealed the ban on communicating election results while polls are still open, bringing the law into harmony with the realities of instantaneous communications in the 21st century.

The Harper government will repeal the ban on communicating election results while polls are still open, bringing the law into harmony with the realities of instantaneous communications in the 21st century.

The ban on early communication of election results was adopted in 1938, to prevent western voters knowing the results of the election in the east when they cast their ballots.

Apple suspends iPhone sales at China stores

BEIJING — Apple said Friday it was suspending sales of the new iPhone at its China stores after fans desperate to get their hands on it fought with security and threw eggs at an official outlet.

Police detained at least two people outside the Beijing shop on Friday when angry crowds who had queued for hours in freezing temperatures for the Chinese launch of the iPhone 4S were left furious after being refused entry.

An AFP reporter outside the store in the upmarket Sanlitun district saw frustrated shoppers attack a security guard after police with megaphones shouted at the 1,000-strong crowd to go home and said the gadget would not go on sale.

"We waited here all night. It's not fair," said 18-year-old Tom Sun. "We're angry because this American company told us it would open its doors at 7:00 am."

Apple said its other mainland China stores — another in Beijing and three in Shanghai — had sold out of the new device within hours.

"The demand for iPhone 4S has been incredible," said spokeswoman Carolyn Wu.

"Unfortunately we were unable to open our store at Sanlitun due to the large crowd, and to ensure the safety of our customers and employees, iPhones will not be available in our retail stores in Beijing and Shanghai for the time being."

Apple said customers could still order iPhones online and at other authorized retailers in China.

A worker at a small, downtown China Unicom shop said 80 iPhone 4S models had sold out in four hours.

Some of the people gathered outside the Sanlitun store from the early hours on Friday told AFP they had been promised 100 yuan (almost $16) each by touts to stand in line and wait for the doors to open.

Shouts of "Open the doors!" and "We want mobile phones!" went up occasionally as the restless would-be customers jostled to get close to the front of the pack. Many took videos of the scene, using older iPhones.

One young Chinese man who refused to give his name said he planned to buy as many of the phones as he could and resell them at a profit of at least 500 yuan ($79) a piece.

"These are not fake iPhones," he said. "People want Steve Jobs' best."

Reselling is a major industry in China, where the new iPhone has been on sale for months at a premium on the black market, after being smuggled in from neighbouring countries and from Hong Kong.

The new model, which features a high-definition video camera and a quick-witted artificial intelligence "personal assistant" named Siri, had its global launch in October.

Die-hard fans in China, which has the world's largest online population with more than 500 million users, have been known to line up for days to get their hands on the latest Apple products.

"I will be really upset if they don't open the doors," said 29-year-old Li Tianye, who had travelled for two days by bus from the eastern province of Shandong to get to Beijing for the launch, staying in a 24-hour McDonald's overnight.

But not everyone was disappointed. Some Beijing shoppers willing to pay a premium bought the iPhone 4S at an electronics retailer one floor below Apple's Beijing Sanlitun store after seeing the trouble upstairs.

"There was a problem at the Apple store. Too many angry people," said a young Chinese man who gave only his surname, Du, and said he had been waiting since Thursday evening to buy the phone.

Du told AFP he had paid 5,388 yuan for the most basic model of the iPhone 4S — sold online in China by Apple for 4,988 yuan.

This is not the first time a near-riot has broken out at a product launch at Apple's Sanlitun store, China's first when it opened in 2008.

In May, four people were taken to hospital and a glass door smashed as crowds rushed to snap up the popular iPad 2 tablet computer.

Calmer scenes were witnessed in Shanghai Friday, where an AFP reporter said Apple stores selling the phone had opened to large crowds.

Greater China — which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan — has become Apple's fastest growing region, with revenue there second only to the United States.

In October, Apple said China accounted for 16 per cent of its revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter. Revenue from China in the year ended September 24 was $13 billion, up from $3 billion a year earlier, the company said.

The California-based company has recently expanded aggressively in China, opening its first store in Hong Kong and its third in Shanghai last September, which brings the total to six in Greater China.

But Apple's popularity has also brought problems, with widespread counterfeiting and illegal smuggling of its products.

In July, an American blogger uncovered fake Apple stores in the southwestern city of Kunming, where even staff working there did not appear to know they were not genuine.