Aam Aadmi Party parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann should be sent to a rehabilitation centre for his “alcohol addiction”, some Members of Parliament have told Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJP Parliamentarian Mahesh Giri and MP Harinder Singh Khalsa are among those who have written to the Speaker advising her against allowing Mann to attend Parliament sessions until he undergoes treatment.
Mann has been accused of coming to Parliament drunk.
Meanwhile, sources claimed a committee investigating allegations that Mann had put Parliament at risk when he filmed its security procedure on Tuesday has found him guilty.
The source claimed that the nine-member parliamentary committee agreed unanimously that action should be taken against the MP.
The Member of Parliament from Sangrur filmed Parliament’s security checks last month and posted it on Facebook, drawing criticisms. Mahajan set up a committee to investigate if his act put Parliament at security risk.
Mann apologised for his act, but also told the committee he had done “no wrong”.
Parliament was attacked on December 13, 2001, killing 13 people. — Agencies
Another poll dole, conversion policy for industrialists soon
After cheaper power, govt set to allow mixed use of industrial plots
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 2
The Punjab Government is all set to give a go-ahead to a conversion policy for industrial plots in the state’s 45 industrial estates/focal points. The aim is to woo the industry ahead of the assembly elections. The government has already reduced power tariff for industrial consumers.
The conversion policy was brought up by the Housing Department in the Cabinet meeting on Friday.
With the industrial activity in the state slowing down, especially in the manufacturing sector, the industrialists have been long demanding such a policy on the lines of the ones in Haryana and Chandigarh.
A lot of industrial units have been lying shut and the proposed policy will allow some commercial activity in focal points.
Under the policy, allottees will be allowed a mixed use of their industrial plots i.e. for commercial purposes as well as institutional use. Official sources say initially, the policy will be introduced for the focal points in Ludhiana and Mohali where around 30 per cent of the plots have no industrial activity.
The conversion will only be allowed for plots which are situated on the external/internal circulation roads with a right of way (RoW) of 18 metre and above, keeping in view the congestion likely to be created on account of increased intensity of traffic and parking of vehicles.
The plots will be allowed to be used for the services sector – hotels, malls, warehousing and for setting up institutes.
The sources say a decision on the floor area ratio (FAR) is yet to be taken. Presently, an FAR of 1 is allowed in the industrial areas of Punjab, while Haryana allows an FAR of 1.25 and Chandigarh 2.
RS Sachdeva, co-chairman, Punjab committee of PHD Chamber, who was part of the discussions on the policy, said they were seeking an FAR of 2 in Punjab. “We want the Gurgaon model for the conversion of industrial plots in the state,” he said.
Officials say the policy will be announced this month after parameters regarding the cutoff date for the industry, FAR and the area of plots that can be converted for retail, institutional or warehousing use, are set.
Why conversion
- A lot of industrial units have been lying shut. The proposed policy will allow commercial activity in focal points. The industrialists have been long demanding a conversion policy on the lines of the ones in Haryana and Chandigarh
What it means
- After the conversion, industrialists will be allowed to use their plots in focal points for the services sector – hotels, malls, warehouses and for setting up institutes
Arms licence norms now tougher for you, but not for the politicians
Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 2
The Union Home Ministry has toughened the firearm regulations for the common man, but it will be easier now for politicians, especially elected representatives, to get an arms licence.
As per the Arms Rules-2016, notified recently, it is obligatory for the licensing authority to grant the licence to “any MP or MLA, who by virtue of having a close or active association with anti-militant, anti-terrorist or anti-extremist programmes and policies of the government or by mere reason of holding views, political or otherwise, exposed himself to an anticipated risk to his life.” The norms have also been eased for the kin of politicians, besides bureaucrats and members of shooting clubs or rifle associations.
For ordinary citizens, it is mandatory to have firearm training before applying for the licence. Even air guns will require an arms licence. The applicants will have to give an undertaking that they have adequate space for keeping the weapon safely at home.
Usually, the licences are issued for three categories: self-defence, sports and crop protection. In Punjab, a majority of the weapons is procured on the grounds of self-defence, particularly in view of family feuds.
The licensing authority, such as Deputy Commissioners, will now have to specify the reasons for sanctioning or denying the licence to the applicant.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has allowed citizens to own licensed electronic disabling devices such as Taser guns that will soon replace pepper sprays and ensure more security for women in the backdrop of the recent gangrape cases. The new rules also empower state governments to declare new gun-free zones
Contest from Jalalabad, Sukhbir dares Manpreet
Our Correspondent
Fazilka, August 2
Deputy Chief Minister and Jalalabad MLA Sukhbir Singh Badal today dared his estranged cousin, Congress leader Manpreet Badal, to contest against him in the Assembly elections.
“The outcome of the contest will prove that the SAD-BJP alliance rules the hearts of the people,” he said.
Sukhbir held Sangat Darshan programmes for 17 villages under his constituency and disbursed grants to the tune of about Rs 15 crore on the first day of his two-day tour.
The SAD president also distributed bicycles among the children of registered construction labourers at Government Senior Secondary School, Lamochar Kalan village.
Congress to give ticket on merit, not reference
Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 2
The Punjab Congress has intensified its exercise to narrow down on the probable candidates with high “winability” profile.
The Congress high command has asked the state leadership to use different channels to shortlist candidates by September-end. The process could also include feedback from different frontal organisations and cells of the PPCC.
It is learnt that PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh is independently ascertaining the winability of the candidates. CLP Leader Charanjit Singh Channi is also getting an independent survey done. “The survey will play an important role in shortlisting the candidates,” he said.
“The names of at least 35 of sitting MLAs and 30 leaders who lost by low margin in the 2012 elections but are very popular in their respective areas are almost clear. The final decision will be taken by the election committee, comprising Amarinder and Channi and headed by AICC president Sonia Gandhi,” said a senior AICC functionary.
There are around 30 seats such as Shamchaurasi in Hoshiarpur, Adampur in Jalandhar, Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and two in Ludhiana from where the party is looking for suitable candidates.
Amarinder had earlier pointed out that in 2012, of 46 tickets allotted on the recommendation of leaders, the party could manage to win only six seats.
A senior leader said eight frontal organisations of the state unit engaged in conducting the door-to-door campaign would also sharing feedback with the senior leaders.
Amarinder opposes retrospective taxes
Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday opposed the Badal government’s move to impose retrospective taxes in the state, saying it was a punitive and regressive move. He promised one-time settlement for marriage palaces and other establishments that have been slapped with retrospective taxes. “Imposing retrospective taxes is not only punitive but regressive as well and amounts to extortion which the Akalis are resorting to,” he said while talking to a delegation of real estate dealers and marriage palace owners here on Tuesday.
LAPSE’ OF CIVIC MACHINERY IN CITY
Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu shoots stinging letter to administration
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 2
Raising doubts on the working of government machinery and hitting hard with a series of questions, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, has written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner. Pointing out irregularities in the functioning of the MC and other departments, she managed to highlight the failure of the city administration in sorting out day-to-day problems like sewerage, drinking water and street lights etc.
The subject of the letter read: Whom to blame? Who should be punished?, where Dr Sidhu addressed the issue of illegal encroachments, deteriorating civic health of the city, unaccountable electricity connections and failure of cash-strapped MC to check open garbage dumping and sewerage treatment. She has also forwarded a copy of the letter to MC Commissioner Sonali Giri and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora.
Seeking answers, she also addressed the problem of individual accountability lacking amongst councillors for their particular wards. “These are everyday problems faced by MLAs and councillors on roads where people go to the extent of using rough language. Can councillors work without the help of corporation where they are deprived of basic machinery for sewerage cleaning, street lights etc. An MLA has to hire private machineries to get the work done. Any solutions? ”
Despite repeated attempts, there was no response from the Deputy Commissioner’s office regarding the matter.
EXCERPTS FROM SIDHU’S LETTER TO THE DC...
I have the following points for your kind perusal and necessary action
- Who gives NOCs for new houses within corporation limit? Who checks facilities provided by colonisers?
- Can you permit building houses under high-tension wires?
- Can you permit new colonies without sewerage, road, drinking water and electricity?
- Who is supposed to check dairies in municipal limits, choking the sewerage system?
- Who is responsible for overflowing sewerage water on newly-built roads? When was proper desilting done?
- Who has to prevent breaking of newly-constructed roads?
- Who will provide trolleys/JCB machines for regular lifting of waste material?
- Who will ask private plot holders to put walls to prevent dumping waste?
- Who will issue challans for encroachments of roads which are risking lives of people?
Defence pension adalat from Aug 26
Tribune News Service
No comments:
Post a Comment