NOVEMBER
23, 1999
Computer lab inaugurated
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 — A computer laboratory at Government College, Sector
46, was inaugurated today by Mr Satya Pal Jain, ex-Member of
Parliament.
In his inaugural address, Mr Jain
said computer education should be made compulsory for all students in
India if the country was to keep pace with the rapidly changing world.
Earlier, while welcoming the chief guest, Major D.P Singh (retd),
Principal of the college, said he wished to introduce MCA classes in the
college. He has taken up the matter with Panjab University and
Chandigarh Administration.
NOVEMBER
23, 1999
Give sites to jhuggi dwellers: Jain
Chandigarh
Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former MP, has urged
the Chandigarh Administration not to uproot jhuggi dwellers until
alternative sites are offered to them. He was addressing a public
meeting in Palsora colony yesterday.
Mr Jain said that the Chandigarh
Administration had decided that all those who were living in colonies on
December 8, 1996, and had cast their vote in the last corporation
elections would be rehabilitated. The Administration had also declared
that it would not allow any fresh jhuggis in the union territory.
Criticising the Administration, he
said that instead of rehabilitation, the Administration demolished
Gowala Colony without any prior warning or notice. He also criticised
the local MP for his failure to pressurise the Administration in
stopping all such actions.
OCTOBER
4, 1999
Satya Pal Jain donates bus for the blind
Indian
Express
CHANDIGARH, Oct 3: Satya Pal Jain, member of the dissolved Lok
Sabha from Chandigarh, will be handing over the keys of a new Tata bus
being donated by him for the convenience of the blind, to the Honorary
Secretary of the Society for the Care of the Blind at a function being
organised in the office of the Society in Sector 26 here on October 4.
This van has been donated by him out of him MP's local area
development fund for the welfare of the blind students. Earlier, Jain
had sanctioned about Rs 3 lakh for the Braille library-cum-reading room
for the blind students.
OCTOBER
3, 1999
Jain contests statement of Kapil Sibal
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Oct 2 — A former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today
contested the statement of Mr Kapil Sibal, a Congress spokesman, that
the President was bound to invite the leader of the single largest party
to form the government at the Centre.
Mr Jain in a statement said there was
only one provision in the Constitution — Article 75 — that relates to
the appointment of the Prime Minister and other ministers. This Article
laid down that the Prime Minister will be appointed by the President and
other ministers will be appointed by him on the recommendations of the
Prime Minister.
Mr Jain said Article 75(3) says that
the President would invite a person who enjoys confidence of the Lok
Sabha.
The National Democratic Alliance will
get majority in the Lok Sabha, he claimed, and the President would be
bound to invite Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee as Leader of the National
Democratic Alliance to form the government....
JULY
12, 1999
Ex-faujis of same rank may get equal pension
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, JULY 11: The Government of India is considering the demand
of "one rank, one pension" for ex-servicemen and also the removal of the
clause of 33 years of service requirement for grant of full pension to
ex-servicemen.
This was stated by Union Defence Minister George Fernandes in a
letter to former local MP Satya Pal Jain, in reply to Jain's
queries with regard to the issues pertaining to ex-service-men.
Fernandes added that Jain had written a few letters with regard to
issuance of notification for implementation of recommendations of the
5th Pay Commission relating to parity in pension of pre and post
1.1.1996 armed forces pensioners. A notification in this regard has
already been issued.
JULY
11, 1999
Petrol price hike opposed
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, July 10 — The hike in the prices of petrol and diesel due
the imposition of a 5.5 per cent increase in the sales tax on petroleum
products in Chandigarh was strongly opposed by the petroleum dealers,
political parties and associations of industries and traders today.
The Chandigarh Administration has
imposed a 5.5 per cent sales tax, thus bringing the rates of petrol and
diesel in the city at par with those prevailing in Panchkula and SAS
Nagar. In the case of diesel the rates are even more than those in SAS
Nagar
A joint statement issued by the BJP
President, Mr Dharampal Gupta, and a former MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain,
said that the Administrator of Chandigarh had failed to protect the
interests of the citizens. They claimed that they wrote a letter to the
Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, asking him to urge the
Administration to withdraw the hike. ...
JUNE 28,
1999
Ludhiana rail link gets underway
The Tribune
SAS NAGAR, June 27 — One of the most prestigious railway projects in
Punjab in the past 50 years — the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link
providing a direct link from Chandigarh to all cities of the state
besides the Jammu region — finally got underway today.
The Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, formally laid the foundation
stone of a new railway station here as part of the massive Rs 248 crore
project. ...
...Among those present on the occasion were Mr Tota Singh, Mr Sewa
Singh Sekhwan, Mr Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Mr Swarna Ram (all ministers
of Punjab, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, a Rajya Sabha member, and Mr
Satya Pal Jain, a former MP from Chandigarh. ...
5, 1999
Jain's appeal to Muslims
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, May 21 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, local member of the
dissolved Lok Sabha, has appealed to the Muslims and members of others
minorities to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee. He assured them that the BJP-led government would work for the
welfare and betterment of the minorities in general and the Muslims in
particular. He was speaking at a function held at the Sector 45 mosque
here last evening.
Mr Jain said that in 50 years after
Independence, leaders of many political parties had tried to garner the
maximum Muslim votes but without doing anything for the community as a
whole. Muslims continued to be in poverty and their children were not
getting education at all. He said that the BJP-led government at the
Centre did not believe in religious discrimination.
He further said that during the
13-month BJP rule, there was not even a single Hindu-Muslim clash
anywhere and members of both communities celebrated festivals like
Divali, Id, Holi and Ramzan together.
APRIL
26, 1999
Forces led by Vajpayee are united: Jain
Daily
Excelsior
CHANDIGARH, Apr 25: Satya Pal Jain, whip of BJP Parliamentary
Party in Lok Sabha, today urged President K R Narayanan to invite Atal
Bihari Vajpayee again to form Government as the "secular forces" have
failed in reaching a decision to form a Government at the Centre.
"All the opposition parties in Parliament joined hands to defeat
the BJP Government by one vote under the slogan of unity of secular
forces," Jain told a gathering of Defence Services Civilian Pensioners
Welfare Association here.
However, "during the last few days they have failed to reach a
decision about the formation of the Government," Jain said adding the
Congress and other parties, including CPM, CPI, BSP and SP, owe an
explanation to the people of the nation for `creating’ a political
uncertainty in the country. (PTI)
APRIL
13, 1999
Jain lauds Vajpayee for Agni-ii test
Indian
Express
CHANDIGARH, April 12: Local MP Satya Pal Jain has lauded the
Vajpayee government for successfully launching the Agni-II missile
within one year of the Pokharan Nuclear tests, which has raised the
nation in the world.
Addressing a gathering at village Behlana, organised by the village
gram panchayat to honour him, Jain said Vajpayee has proved a strong PM
and also proved that the present Indian government did not bow to the
pressures of any nation as far as the nation's security goes.
Jain later visited Dashmesh Colony, Palsora and Karsan colonies,
Mauli Jagran colony and dairy farm residents in village Burail. While
Jain announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh from his local area development fund
for a construction of a school building in village Behlana, he also
announced a grant of Rs 8 lakh for the construction of a community
centre in Karsan colony, Sector 52.
Addressing the gatherings Jain criticised the Congress for trying
to destabilise the Vajpayee-led coalition government at the Centre,
since it was worried about the Vajpayee's growing popularity.
He also assured all support from the Centre in further development
of Chandigarh and its surrounding areas.
APRIL
4, 1999
Emotional farewell to Pak fans
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, April 3 — An emotional and tearful farewell was given to
1000-odd Pakistani cricket fans at Chandigarh railway station here this
morning. ...
... The visitors had come here to watch the one-day international match
between traditional rivals India and Pakistan at the PCA Stadium at SAS
Nagar on April 1. A large number of city residents had also gathered at
the station to personally see off “the new friends they had made from
across the border during the past few days.” ...
... Also present at the railway
station were the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain; the Deputy Commissioner,
Mr M. Ramsekhar, besides others. Both the visitors and their hosts
raised slogans in favour of Indo-Pak friendship and the Prime Ministers
of the two countries.
In a statement issued here this
afternoon, Mr Satya Pal Jain said that the visit of Pakistani cricket
fans had clearly indicated that the attempts made by the Prime Ministers
of the two countries to improve bilateral relations by the Lahore bus
yatra had yielded positive results.
“Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee is now a
popular leader not only in India but in Pakistan also,” Mr Jain said.
Mr Jain, who spent about two hours at
the station with the visitors, said that almost all the visitors were
appreciative of the efforts made by the Indian Prime Minister for
improving relations between the two neighbours.
“They were looking forward for
cordial relations. Their interest in shopping clearly indicates that
Indian goods are quite popular across the border. They were also
praising the Indian crowds at the PCA stadium. They were also impressed
by the sportsman spirit displayed by the crowd in spite of the fact that
India lost the game. The people of Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, Panchkula and
surrounding areas deserve all credit for showing respect and regards to
their Pakistani counterparts.
“Chandigarh has also played its role
in normalising relations between the two countries,” Mr Jain said. He
also appreciated the efforts made by the Administration in looking after
the guests from Pakistan well during their stay here.
MARCH 30,
1999
Kajheri residents meet Jain
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March 29 — A delegation of Kajheri residents today met Mr
Satya Pal Jain, local MP, and urged him to regularise the houses
built outside the lal dora.
Mr Dev Dutt Sharma, president of the
Gram Vikas Society, said all basic civic amenities should be given to
them on a par with other regularised colonies in the city. They also
demanded regularisation of all houses which were constructed by people
on their own land.
Mr Jain assured them that no
demolitions would take place and the government would provide power and
water connections to such houses in a phased manner.
MARCH 27,
1999
Exhibition centre to boost trade: Chhibber
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March 26 — The UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd),
here today laid the foundation stone of the prestigious
exhibition-cum-convention centre in Sector 31.
Speaking on the occasion, General
Chhibber said the centre would play an important role in the promotion
of trade and commerce in the region. He informed that an independent
autonomous body would be set up to run the centre in a professional
manner .
The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain,
hoped that the centre while catering to the needs of consumers and
producers would give a boost to the industrial development of region.
He said that the Centre had okayed
the construction of 5000 dwelling units for the weaker sections of
society, which he hoped would solve the problem of housing in the city
to a large extent.
The local Doordarshan Kendra was
likely to be functional by July this year, he added. ...
MARCH 26,
1999
No move to demolish houses: Jain
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March 25 — Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, today said that
there was no proposal to demolish houses constructed outside the “Lal
Dora” in the villages of the union territory.
He said the Adviser to the
Administrator had assured him that there was no proposal in this
context. He said a scheme to provide water and power connections to such
houses was under way. The notices issued to the villagers were in
compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
However, he appealed to the
people not to construct houses without the approval of the authorities.
...
MARCH 20,
1999
Stress on improving Indo-Pak ties laid
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March 19 — In order to improve relations between India and
Pakistan, the governments of both countries will have to concentrate on
the economic priorities of their peoples. This was stated here today by
Mr Hari Jaisingh, Editor of the Tribune group of newspapers, while
inaugurating a seminar on strengthening India-Pakistan relations — new
initiative, here today.
The seminar was organised by the
Directorate of Field Publicity (NW Region), Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Chandigarh. ...
... Mr Sat Pal Jain, local MP said
that all political parties in India had hailed the visit of the Prime
Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to Lahore. He said that the problems
being faced by both countries were similar such as the economic
situation, population growth and price rise. During his recent visit to
Pakistan he felt that the new generation in Pakistan was keen to improve
the relations.
MARCH 18,
1999
Kajheri residents meet Advani
The Tribune
NEW DELHI, March 17 — A delegation of the residents of Kajheri village
in Chandigarh, whose houses were demolished by the city administration
earlier this month, met the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today and
demanded action against officials.
The delegation which met Mr Advani
complained that certain officials, who were in the demolition squad had
misbehaved with women and children and hit a mentally retarted child,
according to Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP from Chandigarh who was
present during the meeting.
The delegation said the local
administration gave no time to the residents to remove their belongings
and pulled down their houses.
They said the houses were constructed
on plots purchased after proper documentation and registered with the
Estate Office of the Chandigarh Administration.
Mr Advani assured the delegation
members that he would take appropriate action after getting a detailed
report and instructed his ministry to submit a report at the earliest,
Mr Jain said.
MARCH 8,
1999
Jain visits Kajheri
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March 7 — The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, today visited
Kajheri village, went around the demolished buildings and asked the
aggrieved persons to submit their complaints against the authorities in
writing so that the matter could be taken up at the highest levels. He
also visited Raipur Khurd and Behlana villages later in the day.
While requesting the people not to
construct houses outside the “lal dora” of the villages without prior
permission, he assured others that houses constructed earlier would not
be demolished. ...
'Parents' services can's be repaid
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, March, 7 — Students of Dev Samaj College of Education,
Sector 36 celebrated “Mat Pita Santan Diwas” ( Parents Day) here today.
The idea behind celebrating this day is to uphold Indian traditions and
culture by expressing gratitude to- wards the parents.
The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain,
inaugurated the function, while Mr Vikas Dev, Secretary, Dev Samaj,
presided over the function.
The chief guest lauded the efforts of
Dev Samaj in organising such functions which strengthen the parent-child
relations. He said the selfless services rendered by parents cannot be
forgotten or repaid.
Mr Jain expressed regret at the
degeneration of values due to the influence of the Western culture. ...
MARCH 5,
1999
Mumbai-Kalka train
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 4 — The Railways will start a direct express train
between Kalka and Mumbai from April 11. The train will run on four days
of the week from both the destinations.
Sources in the Railways said that the train was being started as a
summer special. However, if coaching, berthing and washing facilities
were available in Chandigarh by July the train would be a regular
feature. Already, a Rs 7 crore project had been sanctioned to build
these facilities at the Chandigarh station.
The train was started on an experimental basis in October last year
as bi-weekly and after seeing the response it was decided to operate the
train on a regular basis. The lack of facilities at Chandigarh is the
only stumbling block . The berthing and washing facilities at Kalka
station are overstretched and there is no scope for further expansion.
...
... Meanwhile the local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, in a
statement issued tonight said that the Union Railway Ministry had
decided to sanction a sum of Rs 7 crore to provide facilities at the
Chandigarh railway station. Washing facilities were being provided at
platform number 4. Besides this, a shelter was being provided at
platform number 2 and 3.
MARCH 2,
1999
Making women aware of their role
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, MARCH 1 — The Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare
Board, Mrs Mridula Sinha today said that keeping in view an increase in
the number of divorce cases, the board proposed to set up marriage
counselling centres in all the universities of the country. She
emphasised on the need to strengthen family as the primary unit of
society.
... Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, talked about the work done by the
BJP government at the Centre with regard to the 33 per cent reservation
for women in the legislature, free educational facilities and proposal
of life imprisonment in cases of rape.
MARCH 1,
1999
Panches to get I-cards
The Tribune
CHANDIGARH, February 28 — The Chandigarh Administration will issue
identity cards to the sarpanches and panches of the city.
According to a statement by Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, the
Director, Panchayats, has been directed to issue the necessary documents
as the elected representatives faced problems in various departments.
FEBRUARY 7,
1999
Jang to host talks with Indian MPs
The Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 6 — In a significant development, more than 24
parliamentarians, including those from the BJP and the Shiv Sena are
proceeding to Islamabad next week to take part in a two-day first-ever
non-official Indo-Pakistan dialogue.
The dialogue, being hosted by The
News — a leading Pakistani English newspaper of the largest Jang Group
of Newspapers — will discuss issues of peace, security and cooperation
between the two countries. The Jang Group is bearing all expenditures
for the two-day meeting. The dialogue will commence on February 14.
From the BJP, a former Union Minister
for Information and Broadcasting, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, a former Himachal
Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, Chandigarh Lok Sabha MP, Mr
Satya Pal Jain, the party Treasurer, Mr Vedprakash Goyal, the party
Vice-President, Mr K.L. Sharma, Rajya Sabha MPs Arun Shourie, Mr T.N.
Chaturvedi, Mr K.R. Malkani and Dr Mahesh Chandra Sharma are going to
take part in the dialogue. A Shiv Sena MP, Mr Adhik Shirodkar, is also
in the Indian delegation. ...
JANUARY 25,
1999
Leave issue of quota for judges to experts: Jain
Indian
Express
CHANDIGARH, Jan 24: Member of the Parliamentary
sub-committee on Judicial Reforms and local BJP MP, Satya Pal Jain,
today appealed to all concerned, including political parties, to avoid
politicising the issue of reservation in appointment of judges.
Addressing a meeting of the Central Administrative Tribunal Bar
Association, which was convened to honour him here today, he said such a
sensitive matter should be left to the legal and constitutional experts
for a final decision, instead of going to the media and issuing
statements. ...
...Jain emphasised that the government was
keen to fill up vacancies of judges in the Supreme Court and various
High Courts and was taking steps to ensure that. He added that due to
the delay in appointing judges by the previous governments, a large
number of cases had piled up in various courts for decision, which
exposed the inherent weaknesses of the judicial system as a whole to
provide justice in time. ...
...He lamented the lower judiciary had not been given a fair deal
by various governments so far and said their salaries, other allowances
and facilities should be increased. Jain said the government had
proposed a number of amendments in the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), with
a view to avoiding delay in courts. They had been examined in detail by
the Standing Committee on Home Affairs and a comprehensive report had
already been submitted to the Parliament. These amendments, he said,
were likely to be passed by the Parliament in the coming budget session
and would help in expediting the trial of cases in courts.
JANUARY
21, 1999
Deep Complex residents meet Satya Pal Jain
Indian Express
CHANDIGARH JAN 20: A delegation of the members of Deep Complex Welfare
Association, Hallomajra, led by Krishan Lal Billa, today met local MP
Satya Pal Jain and discussed their problem.
The Complex residents are protesting
acquisition of Deep Complex land and are demanding adequate
compensation. According to association president Jagtar Singh, Jain said
that all possible efforts would be made to save the houses in the
complex from demolition. The resident of the complex are on a hunger
strike.
JANUARY
20, 1999
Admn accept's Jain's suggestion
Land acquisition
Chandigarh Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Jan 19:
A reduction in stamp duty from 12 per cent to 6 per
cent on the Punjab pattern, further simplification of the procedure for
conversion of leasehold property to freehold property, implementation of
the Apartments Act and a review of decision to acquire land for
paramilitary forces by uprooting people with "pucca" houses at
Hallomajra were some of the issues raised by local MP, Mr Satya Pal
Jain, at the third meeting of the Administrator's Advisory Council
here today.
Mr Jain told
The Tribune after the meeting that when housing was a major problem
facing the Chandigarh Administration, there was no justification in
demolishing already constructed houses for acquiring land for
paramilitary forces.
He said many
other members agreed with him in suggesting to the Administration to
have a second look at its decision over acquisition of land at Palsora
and Hallomajra villages. ...
... On the
issue of simplification of the procedure for conversion of lease hold
property, he said he suggested at the meeting that representatives of
the public must be associated with all such committees. He also
suggested further simplification of the procedures, including
enforcement of the Apartments Act, to cover dwelling units of the
Chandigarh Housing Board. "The owners must be given absolute rights.
Besides, the general power of attorney (GPA) should be fully
recognised," Mr Jain added.
Talking about
the provision of basic services to people living outside "lal dora" in
villages, the local MP wanted the Administration to take a decision in
this regard at the earliest. For provision of services, he offered to
give money from his MP fund. ...
JANUARY
18, 1999
Decision soon on leasehold conversion: Jain
Chandigarh Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain, in a press note
today said the issue of rationalisation of sales tax on various items
and a scheme for allotment of booths to the scooter mechanics as well as
automobile sparepart dealers were under the active consideration of the
UT Administration and a decision on these would be taken soon.
The other issue under active
consideration was simplification of the leasehold system. Mr Jain met a
delegation of shopkeepers who pressed him to take an early action on
these issues. ...
... Mr Jain said that he had
decided to call a conference of representatives of various residents'
welfare associations to discuss the problems faced by them. He appealed
to all welfare associations to send him lists of their office-bearers by
January 25 so that invitations could be sent.
Over 1 lakh kids given polio drops
Chandigarh
Tribune
CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — Over one lakh children below five were administered
polio drops in the second phase of the pulse-polio immunisation campaign
in the city today.
According to Dr Y.P. Singla, District
Family Welfare Officer-cum-Nodal Officer of the Pulse Polio Immunisation
Campaign, 265 stationary and 50 mobile booths covered the city,
including various labour colonies. ...
... While
1,750 children were given polio drops at a camp organised by the State
Bank of Patiala, Kajheri, the Citizens Awareness Group manned 16 centres
and immunised 5,988 children. The local MP, Mr Satya Pal Jain,
was among the prominent persons who administrated polio drops to
children.
